European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 24, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday december 24, 1969 the stars and stripes Page 9 Over Here f i i its 0ry or Presepe figurines at a store in Naples fascinate Norma Sigurt left and Amy Ufi from the Naples naval support activity during a seminar on Christmas traditions. Christmas in Naples Means eels brooms b Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau Naples Italy via san Grcgorio Armino in downtown Naples is better known to most americans As Christmas Alley. This time of year most stores and stalls along the Alley arc filled with plastic and Ceramic figures ranging from matchstick size to Barbie doll proportions. The figures arc part of pics pc the nativity scenes that Are part of the traditional and expensive Way Nea Politano celebrate Christmas. But pics pc often arc much More than the nativity scenes familiar to americans. In pres pc the baby Jesus is sur rounded by people places and things Typ ical of Naples. So the miniatures being sold in Christmas Alley include pizza ovens with simulated electric flames windmills with Blades that actually turn and fish vendors carts Complete with the catch of the Day and prices. Corinne Corwin found that the prices for scenes without any figurines Range from 6,000 lira $4.70 for a Small barnyard scene most americans would recognize to 1.4 million lira $ 1, 100. The latter depicted a Southern italian Hillside about 2 Yards Long with houses that had electric lights and a Stream with running water. Corwin visited the Alley with other americans from the Naples naval support activity. They All were part of the Asa family service Center s two Day neapolitan Christmas and new year s seminar. The americans Learned the holidays in Naples last from nov. 28 to Jan. 17, and that tradition dictates that families must cat certain foods on certain Days. It s amazing How much they spend on food Amy gee said. The Ameri cans go into debt for gifts but Neapolis tans do it for  Christmas for example would t be Christmas without eating eel. And the eel must be bought still alive on the Day it s to be eaten. It s killed just before it s cooked Cut into bile size pieces and saute cd while the pieces Are still moving. Live eel is in such demand in Naples this time of year that some sell for Smuch As 60,000 lira $47. Other customary Christmas fare in much cheaper. Lobster Catfish and Escargot arc All popular and  is another traditional Christmas food. Because it s out of season each costs 77 cents to $1.05 per Pound. The food eaten on other holidays during the season the feast of the immaculate Conception new year s eve. Epiphany is just As specific and nearly  addition to eating customary Holiday food. Neapolitan Exchange gifts repeatedly. Adults Exchange gifts on Christmas Day much As americans do. And lovers Exchange red underwear on new year s eve. Tradition says that if they Wear the color Ful undergarments to Welcome in the new year they Are guaranteed a Happy relation ship Dunn the next 12 months. Children must wait until Jan. 6, Epiphany to receive their gifts. Neapolitan also Exchange tradition Al gifts such As Mistletoe and dried Flowers on Christmas Day and hand brooms on new year s Day and the americans Learned that a local new year s eve custom can be expensive for anyone who Parks his car carelessly. At Midnight they throw out All heir old stuff right out the window George Gwynn said. If someone Parks his car in the wrong place he could really have prob lems because people throw out old toilet bowls sinks  germans open Homes hearts to Young gis Heim to by Peggy Davidson Kalser Lautem Bureau Baum older West Germany Walg Dieter and his wife sat stiffly across a table from pfc. Damon Underwood and offered an apology. My English not so Good Dieter said. Underwood whose German in t so Good either tugged nervously at the Collar of his uniform while got to know the West germans who Are inviting i Christmas dinner. By the end of the evening however the dieters and Underwood of Whealon md., had come to an under standing. They were leaning close to each other and talking As old friends with thoughts of Christmas danc ing through their Heads. Underwood a 19-year-old 6lh Field arty Soldier is one of More than 60 soldiers from the Baum older military Community who will be spending the holidays with German families As part of the Community s Christmas cheer program. The soldiers gathered in the Baum older officers club dec. 14, dressed in their spit and polish finest. They fidgeted in their chairs sipped on soda and Beer and waited to Mecl their German hosts. By evening s end Many of the soldiers were like Underwood glad that they bad come. For the last dozen years German families in the Baum older area have opened their Homes and hearts to the Young soldiers. From a few families informally inviting a few sol Diers for Christmas dinner the program has blossomed into a refined Matching of families and soldiers. The Baum older Public affairs office coordinates the pro Gram with staffers sending invitations to previous years hosts and explaining the program to the soldiers in Early november. Similar Holiday sharing programs arc conducted by military communities throughout West Germany. Some of the soldiers new to the army and newer to West Germany thought they were facing a lonely Christmas in which nobody cared. They arc learning differently. Pvt. 2 John Perez 18. Arrived in West Germany nov. 10. He wanted to make friends to meet local people. I can t spend an entire two years in the Barracks said the Supply specialist from san Bernardino Calif. Another Young Soldier told the translator with him this is my German mom this is my German dad and this is my German  although the Public affairs staff matched More than 60 families with soldiers the number is Down from last year because Large numbers of East germans also arc being entertained by families in the West said made Leine Dwoyakowski Baum older spokeswoman. That did t Stop the Buchheit family. They re hosting a Baum older Soldier As Well As a Man from East Germany. My slogan is. We have a big Home but bigger hearts said Elfriede Buchheit who was at the match up reception with her family. Spec. Mark Smith of co a 708th support in will be at their Home for Christmas. Although the 24-year old does t speak German he wanted to meet prop /. Buchheit said that meeting people is a big reason that she and her family share the holidays with others. I like to know More about american people american Iradi Nons she said. We love to have people around  the Buchheit have opened their doors to american soldiers for six years. Many of those they be hosted share More than just Christmas dinners. One Soldier comes for Fasching birthdays everything Buchheit said. The Baum older staff is careful to match up families and soldiers who have similar hobbies and can communicate. By Matching up ahead of time you relieve some of the worries and anxiety for both the soldiers and the  said col. Thomas Tysdal Deputy Community commander. We can also make changes if. For some reason the Soldier and family Don t hit it  once in a while the Host family will make a special request Dwoyakowski said. One family always asks for two tankers. The Man of the family was a Tanker Dur ing world War ii and bikes to share the holidays with soldiers who have similar experience. Even the volunteers who translate for the soldiers and families enjoy the match up reception. At the end of the evening a group of tired Happy Volunteer swapped stories. 1 put in a lot of overtime but it was Worth it said Marga Emrich Public affairs specialist. We have no soldiers left. If it ends like this it s fun. I did some thing for the Community and it feed