The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-25

sons perhaps from India Australia elsewhere the
world over and all meet around the blazing fire that
is connected with their earliest and happiest reco
lections. And this is not picture of the past alone
This Christmas, as on other Christmases for years
/ and centuries. the same happy reunion will occur
The 'wassail bowl will be produced and
\ welcomed as joyously ever. while the
/ ripe wine. the generous apple floating on IT'S
| surface, the spicy ginger and nutmeg-all
OF which go to make up its rare and delicious con-
tentswill be served out generously and as enjoy
ably tomorrow as ever in the days OF Bluff King
Hal or Good Queen Ress.' Now, the decorating aud
ornamenting of the old homestead has gone on for
weeks That is to say lads and lssses of the vii
age have busted themselves all this time in gath
ering ivy and holly and the far famed 'mistletoe
And though these old customs come down to the
English people from the Druids of old they will be
observed tomorrow tenaciously as ever.
.'The churches win be festooned with green boughs
and bright red berries, and each old homestead viii
have its .misetoe hung in the hall us of old. I'm
der the mistletoe is looked forward to by every
country lover and sweetheart in England with the
deepest anxiety and anticpation--for there. while
the berries hang the former may kiss his love for
night only since when the last berry is pucked
the privilege
.And these pleasures in the houses of the wealthy
in England are not confined to the master and mis-
their guests. In the servants hall. at this
season, everything is free and unlimited. Blind
mans buff, forfeits dancing and snap dragon go
on with wild jollity; the Christmas candles are lit
and the yule log burns brightly in the kitchen as
in the hall above.
ENGLISH CHRISTMAS DINNER.
"But the grandest of all the elements which go to
make Christmas Day the chief festival of 'Merrie
England is the dinner. Looked forward to, from
year to the next by the children. this noble BAN
quet more than equals every anticipation. The
famed sirioin, the still more noted plum pudding,
whose memory outlives revolutions and wars,
crosses and swirns rivers, climbs mountains
and dehes time itself; the mince pies, the home
brewed ale; all these things which we. thousands OF
miles away, enjoy by Of heirship-these
remain the great staple and feature Of Christmas in
the old Country But at night the music and
dancing. 'bobbing for apples and round games
could shame our far less enthusiastic enjoyment
1t is not remarkable that with such festival whose
peculiar ceremonies have been handed down by
history and tradition from remote periods.
there should have grown up many superstitons
which are quite as firmly believed in now in certain
parts Of England before. Thus. in some
localities. the countryman believes conscientiously
that every Christmas Eve. at twelve o'clock the oxen
all kneel in their stalls bees supposed to sing in
their hives at this period; and. in the mining dis
trcts certain rich veins Of ore are reported to be
illuminated while masses sung by unseen beings.
In Hampshire there is certain tree called
the .Cadenham Oak which is said to bud
only on Christmas Day. and all over the
world. wherever it grows. tho celebrated
Glastonbury Thorn puts forth its leaves
at this time. Then the cock crows all night on the
eve of Christmas to drive away such bad spirits as
may be lingering about: and many one who has
become bested by lingering his way home has
heard the reprover of ST. Peter thus manifesting his
presence and power.
One OF these superstitions which is still held, is
thus related Hundreds of years ago there hap
dened great earthquake in Nottinghamshire.
Every house in the village was swallowed up-even
the village church not being sacred from this
sudden catastrophe. Now. every Christmas morning.
the good old danes the spot, who busy cook
ing the Christmas dinner depute their children to go
into the valley formed by this sudden abysma depar
tnre to listen to the church bells Ginning far below
in the interior Of the earth and there lay their to
the ground The children return home Mt length,
fectly satisfied that they have heard them ringing the
buried villagers to church Whatever may think
of the verify of this legend. must at least concede
that il is excellent means for getting rid OF the
children while the Christmas festivities being
prepared
THEATRES CLUB DANCERS
"a customary amusement in parts Of Eng
land Is called the Club Dance. and is performed by
the villagers on Christmas morning before the
sion or hall Of the village After its conclusion the
dancers invited in to partake of ale and braun
the braun by the way, being made Of the flesh Of
the fattened wild boar and being. of
the institutions of .olde England
'All Of these old customs exist chiefly at
the extreme confines of England, and
found mainly in the western and northern
the waits and carol singers still hold
sway as Of old In London at this season the great
scene of enjoyment is the theatre. Every place of
amusement in the city is open and for weeks rrepa-
rations have been making among the managers.for
the production OF the Christmas pantomimes. The
school boy and the shop boy look forward from
years pantomme to that of the next the two bright
the great desert of labor and discomfort; and
not alone to the Juvenile portion OF the population
il the pantomime O genuine source of en-.
joyment. The expense lavished in it's pro-
duction, the magnificent scenic and costume
Effects the spirit OF humor with which II is infused
and the taste shown in all the arrangements
nected with make it a sight well witnessing
by any one. And Harlequin Tom Noddy or the
Blond Gen and the Fairy with Four Wings holds
memory Of the spectator with entire and intense
satisfaction, until superseded by Harlequin Silver
heels or the Fairy Valet and the Silver Pomegran-
a.cs.'
| zone OF the great sights just before Christmas in
London and usually Christmas Eve. is the Smith
| field Prize show. which at this time. The
fat cattle. the prize pgsnot to mention the twenty
i've thirty pound turkeys-beine very good appe-
| Tiers for the morrow's festive banquet.
CHRISTMAS IRELAND RoaE.
| passing from England find that the rest of
Great Britain has very similar customs. modified
naturally by local sentiments and habit. In ireland
very impressive is the midnight mass which
IL performed Christi mas I've by torchight among
the hills The ancient plays stl hold the stage on
the turf here IN England. only in place Of St.
George. who is frequently prominent character in
the latter country, have here 81. Patrick intro
duced as more appropriate 70 tho Hibernian senti-
ment Dancing athletic games and other amuse-