The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-12-17

sight, for that which is spun at Shrove-
tide is certain to turn out i'll, this be-
Ing the time of holy rest.
Once, when Hulda was going her
| Christmas rounds, an accident hap
pened to one Of the wheels of her char
let, which was repaired by an industri-
GUS peasant. When Hulda had de-
parted, the clippings of the chariot
which were left behind were found to
be of the purcst gold, and thus was the
peasant rewarded.
When the sun shines, Hulda is said
to be combing her hair, but the dame
seems to have been particularly noted
for her disheveled tresses; hence, if
any person goes about with tangled,
uncombed locks, he is said to shave
been riding with Hulda. :"
When it SHOWS, Hulda is reported to
be spreading her couch. This divinity
was not gifted with beauty, but is spok-
en- of as an ugly old crone, who is a
terror to all evil doors, but full of kind
ness to the worker of good.
On the banks of the River Wesser.
no good wife spins during the twelve
Christmas days, lest they spin toads
into the house, and get black buildings
instead of yarn.
One of the popular beliefs regarding
the Christmas tree is that when it's
candles are all lighted, and the shadows
of the assembled company are reflected
upon the wall, if any shadow lacks
head, that person will die during the
ensuing year.
At Christmas Eve, If an onion be cut
IN half, thus forming twelve small cups.
these cups will represent the twelve
months OF the year, The cups must
then be filed with salt, and left stand
ing until the following morning. Those
cups in which the salt is found to be
dry represent pleasant months, and
those which contain wet salt foretell
wet and stormy weather.
When Christmas happens on Sunday.
it is thought to usher in happy year.
The custom of decorating churches,
and also private dwellings, with Christ
mas garlands, was doubtless derived
from the custom of the Druids to gather
the mistletoe-boughs at this time of the
year. The mistletoe was gathered with
great solemnity, being cut with golden
sickle and placed upon white cloth by
the chief of the Druid priests. All the
attending priests. were clad in white
robes, and the.gpAistletoe was regarded
with great reversnee by the people.
It was belieEN that sprigs of the
mistletoe WORT FOUND the neck would
protect the waaNr from the witches. In
modern timd He mistletoe branches
are hung ab0 yhe doorways at Christ
mas, or suspended from ceilings, and
under these every young man is priv
legged to snatch kiss from any passing
maiden.
In Sicily and Germany the mistletoe
is placed in the house for the Christ
mas tree.
In olden times the Christmas gar
lands were all scrupulously removed by
Candlemas Day. lest they should draw
evil beings to the house or sanctuary.
Now they are frequently kept until the
commencement of Lent.
The gossips aver that upon Christmas
Eve all water is changed into wine, and
that whoever is tempted by this knowl-
edge to draw water upon this night
from the well or pond at twelve o'clock
will be punished for his temerity.
They relate that, once upon time, a
foolish woman was SO imprudent as to
go alone to well to draw water at this
holy hour, and she heard voice from
the depths of the well saying:
All water is wine
And thy two eyes are mine !"
and Immediately the woman was de-
prived of both her eyes.
Others believe that if water be drawn
in silence, upon Christmas or st. Johns
Eve, from some fountain which has
been consecratedEto divinity, and this
water be used as bath, it will impart
beauty and youth to the bather.
One of the most beautiful legends is
that of the Glastonbury thorn, which is
said to have budded upon Christmas
Eve; and another of the hop-vine.
which creeps out from the deepest snow
upon this sacred eve, is covered with
bright green leaves, and then mysteri-
ously disappears.
And thus even Nature herself pays
tribute to the solemn, consecrated
night. And through all the quaint and
beautiful legends there seems to run
the same thought, that not only the
earth, but all who dwell thereon-beast.
and shrub, and fower-proffer their
united alteration of the blessed Christ
Child upon the hallowed Christmas
Eve.
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