People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — ARMENIAN CHRISTMASES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ARMENIAN CHRISTMASES.

One of the Persecuted Itacc Tells of Observances and Customs of His People. It is not as easy to describe the customs of tho Armenian people in their celobratlon of Christmas as it would bo to tell of the English or the American ways of celebrating, because the customs of my pooplo differ according to their habitat. Scattered is the Armenians are from Constantinople and other citios to the little villages In Asia Minor, there are many observances ■hat are almost purely local. Some of ’chose, however, are extremely interesting. To begin, Christinas is not observed on

uress, u ic is offiy a pair oT new shoes. This Ims led to another custom which is in vogue especially in Constantinople, where the Armenian childre.. are all educated iu our parochial schools. These schools arc located in the churchyards and are, of course, supported by the churches. Some of the children are very poor, and a collection is always taken up at tho Christmas service in tho church for tho purpose of buying new clothes for the children whose parents cannot clothe them properly. There is one very benevolent gentleman, a merchant in Constantinople, whom I know very well, \yho always buys a great num- . suitij} at Christinas —from 20 to 60 or AX according to what lie can afford.

i. lie mailing,of presents at Christinas Is not perhaps as general among our people as it is byre, though in tho cities we are rapidly adopting European customs. Presents are given, but most frequently by superiors to their inferiors or by elders to children. After the church services the people greet one another with a special salutation. One says, “Christ is born,” and the reply is, “Blessed is the birth of Christ.” This is as they return to 'their homes from ohurch. Enter in tbe-day there is a general interchange of visits, much like the fashion of NeW Year’s calls, which is still kept lip in some parts of this country, though with

liar to the morning salutation. The ■guest | sayS, “Christ is born and made manifest 1 to us,” and the reply is, “Blessed are the birth and the manifestation of Christ.” One custom is worth mentioning. The smaller hoys in each village go out in parties on Christmas day, carrying bags, anti go from house to house singing a sort of Christmas carol or song about the birth of Christ. I cannot recall the exact words, but it tells the old story and has a refrain: “Good tidings! Good tidings!” fphoy go on the roofs of the houses, for the houses of thft villagers are almost underground, and the roofs are easily reached, and as they sing they let the bags down in front of t he doors, and the neonle

put in them whatever t hey feel disposed to give. Sometimes it will bo a little money, and sometimes it will bo something the boys can easily sell for money to have a good time with, and sometimes it will bo> some kind of trash put in for fun, but everybody Is good nnturod Christmas among my people is hardly what it is here, but the spirit of the day is the same, and perhaps it is only poverty that makes the difference. (Arudnoir Haig.)

BUILDINGS ON JASPER COUNTY POOR FARM.