IN FAR-AWAY LANDS.

Thames Star, 24 December 1921, Page 4

IN FAR-AWAY LANDS.

CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS. STRANGE HOLIDAY CUSTOMS. While we are reaching down into the toes of our stockings, metaphorically speaking, for the last bit of Yuletime joy, let's peep over the edge of the world and see how the people in other lands celebrate the holidaj's—those far-away lands that are such near neighbours- now. STRANGE WAYS IN SERBIA, i Bojich, meaning "the little God," is the Serbian word for GJjxisJtmas, the. celebration of which ha*k#,.-i>A.ck -to pagan days when the xpegpteqworshipped the sun god Daybog. Their New Year began when the "sun, having gone far enough over the snow plains of winter, turned again to/Hs the green fields of summer," of Deeemthe day thouPl feb the unfortunate SerbiWß^^^U forego all luxuries in their strug^ for liberty and the bare necessities of life.. Badnyi Dan, the day before Christmas, is the day of Jhe Badnyak, or yule log cuttm ?^^^^^l performed with great eer^pflsqyrftftfr men o* tJi&^:aj;Jpu^|g||l»oldß cut the . logs, ■t. -....Three hoU Bfc'^,. fcfa* ntil parations for the holunWßl pleted. Then they are placea7*»s longest to extend well out over the hearth, the end being lightly smeared with honey, in readiness for the ceremony of blessing the house, cattle, beehives, pastures and flocks, and kissing the treessof the forest as the free gift of God. Before the logs are placed, the mother breaks a "Pogacha" cake on the log, for good luck. The mother then carries in the straw, the children, in single file, walk behind her, and as she . scatters it over the floor she cries, "Quock, quock," while the children answer like little chickens. When the straw is scattered she throws three or four walnuts in each corner in the names of the "Father,. Son and Holy Ghost," for continued care and prosperity during the coming year. Sacking is then placed over the straw, and the supper served on it, the family sitting on the floor to express humility and obedience. The supper is of fish, as it is the last sacrificial meal before the festival.

The family rises at dawn, the pig is prepared for roasting, the well is blessed, and the first two cups of water drawn are used in the making of. "Chesnitsa," the partition cake, in which a lucky coin is baked. Then comes the Polzuik, the special Christmas visitor. He carries a woollen glove filled with wheat in his hand, and, after he blesses the home and all its interests, scatters the wheat, kisses the Badnyak, then turns to sit down in a wooden chair. The chair is snatched from under him, and, as he sits on the floor, the blessings are driven home, it is believer 1 ; He is then wrapped in a blnj^ rt9f ensure plenty of heavy cve,f : r;U, , ..tie year, after. whk-.h.^'^'C^^^ s and *c, and drink a ai ito -" ' oakes and reindeer STEAKS. _ 3 r,.i Esquimaux land the holidays are ' dark, the sun being off duty, the days cold, and only four hours long, but, even against such odds, the festival spirit rises triumphant. All the fires iir the igloos are put out and made up entirely fresh. Company fills most of the peat or snow block homes. Dog sledges are congregated outside, and strange dogs nois'"' make new friends. Pots o f ' ■': meat, seal or salt fl- : .' r .;'5 'k)rth appetising odour'?." - via gallons of hot f '••---'" , .cd fish, and fat sea- :'\ plenty of smokes .'which young and old- are ready to enjoy in the bright firelight. The hostess has no table to set and no dishes to wash, for the food is taken from the pots and held in the ha'ii<&f;\ The guests bring gifts of whips,'harness, carved articles of reindeer Tjoritp and bones, and sometimes the coveted sheath knives used in dressing furs.

I MONTH OF CELEBRATION. . I China takes a month off to celebrate the New Year- properly. Children eat freely of "brilliant" cakes to sharpen their wits, so that they may more quickly learn the 20,000 letters of their alphabet. Bills are paid, houses cleaned and decorated, and everyone dresses in his best clothes, carrying the choicest fan, umbrella, and lantern. Offerings of rice, vegetables, and paper money are burned with incense to gods, of luck and prosperity. Street parades with paper images,, men with gongs going ahead to anonunce their approach, fireworks, and odd maskers, add to the street excitement. "Sin-hi, Sinhi!" is the salutation on all sides, as friends "meet on their round of New Year's calls to "honourable friends." In Japanj letters, of writ-

Little girls play battledore and shufctlecoek, boys fly wonderful new kites, while grown-ups go calling. Mirror cakes and special sweets are served with tea; At each gate-post a little pine tree is placed, a fringe of sea-, weed and paper flutters from the eaves of the houses, and above the doors a lobster, a persimmon, bit ,o£ charcoal, an orange, bit of seaweed and some oak leaves are fastened for luck. Bags of rice piled high at the door typify prosperity to the owner.