Christmastime ever since. A number o f our Greater Europe Missionaries share their experience and observations with us, as they document the following interesting facts. In all European Christmas celebrations, supersti tious, social and sacred ingredients are obvious. In Sweden, Austria and Germany the Christ mas season is officially opened with the first o f four Advent Sundays. One o f four candles set into a wreath or container filled with moss and dried flowers, is lit each Advent Sunday until Christmas. The children are given Advent Calendars picturing events leading to the Lord’s birth. The Christmas tree is often chosen and cut down with permission o f the local forester, brought into the house and decorated on Christmas eve while children are at church. The traditional open- lighted candles are being rapidly replaced by elec tric facsimilies. In Sweden, after the Christmas tree is decorated on the day before Christmas, the family gathers in the kitchen to “ dip in the Kettle” of warm pork drippings with a piece of sweet brown bread. A smorgasbord comprised o f ham, “ lutfisk” , boiled potatoes, rice pudding and other delicacies ensues. “ Jultomten” arrives after dinner in a goat-drawn sleigh loaded with gifts. In for mer days a bowl o f oatmeal was put in the hayloft for “Jultomten” who was considered the guardian of the farm. The Yule Log remains the center of attraction in much of France as it is brought in on Christmas eve and burned with suitable ceremony. In southeastern France the entire family hauls it home: those who can afford it secure a log large enough to last from Christmas eve until New Year’s Day. Here, too, shepherds lead a lamb to the church to be blessed in honor o f the first Christ mas night when shepherds came to the manger. In Italy, the Chistmas tree until recent days was con sidered a Nordic pagan symbol. Today nearly every home has a tree. This custom causes the Church considerable dismay. Christmas has remained purely a religious fes tival in Greece. On Christmas eve the children pour out into the streets and shout the news from house to house. They knock on every door and sing the Greek equivalent o f carols, the “kalanda,” accom panied by small triangles: “Good evening,, my lords, if it is your wish of Christ’s divine birth I shall tell the tale.” They, then, proceed to sing of Christ’s birth, after which the housewife gives them a few drachmas: then they are off to the next house. Here gifts are not exchanged on Christmas day, except to those who bear the names, “ Christos, Christina, or Manolis (Emmanuel)” . These people are celebrating their “name day” just as all others do on days dedicated to the saint for which they are named. In many European lands, Christmas day gifts are not traditionally given. Christmas season ends
CHRISTMAS IN GREATER EUROPE by Walter Frank
“O God, who has worked and continues every day to work miracles through Blessed Nicolas, your glorious confessor and bishop, we pray you, that by his merits and through his intercession, we might be liberated from the penalties of hell and from every danger. Amen.” S O READS th e liturgy constituting the prayer of every faithful pilgrim as he stands before the “ crypt of Saint Nicholas” in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari along the southeastern coast of Italy. “ From the bones of St. Nicholas issues a clear and pure liquid: it has flowed for sixteen centuries.” So, for 50 cents I carried away from Bari a small “ handy-size” bottle of “ Santa Claus sweat . . . the holy liquid which was sure to alle viate sufferings of the spirit and the body,” we were informed. So, here lie the legendary bones of good old “ St. Nick” who, according to recent Vatican releases, never lived. How cruel can Rome become to pull the rug out from under millions of Santa Claus ad mirers by debunking him along with St. Christo pher and a parade o f other venerable ancients! Much of Europe observes December 6, the date of St. Nicholas’ death, as a special holiday. In Ger many, and Austria, he metes out Yuletide justice. Candy and goodies reward the good, but alas the other kind are threatened in Austria by “Kram- pus,” a figure looking much like the typical por trayal of the devil. In many European countries, St. Nicholas is without rival: his popularity in the hearts of chil dren and adults alike goes unchaJlenegd. In France he is Pere Noel; in Italy he is La Befana; in Sweden, Jultomten; in Greece, St. Basil. In Spain, The Three Kings actually bring the gifts and are the central attraction of the Christmas pa rade. The Dutch brought “ the visit o f St. Nicholas” to the New World. Soon he evolved into the jolly old Santa who has captured “ center stage” at
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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