The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-12-28
How ScandinaYians Celebrate Christmas
Day.

Jul (Yule) is the great Swedish festi-
val. but IL was FESTIVAL among the
Scandinavians long before the birth of
our Savior They commenced the year
with the longest night. for, according
to them, night, darkness and cold pre-
| coded daylight and warmth. The
longest night comes on the twenty-first
of December. Odin, who lived about a
hundred years before Christ, ordered
that at this season a great sacrificial test
should be observed, lasting during the
period when the lengthening of the
days was hardly perceptible. This fes-
tival, called the Jul blot, continued, ac-
cOrding to some, until the 18th of Janu-
airy; according to others, until the close
of the month. As there was only four
days difference between Jul-mat and
Christmas, when Christianity supplant-
ed paganism, there was little difficulty in
making the change of time, and the
heather Jul, retaining its own name
and some of its old Observances, was
transformed into Christmas.
Preparations for the coming Jul are
made long beforehand. While the grain
is unthrashed the choicest sheaves are
selected from which to brew the Jul ale
and bake the Jul bread. On Julation,
the day before Christmas, the cattle
must be let out from the cJw-houSe and
driven TO water an hour earlier than
common, and returned before noon,
otherwise the next harvest will be late.
The Swedish peasantry have the same an
tipathy TO forests which characterizeS our
pioneers; all the trees are carefully cut
down around their dwellings. But at Jul
young pines, stripped of their bark and
lower branches, are set out before the
house; and as the sun goes down
sheaf of unthreshed grain is hoisted on
q pole from the house-top for the benefit
of the small birds, for all creatures
must have reason TO rejoice on the day
when Christ came into the world.
Meanwhile, within the doors, the wo-
men have been busy securing and
Frightening the room and household
utensils. The best garments of the
faml " are got out and hung on the
walls, for they think the Jul fire shin
ing upon them will preserve them from
the moth. The servants then proceed
to the cattle house. A mess has been
prepared, composed of the same mate
rails as the dinner OF the family: a por-
ton of this and a portion of the
choicest forage are given to each COW,
with the words: This is Julation, 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 morn
ing. The poultry are RECALLED with a
dish of Jul-grot. Il kind of pudding of
-four or rice and milk. The very watch
dog is unclaimed this night, for it
would be pity that the poor fellow
should be tied up and miserable. From
the position of the cattle augurie5 are
drawn as to the coming harvest. If
they are laying down, the crops will be
abundant; if they are standing. they
will be scanty. 1t possible. a few hairs
from a newly killed bear are put into
each crib; this, ii is supposed, will act
as preventative against the attacks OF
these ferociouS animals during the en-
suing year.
When night is 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 4 swiue-and a large
loaf of bread, called Jul-boar, IS always
placed on the table. This is an I'M
doubted relic of heather times; tor the
boar was especially dedicated to the
god Frey, the g.ver OF light and sun
shine. because it was said that this ami
NAL. by turning up the soil with its
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-fiTe will cause
them to be lucky and increase.
The supper concludes with a psalm,
in which all the company join. A
tankard of ale is left on the table for
the delectation of celestial visitants,
this is called "Angla OIL" angels ale.
A plate of stir-about, n little tobacco,
and some articles of diminutive cloth
ing are left here and there for the
Tente-Gubbe," or little old man of
the house. a sort of friendly elf, upon
whose goodwill much depends. He is
supposed to have the form of little old
man not larger than a child The few
who profess TO have seen him describe
him as clothed in gray home-spun, with
a red night-cap and clumsy shoes. His
special Office is TO watch around the
house and cattle-sheds. aud see that ev-
ergthing Is kept clean and tidy. and
that the animals are well cared for. So
long as he remains with The family all
goes well; but if he be displeased. and
be.akes him elf elsewhere, misfortune
is sure to follow.
This is the season OF the year when |
all dear. good wives 60 down town and |
buy a handsome Christmas present for |
their husbands The gift is hidden /