The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1880-12-23
CHRISTMAS EVE.

Exactly at the hour of midnight, upon this
mystic eve, the cattle are said to kneel IN their
stalls, in alteration of the babe who was born in
the manager, and afterward to hold converse like
men. Brand relates that III l779 Cornish peas
ant told him, that he, with several others, had
watched the oxen upon old Christmas eve, and
Sat twelve o'clock at night they observed the
two Oldest oxen to fall upon their knees, and to
make cruel moan like Christian creatures"
This belief appears not only to have prevailed
in England, but also across the seas, as Mr..
Howison, in his sketches of Upper Canada, I"
says that Onebeautiful moonlight Christmas Eve,
at the hour of midnight, he met an Indian creep
ing stealthily along, who motOned him to keep
quiet and when questioned as TO his motive, re-
piled: me watch to the deer kneel; this is
Christmas night, and all the deer fall upon their
knees to the Great Spirit, and look up
There is a legend which says that the watch
ers may hear the ringing of subterranean bells
tolling the midnight hour upon this night. In
mining districts, the miners declare that solemn
mass is held in that cavern which contains the
richest ore that service is chanted by invisi-
BILE beings, and that the cavern is most beauti-
fully lightedby candles.
Thus sings an old carol:
IAN the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas Day, on Christmas day.
And all the bells earth shall ring
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the angels in heaven shall sing
On Christmas day, On Christmas day,
And all the angels IN heaven shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the souls ON earth shall sing
On Christmas day, ON Christmas day.
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day in the morning.
The Germans also have in traditional
Christmas bell. In the village of Moringen,
near Getengen, there is n pond called Opfer-
teich pond, sacrifcial pond. The water is
very deep, and it is said that every year at
Christmas bell is heard tolling in its depths
from the hour of twelve to one
This bell is the same which once swung in the
church tower near by, but having been placed
there without being cOnsecrated by baptism, as
was the olden custom, when it commenced to
ring out the Christmas chimes by some super
natural power, ii was hurled from its place into
the depths of of the Oferteich, and there it is be-
lieved to lie this very day, and every Christmas
eve TO rise to the surface Of the pond, toll, and
then to sink again.
Should any one desire to know the state of the
weather during the ensuing year, he has only "a
take an onion, and cutting il in two, thus max
ing twelve small cups, fill them with salt,
and let them stand until the following morning
The cups represent twelve months in the year,
and those in which the salt is found dry, will be
the dry months, and vice versa. So say the le-
gends. Sir Walter Scott says in his note ia
'1Marmion,- that ''they who are born on Christ
mas or Good Friday, have the power of seeing
spirits and even of commanding them" He
also adds that ''the Spaniards imputed the hag-
gard and downcast looks of their Philip III. 10
the disagreeable visions to which his privilege
subjected him.
On the banks of the Weser, they say, that one
must spin during the twelve days Christmastide;
but they spin toads into the house, or get black
pudding instead of yarn. This custom is faith
fully observed, and if sewing is necessary to be
done, they take it TO a neighbours house.
At Christmas all the spinning wheels are
plentifully furnished with flax, and left stand
ing to await the visit of Hulda, the divinity who
presides over domestic affairs, and who comes at
this season to reward the diligent and punish
the idle. But At Shrove-tide, when Hulda re-
turns TO her home, all the flax must he spun off
and the spinning wheels put out of sight-for
that which is spun at Shrove-tide is sure TO turn
ont ill-this being the time of holy rest.
When the sun shines, liulda is said to be
cOmbing her hair; and when it SHOWS, she is
spreading her couch She rides in a chariot
which she once caused peasant TO repair for
her, and the clippings which were left behind
were found TO he of the purest gold. Hulda is
represented ugly old crone, with DISNEY
elled, tangled locks, and if any one appears with
uncombed, bristling hair, it is a common saying
that "He has been riding with Hulda~ Let
every once henceforth keep their locks well
brushed and shining.