VOL. XIII, NO. 5
DECEMBER 10, 1971

Christmas Customs Found In Foreign Countries
Christmas is the merriest and busiest time of year for many people all over the world. Christians everywhere unite in their feelings of happiness on Christ's birthday in many different ways.

In Great Britain children hang their stockings by the fireplace, hoping that "Father Christmas" will fill them with many assorted goodies. On the day after Christmas the Great Britains hold a "Boxing Day" by giving money to those that have served them in the past year, such as the milkman and mailman. An old English dinner usually consists of brawn, roast peacock, and mutton pies.

In France children put their shoes on the doorstep on Christmas Eve so that the "Christ Child" can fill them with gifts. Their Christmas meal includes Strasbourg (liver) pie and black pudding.

In Germany many families have a separate Christmas tree for each member. Each member decorates his own tree with lights and candy. German families usually make their own gifts which they begin making weeks before. On Christmas evening roast goose is usually served.

In Norway the Christmas season begins on December 21. Cakes are baked especially for St. Thomas whose feast day falls on that day. Bells are sounded throughout the country at four o'clock in the afternoon on Christmas Day.
 In Italy the people fast the day before Christmas. At the close of the day a ceremony is held like that of the scene at Bethlehem. Afterwards gifts are distributed. According to legend, a kind of aged fairy queen comes down the chimney with gifts for the children on the Eve of Epiphany which is January 6. As the fairy queen descends the chimney, a bell is heard. The Italians like baked magi cakes with fried eels, chicken, and port at Christmas.

In Switzerland young people visit nine fountains as they are on their way to midnight church services on Christmas Eve. Each person takes three sips of water from each fountain so that he will find his future husband or wile waiting at the door of the church, as the legend goes.

In Sweden the Christmas season begins on December 13. Swedish children believe that elves help them with their tasks. As a token of thanks, the children set out food for the elves at night. Fish is the main Swedish dish of their Christmas feast.

In Yugoslavia children celebrate the second Sunday before Christmas as Mother's Day. The children, while their mother is seated quietly, tie her feet to a chair as they shout "Mother's Day, Mother's Day, what will you pay to get away?" She then gives them gifts. The next day the father receives the same treatment.