100 years ago in Spokane: Spokane’s “foreign colonies” celebrate Christmas

From our archives,

100 years ago

Many of Spokane’s “foreign colonies” – meaning, ethnic communities – celebrated Christmas with colorful events.

The Spokesman-Review reported that, “of all of Spokane’s foreign colonies,” the Greeks showed the most “hilarious signs of Christmas merrymaking.”

The tables at the Greek coffee houses – including the Parthenon, the Acropolis and the Salonika – “were crowded and there was much singing and considerable demand for patriotic Greek records on the phonographs.”

This was despite the fact that, on the Greek Orthodox calendar, Christmas would not be officially celebrated for another few weeks. They were taking the opportunity to “make Christmas twice,” in the words of the “urbane majordomo of the Parthenon.”

Meanwhile, Spokane’s Scandinavian Brotherhood Lodge announced plans for a holiday celebration later in the week. They said they would “roll the Yule log” on New Year’s Eve. The event would include an indoor barbecue, musical program and “stag smoker.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1799: Former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”