550) 0S-— |

Pan-4me Hotel
Guatamala Uity.
Jan. Srd.e ° 1955

Dear annette, Chris, Polly, Jay and Grandma;

Back from the wilds of Guatamala and straight
to the Am. “mbassy where I found many surprizes and
long anticipated news from Home. I have never felt
the true X' mas spirit or missed the family so much
as this year. Tell P.c. and Jay they sure know what
daddy needs on his field trips-and to Grandma, I mist
say the dates had a proffesional touch, the like of
which has never been produced on the Bee production:
line. and to you, my dear senora, mucho gracias for
the splendid way in which you have conducted the
activities and X*nas for the children. It sounds like
the last week has been an active one for all. Tell
Chris that I did so enjoy her "I love you" notes and to
Jay, that this is my lucky day, to-day, in Guatamala.

I think that santa made a very good choice in the pres-
-ents this year.

In Guatamala the X'mas season seems to start
earlier and last longer than in the States. It avpears
to me that there is more celabration the day after the
occasion than on the proper. day. I actually belidve
the people do not realize the exact date until someone
starts the show. In the Uity, the occasion is auch like
in the States; but, outside in the wilds, the trend is
differents

It is really unique the way these more prim-
itive peoples improvise the natural elements into sym-
bolical signs of X'mas. For instance, they actually
. Pave the road with pine needles which is something new
to mé in decoration. Their dacorations are more com-
packly arranged and more colorful in reds, greens and
yellows. They use the fresh plants of the jungles and
wilds, such as,orchids, poinsettas, colorful epiphytes
or parasitic plants that are a mass of color and blooms

-and many other flowers of the forest. The long lines
of decoration which we string cellingward are made of
pine needles and other plant material.

Candlés which they excell in production, are
the mellow sources of light. They can create X'mas
trees from bare branches and commonly do so instead
of using our conventional fir or spruce tree.

The Catholic Church which seems to be the
dominant church in Guatamala is really enchanting to
behold, especially on the inside where the candles
are so arranged to give a most pleasing atmosphere
ef color and warmth. The condition that prostitutes
the holliness of the day is the drunken natives,
especially those individuals that are completely out—
lining the roads and sidewalks.