Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
Christmas in sweden.

JM (Yule) is the great Swedish festival,
but it was festival among the Scandina-
VANS long before the birth of our Saviour.
The origin of the name Jul is lost in the
night of ages. One explanation, which
appears the most plausible of all, is that
it is simply corruption of the word HjU',
"wheel," and means the annual circuit
performed by the sun; the days shorten
ing during one half and frightening dur-
ing the other the point where the longest
night and the shnrtast day met being
called JuLDaGt, "wheel-meeting." They
commenced their year with the longest
night, for, according to them, night, dark
and cold, preceded daylight and warmth.
This longest night comes on the 21st of
December. Odin, who lived about hun
dred years before Christ, ordered that at
this season a great sacrifcial feast should
be observed, lasting during the period
when the frightening of the days was
hardly percepfible. This festival, called
JulbLOt, continued, according to some,
until the 18th of January, according to
others, until the close of the month. As
there was only four days difference be-
tween Jul-mat and Christmas, when
Christianity supplanted paganism, there
was little difficulty in making the change
of time, and the heather Jul, retaining its
own name and some of it's old observances
was transformed into Christmas.
Preparations for the coming Jul are
made beforehand. While the grain is I'M
threshed the choicest sheaves are selected
from which to brew the Jul-ale and bake
the Jul-bread. On Jul-afton, the day be-
fore Christmas, the cattle must be let out
from the cow-house and driven to water
at an earlier hour than common, and re-
turned before noon; otherwise the next
harvest will be late. The Swedish peas
antry have the same autipsthy to forests
which charscterizes our pioneers all trees
are carefully cut down around their
dwellings. But at Jul young pines, strip
ped of their bark and lower branches, are
set out before the house and as the sun
COCO down shoaf Of unthreshad grain is
hoisted on a pole from the house top for
the benefit of the small birds, for all crea-
tur9s must have reason TO rejoice on the
day when Christ came into the world
Meanwhile, within doors the women have
been busy securing and Frightening the !
room and household utensils. The best
garments Of the family are got out and |
hung upon the walls, for they think that
the Juel-fre shining upon them will pre-
serve them from moths. The servants |
then proceed to the cattle-house. A mess
has been prepared, composed of the same
materials as the dinner of the family; a |
portion of this and bundle of the choic- |
est forage are given TO each COW, and the |
words, This is Jul-afton, my little one"
The horses, in addition to their forage, |
have a drink of ale, in order that they |
may be mettlesome when going to mathis
the next morning. The poultry are re-
galed with dish of Jul-grot, kind of
pudding of -four or rice and milk The |
very watchdog is unclaimed this night, |
for it would be a pity that the poor fell
low should be tied up and miserable. |
while every other creature ia free and |
happy. From the position of the cattle
auguries are drawn as to the coming har-
vest. If they are lying down the crops
will be abundant if they are standing, |
they will be scanty. If possible, a few
hairs from newly killed bear are put in
to each crib; this, it is supposed, will act
ss a preventive against the attacks of
these ferocious animals during the en-
suing year.
When night has fallen the great room
is lighted up with pitch-pine torches and
candles. Supper comes off at ten or eleven
o'clock. A pigs head-or at least some
part of swine-and large loaf of bread,
,alled Jul-boar, is always placed on the
table. This is an undoubted relic of
heather times for the boar was especial
y dedicated to the god Frey, the giver of
light and sunshine, because it was said
that this animal, by turning up the soil
with his tusks, taught man to pillow. All
the family coin and silver cups and
spoons are placed on the table, for it is
held that the light of the Jul-fire will
cause them TO be lucky and inoreases
The supper concludes with a psalm, in
which all the company join. A tankard
Of ale is left on the table for the delecta-
ton of celestial visitants; this is called
"angels-ale." A plate of stir
about, little tobacco, and some articles |
IF diminutive clothing are left here and
here for the Iente Cube, or "little old
nan of the house." sort of friendly elf. |
ipon whose goodwill much depends. HeI
8 supposed to have the form of little old |
nan not longer than a child. The few |
Who profess to have seen him describe |
him as clothed in gray home-spun, with |
ed night-cap and clumsy shoes. His |
special office is to watch around the house
md cattle-sheds, to see that every thing
kept clean and tidy, and that the ami
nails are well cared for. So long as he
emains with the family all goes well
nut if he is displeased, and betakes him
elf elsewhere, misfortune is sure to fol-
ow.-From "Folk Life in Sweden" by A.
GUERNSEY, in Harpe'''s Magazine for