"Grandfather Frost," more widely known European circles under the Nick," was with' all the time-honoured Slavic feasting and merriment in the many hundreds of Russian homes Shanghai, January 7 still being celebrated here in the Russian community as the t Christmas in accordance with the provisions of the ancient Julian For the adult members "of the: colony, observance of the holiday Started the night previous, as 01 thodox Christmas "Eve, with the usual joyous, picturesque services in the Orthodox Churches of Shanghai. In the French concession parti arly, where. the majority of the local Russians reside, many groups and individuals could' be seen carefully wending their way homewards, endeavouring to arrive. safely. with unextinguished candle lighted during the Saviour's Natal Mass.
Nearly every Russian home blessced with children boasted a spreading, decorated Christmas under tree, ai fribuled candies and gifts whisked from Fairy Land for the occasion. Where parties were held in. cele: bration of the event, a small bunch fof hay was laid dev ly under each table cloth, reminding the guests of the material with which the Ioly Infant's cradle was lined these many hundred years ago. The menus for the occasion, too, were of special nature, consisting only. of sh, Tegetables and "Kosta" "without fwhch any Orthodox Christmas Eve would be a failure. On the. side, however, the guests guld feast thei eyes upon the regulation, traditional Toast goose, doomed to be consumed on the morrow, in accordance with old established' Slavic custom.
"With most of the Russian business houses. and. stores closed, the. day twas celebrated much as, Christmas Days re observed eyerrwher. fa Ing and good comradeship being very Tmuch invevidence. As in England, the children called on their friends in Ue morning boars, singing: carols and receiving the usual fees of nuts, Swects and oranges in Tetum.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.