Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1916 — Christmas Customs [ARTICLE]

Christmas Customs

THE Russian working people seize Christmas as an occasion for ceasing work for a lengthy period —sometimes for a month. The clergy call upon their dock and receive substantial presents, not infrequently grudgingly presented. “Kolenda” is the celebration of Christmas eve. when the peasants gather about the houses of the nobles, sing carols and scramble for the coins tossed to them from the windows. Then comes a great masquerade, when peasants of all ages dress themselves to represent animals, the idea being to perpetuate the memory of the lowliness of the Saviours birth in a stable. In Koumania it is the custom to bless the, Danube at Christmas, and a procession consisting of priests and peo pie dressed to represent Biblical characters moves through the streets singing chants and so to the banks of the river, the me on the stream is broken and a small wooden cross thrown into the water. Any one who can recover this cross is regarded as extremely fortunate and suie of good luck for the remainder of the years he spends on earth. A quaint and impressive ceremonial is observed in Holland on Christmas eve. At midnight the men of the towns and villages meet, dressed in varied costumes, in the public, squares. One is selected, and into his charge is given a large illuminated Star mounted upon a pole, and with this star as a guide—as the wise men were guided to Bethlehem—a procession winds through the streets, the men chanting the ‘ Gloria In Excelsis.” After the parade a great supper is served, and the Christmas day has been well begun.—Harper’s Weekly;

A vest with lapels that turn up and button to form a throat and chest protector has been patented by an Englishman. When you want a real good lead pencil—something better than you can get elsewhere—try the pencils for sale in the fancy stationery department at The Democrat office.