CHRISTMAS ABROAD More Dutch Gaiety Than Ever Before

Press, Volume C, Issue 29697, 15 December 1961, Page 20

CHRISTMAS ABROAD More Dutch Gaiety Than Ever Before

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THE HAGUE. Dutch people are making more of Christmas as a gay festivity this year than ever before, in the opinion of the managements of the big stores in the main cities.

Traditionally, Christmas is primarily a religious holiday in Holland, and the new trend towards luxury, good food and drink, is not expected to replace or diminish reiigious fervour. It will simply cause people to rearrange their timetable. A manager of one big chain store said: “Formerly people used to reserve Christmas Day for churchgoing—once, or twice, or more, in the course of the day. Now, they do their church-going on Christmas Eve instead, and have a good time on Christmas Day.” As a result, he explained, Christmas Eve church services in Holland are packed. The food stores expect to do record business this year in such last-minute purchases as delicatessen goods and special forms of hors d’oeurve, which are becoming very popular. Wine, which has always sold well among broad sections of the population in Hodland, will sell this year even greater quantities. Imported Decorations The Scandinavian countries are doing big business in Christmas decorations of what is claimed to be a more dignified style than the traditional brightly coloured paper chains and glass balls. Special handicraft goods for Christmas from East Germany. Poland and Czecho. Slovakia have also been selling well in Dutch shops. The new trend towards a more gay celebration of Christmas makes the season an expensive one for Dutch people, who also keep “St. Nicholas day” on December 5. There Is, however, a growing tendency today to re-

serve St Nicholas for the children and Christmas tor the adults, though more and more gay St. Nicholas dancing parties are being held. Shopkeepers say they believe the Christmas bonuses which many Dutch Anns pay are used exriusimiy on the seasonal celebrations. New communication media, like television, are also bringing about a revolution in taste, and even stimulating demand for articles which formerly were bought only by the wed!-to-do. Fur stoles are one example of this, and. in the food section, the English plum pudding to finding increasing favour on the Dutch table. Dutt* housewives have not got round to making them yet, but they use English ones imported in tins.