CHRISTMAS ABROAD

Evening Star, Issue 20058, 26 December 1928, Page 6

CHRISTMAS ABROAD

CEREMONY AT THE GROTTO PROCESSION TO BETHLEHEM Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright JERUSALEM, December 25. (Receded December 26, at 9.45 a.m,) Tourists and Christian pilgrims from as far afield as China and Japan joined to-day in the picturesque ceremonial around the grotto, which, according to tradition, served as the stable for the village hostel wherein the Saviour was born 1,928 years ago. The procession, headed by the Latin Patriarch and an escort of the Palestine mounted police, and composed of hundreds of clergy and natives in brightly coloured robes, formed at midday in Jerusalem and proceeded from the Jaffa Gale to Bethlehem. Many well-dressed well-to-do Europeans accompanied the throng, some as onlookers and some as devout worshippers. At this annual glorification of the birth of Christ the weather was more like an English spring day than the December of the Christmas card. The sky was cloudless, and the sun glinted on the jewels in the Patriarch’s mitre and the accoutrements of the guards. The ground was ablaze with a huge silver star lit by one hundred twinkling candles around the site of the manger, which is now marked by a marble monument built over the grotto in the Church of the Nativity. Into and around this moved the throng. The observance continued till midnight, when the worshippers reassembled in the Church of St. Catherine, adjoining the Basilica, and lor* mod a procession to the grotto, where the image of the inlant Saviour was laid iu the place of the manger, where it will be kept until' the Epiphany. Protestants commenced observance of the holiest day in Christendom by a watch in the bright moonlight in the Shepherd's Field, situated cast of Betlilehem. They spent the night under clear stars, and sang carols iu the courtyard adjoining the grotto.— Australian Press Association. IN ROME GIFTS OF TOYS FOR CHILDREN. Press Asiocialbn—By Telegraph—Copyright ROME, December 25. (Received December 26, at 10.25 a.m.) The Italian Royal Family celebrated Christmas quietly in the Villa Savoia, near Rome, and according to custom hundreds of children in the asylums of the city received toys as Christmas gilts from the Queen. The Pope officiated at Mass iu a private chapel and gave communion to a number of his relatives. Signor Mussolini and his family celebrated the day at his residence in the city, and wore joined later by the members of the Italian Naval League.— Australian Press Association. M. BRIAND AS SANTA CLAUS Press Association—By XsOeraph—Copyright. PARIS, December 25. (Received December 26, at 11 a.m.) As the result of the decision of the French Senate not to complete the work on the Budget, its prominent members were able to spend the holiday at their estates and elsewhere. The Foreign Minister (M, Briand) went to Cocherell where ho acted as Santa Claus for the children of the town, according to custom. M. Poincare, M. Leygncs, and M. Painleve went to their estates. M. Clcinciicean motored to the tomb of his friend, the artist Claude Mi?ney. upon which be placed flowers.—Australian Press Association.