Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-31

SOME ODD VARIATIONS IN THE POPULAR
MYTH OF THE HAPPY SEASON.

SOME ODD VARIATIONS IN THE POPULAR
MYTH OF THE HAPPY SEASON.
In the north of Germany and on the
Rhine it is St. Nicholas on his donkey,
accompanied by his servant Ruprecht,
who makes his rounds on Christmas Eve
The little ones expect the mysterious
visitor to fill the dishes which they place
on the window sills, OF the shoes and
stockings which they thrust up the Chin
nev, with his gifts They go to bed with
the firm determination not to fall asleep
and miss hearing the donkey bray which
is to announce the arrival of the bounti-
full pair However, they are not allowed
to leave their beds until early dawn,
when n general scramble takes place.
With shouts Of delight or sobs of disap-
pointment tine various receptacles for the
expected presents are examined and the
several papers undone in which the gifts
are tied up TO prolong the suspense.
Some reveal the coveted sweets, the long
desired picture book, the prayed for fairy
doll (; others contain palpable hints of
the parents displeasuro in the shape of n
birch rod, written reprimand, etc, or
are empty altogether. The lucky recip-
tents are congratulated those under a
cloud are laughed at, and harmless fun
reigns supreme throughout the house.
Inl n similar way st. Nicholas Day is
celebrated in France on the 9th of De
cember and in Lorraine the role of Ru-
precht is played by Pere Fouettard, pre-
ceding St. Nicholas, who is seated on the
inevitable donkey, in his official robe.
with mitre, cross and long beard. In the
south of Germany st. Nicholas appears
in person on Christmas Eve or sends his
bearded servant, Ruprecht, wrapped IN
furs or blankets-the more ogre-llke the
better-with birch rod III his hand and
a well filled bag or basket on his back.
Before distributing his gifts, which con-
sist of apples, twalnuts, oranges, penny
dolls and similar trifles, he examines the
children about their behavior since last
Christmas, rewarding the good ones and
expressing his displeasure by the charac-
ter of his presents-bits of wood, stones
or raw potatoes the naughty ones.
Ruprecht is appealed to by the parents
many weeks previous to Christmas for
keeping in order the youngest members
of the family.
In Alsace the Christmas messenger ap
pears as Lady Bountiful, clad in white,
her face powdered with flour. On her
long auburn hair, made of tow, she wears
a crown of gold paper surrounded with
lighted wax tapers, holding in one hand
a silver bell and in the other basket
filled with presents. She, too, il sup
posed to arrive on donkey, and i ac-
companied by Hans Trapp, the indispen-
sable bugbear, wrapped in bear skins,
the blackened face hidden under slouch
hat and in his hand birch rod. Anxious
to conciliate even the donkey, the child
rem place bundle of hay behind the
door for its accommodation and glass
filled with wine as welcome for the lady
and her attendant, singing quaint old
German hymn.
The proceedings of Hans Trapp are
about the same as those Of Knecht Ru-
precht but the Lady Bountiful inter
cedes for the naughty children on their
promise of amendment and places her
gifts under the Christmas tree.