The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-25


be good; If backward, that will be unavorable. This
he commencement, OF tlo rural feast which is gene.
raiy prolonged TIL the following evening"
The 2lst of December, ST. Thoma5 day is generally
considered as the beginning of the Christmas holidays
and IN some places rerry peal of bells from the church
on that day Is called ringing ia Christmas" This day
may rather be Of active preparations
for The celebration Of the coming soeniy in reference
70 which the homey dlstch has passed for centuries
from generation to gcneration:---
- Thomas divine,
For baking and brewing and killing fat swine
Several public charities dispensed this day in
London and other places 10 those deemed by the minister
and church wardens or other parish officers as worthy
called "gong gooding,n which consists OF sprigs Of
eyergreens flower being presented by poor TO
their rich neighbors token Of good will and for these
il is customary present the donors with gratuy Of
money i'll return In the same county the day Is called
boiling day. aludng, doubt to the offerings given
by the poor to the rch and which ancienty called
"the Dole" In the Isle Of Thanet there is peculiar
characteristic OF this daya musical procession called
Holding which name is probably derived from tho
ancient game OF hobby horse In warwckshre th-pSor
wait upon the farmers and beg wheat, which custom is
called Going Corning and IN the County OF Hertiord
ana in Yorkshire a somewhat similar custom is OBJ
scrred day is in these counties, called humping
day" In Bedfordshire the poor supplied with the
broken yictuss the dny after Christmas day.
Every country in Europe has It's special pecalarties
our space fobds to notice all of them but the follow
ing bears strong resemblance to the Lord OF Msrue
Of ancient times that cannot avoid mentioning it,
AT Selona in Danaa, they elect king at Christmas
whose reign lasts only fortnight; but, notw hstand
ing the short duration Of his authority n enjoys several
prerogaves Of sovereignty such, FOR example, keep
ing the keys OF the town. Of having distinguished place
in the cathedral and OF deciding upon all the difficulties
disputes which arise among those who compose bis
The town is Obliged to provide him with house
suitable 10 the dignity Of his elevated situation when
he leaves his house he is always compelled to a
without robe OF purple scarlet cloth, and
rounded Ny great number Of officers. The Governor
the bishops and other dgnitares obliged
TO give him feast, and all who meet him must salute
him with respect. When the fortnight Is end the
king quits his palace strips OIL his and returns
his hovel. For length of time this pan,ommica al king
chosen ffon amongst the mobiles at present his cleo
ton has deyo,ed upon the lowest of the people"
There is 4 custom pracscd in Sweden of hanging up
front Of every house at Christmas small shea Of wheat
for the winter provision OF the BIRDS who would without
this supply perish with cold aud hunger amid the incle
meEcies of Northern winter In reference the chrkt
celebrations Of that country Longellow tells that
the swedish peasants dance straw and the peasant
girls throw straws at the tmbered roof OF the ball
and for every one that sticks in the crack shall
groomsman 10 their wedding Merry Christ
mas, indeed For pous souls there shall be church
songs and sermons, but for Swedish peasants, brandy
and brown ale IN wooden bowf and the great yule
cake, crowned with a cheese and garandcd with apples
and upholdng three armed candcstck the Christ
mas feast They may tell tales too OF ions Iunsbrsck
and Iunkenius and the great R,idsr Finke Of Pigs
daga."
The Christmas ceremonies Of the Greeks thus de-
scribed in swans Journal Of Voyage the Medter-
'-s'Thcir churches adorned in the gsyest
manner. ! entered one in which sort Of show
had been set up, illumed via multitude OF candles
The subject Of II the birth Of Christ who repre-
sented IN the background by little waxcn figure,
wrapped up in embroidery, and reclining upon en-
broidered cushion which rested upon another Of pink
satin; this supposed TO be the manger where he was
born. Behind the image two paper bulls heads looked
unut'erablc things On the right the Virgin Mary,
and the left Of the Eastern magi Pa
per clouds, in which the paper heads Of number
less chcrubs appeared, enveopcd the whole while from
pas,eboard cottage staked wooden monk, with dogs
and sheep, and csmels, goats, lions and lambs here
walked maiden upon stratum Of socs and dried earth
and there shepherd aourishing alo his pastoral sau
The construction OF these august figures chiefly
Dutch; they intermixed with china images and
miserable daubs paper. In the centre real fountain,
miniature squrtcd forth water 10 the iuefable delight
Of crowds Of PROSTATE worshppcrs"
The German popular customs Of Santa Claus the Christ
stocking and the Christmas tree pretty well uu-
dersood in New York, and in numerous instances OBJ
served However, may give in this connection a
scrptcn BY Coesidge Of Christmas celebration at
Raizburg, in the North Of Germany, 1t somewhat diff
fers from the &C Observing the same here He
says"Thcre Christmas custom here which pleased
and interested me. The children make little presents to
their parents and each other the parents 10 their
children For three four months before Christmas the
girls are all busy, and the boys up their pocket
money TO buy these presents What the present Il to be
cautiously KEEP, secret and the girls have world Of
ccnirvarces to conceal i,sach working when they
out visits and the others not with them get
ting up in the morning before daylight &c Them on the
evening before Christmas day, of the parors is
lighted up by the children, into which the parents must
not go. great yew bough Is fastened the table
little distance from the wall, multitude Of little tspcrs
liked in the bough but no, 50 as 70 burn TN they
nearly consumed and colcrcd paper &c. hangs aud
nuttcrs from the twgs Under this bough the children
lay out great order the presents they for their
parents st conceang in their pockets what they intend
each other Then the parents are introduced, and
msnder one by from their pockets, aud
present them with kisses and embraces.
On the next day, Christmas day, In the great
parlor, the parents lay out the table the presents
Tor the children. OF sober Joy succeeds,
as this day, after old custom, the mother says
privately 70 each of her daughters and the father his
sons that which they hAv. observed most prsiseworthy
and that which meet faulty IN their conduct For
merry, and sti in all the smaller towns and villages
throughout North Germany these presents by
I'll the parents to fellow, who, in high buskns
white robe, mask, and an enormous nAx wig, per
scnaes knechi Rupert,hst ~, the Rupert On
Christmas night he goes round every house. and ssyp
that Jesus Christ, his master scot him ihiiher. The
parents snd elder children receive him with great pomp
aud reverence. while the little terri
bly, frightened lie then inquiries FOE the children
and srcording to the character which he bears from
the parents he gives them the intended presents a. if
they on, 1T heaven Jesus Christ Or, II