Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1914 — How Cubans Celebrate Christmas. [ARTICLE]

How Cubans Celebrate Christmas.

CUBANS celebrate Christmas, but uot in the same manner that Americans do. Santa Claus is unknown in Havana. There are no chimneys by which he could enter houses, and there Is no snow on which his sleigh can glide. So the little Cubans do uot hang up their stocky Ings in expectation of gifts. The Cubans give presents in connection with the Christmas celebration, but this Is done on Jan. 6, “El Dla de los Reyes." The day of the kings Cuba celebrates the visit of the three wise men—Balthazar. Melchior and Gasparto the infant Jesus with their offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh. This is the annual love gift day, when the Cubans give their children and dear ones beautiful presents in our bountl fui Christinas manner.

In Cuba you don’t ask a child, “What do you want Santa Claus to bring you?” but, “What are the wise men of the east going to give you?” Instead of our Christmas day dinner, the Cubans have a great family reunion, the Christmas eve supper, called the “cena de noche buena,” or “supper of the good night" The long table Is graced by three and four generations of the large families In gay attire. The Christmas eve supper is the great yearly family feast in which the elder generation gives a blessing to the young somewhat akin to that of the old patriarchs. The long festal board Is spread in the great dining room, the high ceiling und walls of which are covered with festoons and floral deco rations. The table Is also adorned with Cuba’s many fruits, fragrant flowers, tall paraffin colored candles and a monstrous golden cornucopia filled with delicious Cuban sweets. No big roast Christmas turkey is seen, but Instead a plump, juicy, gayly bedecked roast pig is the table’s centerpiece. A famous accompanying dish is the great pyramid of boiled white rice and black beans, or “Moros y Cristianos,” as the Cubans dub it in remembrance of the wars between the Moors and Christians in old Spain. This delicacy is much relished, and many are the ancestral jests made in the eating of it. The choicest vintages of Spain are served in abundance, and the air is fragrant with tobacco smoke. The Christmas eve dinner of several hours concludes with the thick black Spanish chocolate and various liqueurs made in Cuba. At midnight the cock crow mass commemorating our Saviour’s birth is announced by the ringing of the great bronze bells in Havana’s many churches. Blares of shrill trumpets, guitar serenades in the streets and joyous singing of many Christmas carols accompany the thousands of worshipers to the ceremony. In Havana this mass is largely attended by the devout, and the narrow streets leading to the cathedral and other churches are crowded by the worshipers. Tfhe church services are most Impressive. Large bodies of well trained voices beautify the mass. There are no pews in the Cuban churches. The worshipers kneel on the marble floor or on cushions brought for the punwse. There is perfect de mocracy in the service. Rich and poor alike share in the mass.

The Christinas afternoon is devoted to many outdoorgames. Ilatless, coatless. shoeless, tbe young Cubans play along the coral ocean shores and great palm tree avenues. The goat is the children’s favorite animal, and he Is kept busy on Christmas day drawing the youngsters throughout all the parks. The Spaniards in Cuba retain some old customs of their native land. The swarthy senors form rings of dancers In public plazas and sing Spain's many old sacred airs. The bandurrlas ani guarachas, much like our banjo ditties, are pleasing accompaniments The wealthier Spanish and Cuban families spend Christmas week at their stately homes on the vast sugar plantations in Santa Clara. Puerto Principe and other provinces. They gather about them merry house par ties, which continue until the New Year's. Their hospitality is generous' and Americans are fortunate to be guests. The grandparents have their several generations of children and re new the old peninsular Christmastide customs.

A sumptuous evening dinner is fol lowed by the languorous Spanish dan za. An aristocratic old don will lead the papalote, which is similar to our old fisher’s hornpipe. He is followed by the young senors and senoritas often in gay Spanish court costumes. Throughout the smaller towns of Cu ba's provinces the poorer classes dur Ing the Christmas week hang on the front walls of their bumble homes a large basket The passerby is cordial ly greeted from the door and windows of tbe shock or peasant’s more preten tlous home,with a most cordial “May God bless you and yours for ever and ever.” In return tbe recipients of the benediction put small coins. Christmas fruits and delicacies and religious ornaments In the banging basket.