Yule-Tide in Many Lands

lands and bare,

dening flakes,

rs. Beneath it

ulate, all ea

do de

io, Raphael, Michelangelo, and a host of o

; rushing through crowded streets on Christmas Eve to view the Bambino, and possibly have an opportunity to kiss its pretty bare toe? How strange it all

ll the gifts that are purchased by the Italians, there are those bought by travelers and foreign residents to be sent to loved ones at home, or to be used in their own

the choicest wares, and it is to be hoped that the pocketbooks are

ristmas is to be kept there. If it is, they leave a wooden spoon to mark the place, and later bring their bagpipes or ot

er hall

when Chris

the saint

y star

ius and St

t blessed si

which all

, Son and Ho

n may s

f the birthplace of Christ, showing the Holy Family-Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus in the manger-or, more frequently, the manger awaiting the infant. This is a doll that is brought in later, around that each person in the room may pray before it, and is then solemnly deposited in the manger. There are angels, and other f

oney from those who gather around them to listen, and later they spend thei

in the atmosphere, for the season is strictly a religious one rather than of a social nature like that of Northern countries. At early twilight candles are lighted around the presepio, and the little folks recite before it some poem suitable for the occasion. Then follows the banquet, made as elaborate as possible. The menu varies in different parts of the country, but in every part fish forms a

interspersed with blanks, the drawing from the urn creates much excitement and no little disappointment among

artificial, are used instead. Soon after nine o'clock the people, young and old, leav

on Christmas Ev

ich are hung with bright lanterns. The people carry flaming torches to add to the general brightness of the evening, and in some cities fireworks are set off. From their sun-worshiping Aryan ancestors Italy derives the custom of burning

stmas time, an event that is known as the Albero di Natale-The Tree of Nativity,-but little boys and girls of Ita

e in Rome at this season, for there the service is the most magnificent in the world. Every Roman Catholic Church is crowded on Holy Night with men, women, and children, anxious to see the procession of church officials in their beautiful robes, who carry the Bambino about

rvel of elegance, with the Bambino wrapped in gold and silver tissue studded with jewels; or whether all is of an humble, simple character; the devout watch eagerly for the appearance of the Babe to be laid in the manger when the midnight bells peal forth the glad tidings of its birth. In each church the organ sounds its joyous accompaniment to the sweet voices of the choir which

of male voices with organ accompaniment sounds forth the Magnificat. The procession is long, glowing in color, and very attractive to the eye, but the object of each Romanist's desire is to see the Pope, who, in magnificent robes, and seated in his crimson chair, is borne aloft on the shoulders of four men clothed in violet. On the Pope's head gleams his richly gemmed tiara and his heavy robes sparkle with cost

howing the ring of St. Peter which he always wears, the Pope, followed by the ecclesiastic pr

f St. Angelo (the citadel of Rome, which was built in the time of the Emperor Hadrian) booms forth and every Roman Catholic bows his head in prayer, wheresoeve

he church observances until Epiphany, or Bafana, as Italians term it, when children hang up their stockings, céppo boxes are exchanged, and people indulge in home pleasures to some extent. The wild hilarity o

he present day is princ

E OF C

90

y Feast, the won

cred hymn an

of joy the old

eace to waitin

ging hosts of e

xious brow and

r no yoke; forge

yment yields t

d rends the peace

der follows

l faith, the righ

lind and cruel

ly Child! Pity

perish, into

ing Night grant

to bloom o'er

dors old the brow

glory on the

ings new; palsy he

torious laure

ssolved, and ancie

last find quie

, return nor e

nd in hand and

Leo

ed by H.