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Clinton News-Record
'Clinton's main street is' bright and busy this time of the year
WORLD-WIDE, IT'S MERRY CHRISTMASTIME!
Yuletide Customs Spread Around Globe
Mistletoe, Santa Claus, letters to Santa, Christmas customs
galore — where did they all begin?
The customs of Christinas come from many lands and
many eras. They evolve from pagan ceremonies into Chris-
tian rituals. And they stretch from West to East, from North
to South, .as each country contributes something special and
traditional to the celebrations of the holiday.
When seasonal gaiety rings out in Canada, the merriment
is echoed in Mexico. When North or South Americans gather
for Christmas festivities, the people of Sweden are doing the
sake — and so are the peoples of Holland and France and
Italy and Spain and countless other European countries.
In the far East, Christian communities spread the customs
of Christmas, which mingle with the year-end ceremonies
observed by those of other faiths.
That the legend and lore of Christmas knows no boundaries
is illustrated in the following round-up of Yuletide customs,
based on information provided by the editors of the Encyclo-
pedia International. •
hi England
Prom the north of England
comes the happy custom of
the kissing bough. A large
hoop, tWinecl with greens, is
ecorated with apples and ,andles, And in the center
here's mistletoe —signal for
,xchanging kisses,
Cat Austria
Custom of writing letters
o Santa Claus may have be-
Un in Austria, where, long
go, it was an AdVent tradi-
ion for children to write let-
erS containing lists of what
hey'd like to receive on St,
leholae Day.
Italy
From. Italy tomes a most
pectic addition to Christrna3
ore. For three weeks during
the Christmas season, chiles
then ttaditionally go from
old-time tradition calls for a
king and queen to rule over
Christmas festivities, Rulers
pay for the privilege, since
they are "elected" by bidding
at an auction held on the
church steps.
In Germany
A procession which blends
pagan and Christmas cus-
toms is part of the legend
and lore of the holiday in
Ruppin, Germany. A rider on
a white horse, symbolizing
the horse of the pagan god
Wotan, leads the parade. He
is followed by Father Christ-
mas, who is decked with rib-
t%k
CHINESE CHEISTIANS CELEIlltATE "SHEN Hatt ;Pelt," the
Holy Birth Festival, at Christmas. lot Santa Clans is on hand, Ion,
as he is in this scene, typical of tt Taiwan Christmas, whore he
greets youngsters enjoying a ride 00 g oterry.go.rteatol. Photo.
graph is front die Now Hook of knowledge:
of debts. December 6th, the
feast of St. Nicholas of Myra,
the first Santa Claus, is the
day set to meet all monetary
obligations such as rents and
mortgages.
IN MEXICO, GAI1,Y-1)ECORATE0 PFSAT.A. — an ettriltettwatee
jar (Hied with goodies— is it Christmas ehallenge for the >Imo*
sters, they attempt to- local: the piiinta, which may be
stutdettly towered or vaisoi •oth oh reaeht Sitecess firings a shower
nil 10,,, mut AiVeetS4 111(itt$ Elier1011(glia
IN PRANCE, THAHITION iTJIS I's"EliAT siwpliettig should utkc
thi•Ii• Limbs it) church on Christmas 110". Y.ettreh shepherd plentrecl
here is taltiog part io 0 special holiday celebration which has been
a trattlititra in the town of Hawk! for 1114)11, thee 10 t'Orittitit's• Photo,
graph is front the Eneyclopedia International.
place to place reciting Christ-
mas poems. They expect coins
in return, to buy holiday
goodies,
In Sweden
An ancient custom that is
still observed in some Swed-
ish households today is that
of "dipping bread into the
pot." Sach person dips at
piece of bread into pork and
sausage drippings and eats it
for good luck.
In Hollatul
For St. Nicholas season, it's
traditional in Holland to
make flat cakes called Nlass-
jes. Once exclusively made in
the form of the bishop, St.
Nicholas, klassjes now take
any form of bird, beast or
fish.
In France
At Salers in tottrat Prance,
bons and carries candy and
fruit,
In Switzerland
A Swiss custom that dates
back to the Middle Ages is
to start the New Year free