1935-12-17 — Page 22

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CHINA MAIL CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT

CHRISTMAS in OTHER LANDS

Christmas mail in the Kracks. A Zulu girl carrying mail

on her head.

IN SOUTH AFRICA

SOUTH African Christmas ....hot beneath the strong,

penetrating rays of the sun "Hot December brings the ring- ing

Of Christmas bells and native singing" www SO SITAS the South African nursery rhyme. No firs and noʻshow, but still a very real Christmas atmosphere.

For weeks before we have heard the native drums beat of an evening, and the rhythmic thrum-thrum of their ingenious string instruments, too, begin to for sound in preparation; Christmas is a day when little black youngsters join together in " bands, bring their music, their best dazers, and their widest smiles, and go from door to door giving their entertainment They do all their most brightly coloured rags and beads, their dark skins gleam in the warm sunlight, their teeth are wonder fully white as they open their mouths to sing, and their lively, rhythmic song and dance makes us laugh and clap our hands and run indoors to find cakes and sweets to fill their cape. "Happy. happy!" they cry. "Happy, happy!"--their greeting and a gesture of the outstretched palm go together. We are generous on this day of days and copper coins are thrown for them to catch."

Little white children bewilder- ed with their pile of brand new and exciting toys dangle them

temptingly before their dark brothers. Look what I've got!" ther cry.

But the little black

ope has a sweet in his mouth, a tremendous pink coloured “bull's eye"; he can only grin and best. his dram in reply.

It grows warmer and brighter as the day goes on, we go to spend an hour in the surf, or perhaps "we wander" "down the "dorp" street between the bands of native boys and youths

We..

drop in here and there distribut- ing our gifts and sit awhile to eat the traditional mince pie can we manage twelve and enjoy Bet as many happy months?

the what of the turkey and Christmas padding stuffed with charms and coins that await us at midday? Yes, in the heat of midday we must drink wine and enjoy the festive fare and Christ- merriment Family and friends are gathered together whether it be in the town, the village, the distant farm- bouse

Perchance á kindly shower of rain falls to cool the earth and give its promise.

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of the old and picturesque Christmas customs are still pre- served. For weeks before Christmas the thatch roofed houses of a Hungarian village are under a thick blanket of snow, and the peasants, who dur- ing other seasons work in the felds from arise to sunset. -now keep-indoors. So there is plenty of time and leisure to keep -the Christmas spirit alive. With the fall of the first snow Christ- In the mas festivities begin. larger houses of the village STOUPS are formed, by the younger set, and each group gathers nightly after supper, the young girls spinning. the older women weaving linen, while young men lounge about court- ing, jesting, and telling stories that are mostly quaint fairy tales Most of the village romances start in these rather- ings and when spring comes, at Eastertide, young couples walk -hand and hand to the charch for the blessing of the priest.

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The village shepherd makes his round of the gatherings. night here one night there, play- in on his little willow flute all the new airs which were born of his lonliness out on the far-away pastures where he spends the summer with only his dog. Soon words are made to the tunes, and there is a new folk-song. Thes one night a knock is heard on the window, and at the enquiry. "Who is there?" the answer

comes. The shepherds and the Three Wise Men". And ther politely want to know whether they may come in. Having re- ceived permission they shuffle in, a group of small children dress- ed in their elders sheepskin coats and wearing whiskers yard long made from flax. Ther carry the small replica of a church all lit up by candies and the interior the showing in manger with the Child. They sing Christmas carols, act little dialogues, collect a few coppers and go on to the next house..

There are many other similiar customs full of touching little details-is-impossible to des

cribe them all in this short space, but those who have once spent-a- Christmas in one of those H- rarian villages can never forget it.

Christmas Eve is here with a real feast. All the most famous dishes are reserved for that night when the whole family is Thea sitting round the table. all stay up for the midnight And the festive spirit lingers on well after the New Year.

TRANS.

It is rather sad that in later years the railroad, and the fac tories, draw more and more peo- ple into the towns during the winter, and the old customs are. gradually dying out, surviving only in the more out of the way places the railway lines have not yet reached.

IN SWEDEN

A Swedish Christmas is essen- tially indoor function, and it is perhaps for this reason that the Swedes go to such infinite pains to make it a success. Prepara- tions start six weeks before the great event, and every effort is made to create an atmosphere of light and brightness.

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In the city of Stockholm itself, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, the merchants and shopkeepers, working in operation, decorate all the streets with pine garlands, and illumin- ate the avenues with rows and rows of brightly-coloured lamps. On the first Sunday in Decem- ber the shops open their Christ- Every big em- mas display. norium vies with. Its rivals in producing the most lavish and of presentations attractive Should this happen, as it often does, the country-side becomes alive....&. profusion of wild flowers bril- liantly coloured and scented The yellow mimosa, marvellous'y beautiful, feeding its bees and breathes the its batterflies, spirit of a South African Christ- mas as the snowcovered fir is the very core of that happy period in far-away England.

IN HUNGARY

Christmas in Hungary is es sentially a family festival Budapest, the capital, presents hardy a different picture from that of the other European metropolitan cities. Still some old traditions survive which help to give Christmas its own parti- "One of the cular atmosphere.

nicest customs, since Christmas is feted-exclusively in the family circle, is that.nobody must be left alone on Christmas Eve to feel. lonely, 50 families invite their bachelor friends or those who have no families of their own in the capital

But the country is where many

specialities, and the whole popu lation of Stockholm turns out an

this Sunday to parade the snowy streets and inspect the displays of skis, skates, furs, and other winter necessities. So great are the crowds that, in spite of ex- tra police, it is quite hopeless for any motor vehicle to attempt to drive through the city on that Sunday.

In the different market places Christmas trees glistening with lights are erected, and in Stort- driet, the biggest and oldest market-square of the town, Christmas market is held every December.

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All the big theatres in Stock- holm and other main cities give special national folk-plays dur- ing Christmas week, the Royal Opera House itself having play-- ed every Boxing Day since 1840 the same play-the Varmlammin- *garna.

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