The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-12-19
Christmas Superstitions.

ohA |
r. &c q curious fact that the forms ana
traditions of our ancestors, connec'eu
With onr festivals, have been retalllAu
and handed down from one generation
to another with very few cnaa .s:
nome however, except where c:viilza-
zion has softened and beautitiea them'
t Gov" tho mi.tletoe and holly, the lule,
loo and Christmas candies are as luz ~
Of meaning in the New YORK homes 81 "a
to-day as thew were in merry olo ELI
clani when Herrick wrote:
"Kindle the Christmas brand, and then
Till sunset let it burn. >.
Ono Of the earliest customs Is inc
decorating of our homes and churcaes
With eyergreens at Christmas -tlme' lor
onr forcfathers believed that the acc
Grafton of private dwellings IN recosni-
t;on of the incarnation of the Divlnlty
would, by marking the homes OF inc
believers. preserve them from the IN
trusion and evil auspices OF flends.
II is regarded az a very unsucky cil
cumstance if any leaves or spfiS,
dropped or remain behind on inc .e
moval of the church or home oecoIa-
lions. and all must be cleared away oo
fore Candlemas-day february y: anu
IN no account should the sacred m sue
toe ough-the standing symbol OF
oueh-and-ready Irritation. without con
co;oI,sneSs or necessity Of harm-oe
cast into the street or carciessiy throw:
aside: for love luck it must be burne"
| nv the oldest unmarried member OF th:'
family. male or female.
If one wishes to revive an Old Romao
custom. let him send holly branch ID
his friends as typical OF good wishes
and it may have double meaning ~
adding sprig of mistletoc, the gleasl-
inc berries conveying a message OF nope;
for if the holly carries good wishes ana
foresight or iorethought, the mlstleioe
is an assurance of ~ surmount din
culties.'' and many wife has been won
by this little token Of assurance.
From the remotest times OF the burn
ing of the Yule or Christmas log, it has
had all kinds of superstitions connected
with it. In some parts OF Europe tnc
loo must be of a certain kind OF WOOD,
,, as in Devonshire it consists Of tagots OF
, ash bound together, and an extra glass
, from the CIDER barrel is 'cxpected by INC
: guest for every crack made by the blaz-
inc facots. One log is the general Gus,
tom, but we have known u bod OF coal
= selected for that purpose when wooe
was inaccessible. A bit of the Christ
mas log must always be saved
!. to light next years Christmas
= fire with. and be sure that
IL the fire does not 90 out during the
night nor until Christmas Day at sun.
down. In many homes music is played
o during the ceremony of Lighting the
= tira. but on no &C count must it b. light
=, ed before the proper tine, which Is a
y sunset, Christmas Eve. The luie o.
;, Christmas candles should b. lit soor
~ after, but for good Luck the light mus
be taken from the Christmas fire. 1t i
j.. very bad luck to snuff them, and the.
8 should be set on the highest shelf o
y. table in tho room. The Oldest persal
~ present must extinguish them, but a bl
- Of each must be saved to relight o.
" New Years Eve, to &c the old YER on
., 9. and the new year in. 1t is considered
~ very bad omen for any one to leave tn
~ table during supper on Christmas Ev
~, until all are through, and see that ther
40 is an even number of guests, If you WI
u make friends during the year. Be sur
~. and have cheese and cake untouche
~, in the house. and let no one tempt yo
~ to cus them before the proper time
'' Never refuse to take or give food an
30 - shelter at Christmas time.
nv, M, 1t is very lucky for child to be Dor
Nv on Christmas Day, especially if the ola
W. falls on Sunday. And the girl who is
he bride on the 18th Of December is said
" have nothing to fear.
At no OTHER time is black cat
IN strange black cat-thought to be LUCK
i' but at Christmas. Ii one comes I'M
ho the house, it is a sure sign OF money.
. ns No person but the boys must presun
"a. 40 to 20 out-of-doors Oh Christmas morl
l l,'t ing until the threshold has been co
~ - secrated by the incoming footsteps OF
nd man.
a n.' "Dcm folks what hab short talkir
%. 90. (quarrels) OIL Christmas Day or mig
wa va won't hab no luck in friendship, 10
l"a or pocket" said an old colored mamm
,on and be sure you wish some one No
'0n ry Christmas before you put 20
;od shoes and stockings on; and for re
wv good luck kiss the oldest person in t
-. house first on Christmas morning, a
y the Youngest on New Years morning.
al Harper'S Bayar.