The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-12-29
Christmas Snperstitions.

Tt is curious fact that the forms ane
I traditions Of our ancestors, connectee
j with our festivals, have been retained
and handed down from one generator
to another with very few CHANGES
none. however, except where clvlliza
ton has softened and beantified them
for the nlistletoe and holly, the TUE
log and Christmas candles, are as fui
of meaning in the New York homes @
to-day as they were in merry Old IN
gland when Herrick wrote:
..Kindle the Christmas brand, and then
Till sunset let 1t burn. !"
One of the earliest customs is the
decorating of our homes and churches
with evergreens at Christmas time, fo1
our forefathers believed that the dec
Grafton of private dwellings in recogni-
ton of the Incarnation OF the Divinity
would, by marking the homes Of the
believers, preserve them from the IN
trusion and evil auspices of fiends. .
It is regarded as very unlueky cir
cumstance if any leaves or sprlgs are
dropped or remain behind on the re-
moval Of the church or home decora-
tons, and all must be cleared away be-
fore Candlemas-day February ~: ana
on no account should the sacred m site
toe bough the standing symbol OF
rough and-ready Irritation, without con-
sciousness or necessity of harm-be
cast into the street or carelessly thrown
aside; for love luck it must be burned
by the oldest unmarried member OF the
family, male or female.
1t Que wishes to revive an old Roman
custom, let him send holly branch to
his friends as typical OF good wishes,
and it may have double meaning by
adding q sprig of mistletoe, the gleam-
ing berries conveying a message OF hope,
for if the holly carries good wishes and
foresight or iorethought, the mistletoe
is an assurance OF II surmount diff
eulties, and many wife has been won
by this little token Of assurance.
From the remotest times of the burn
ing of the 7ule or Christmas log, it has
had all kinds OF superstitions connected
with it. In some parts of Europe the
log must be of a certain kind of wood,
as in Devonshire it consists of fagots of
ash bound together, and an extra glass
from the cider barrel is expected by the
guest for every crack made by the blaz-
ing fagots. One log is the general Gus
tom, but we have known bod of coal
selected for that purpose when wood
was inaccessible. A bit of the Christ
mas log must always be saved
to light next year's Christmas
fire with, and be sure that
the fire does not go out during the
night, nor until Christmas Day al sun
down. In many homes music is played
during the cers mony of lighting the
fire, but on no account must it b. light
ed before the proper time, which is at
sunset, Christmas Eve. The Yule or
Christmas candles should b, lit soon
after, but for good luck the light must
be taken from the Christmas fire. It is
very bad luck to snuff them, and they
should be set on the highest shelf or
table in the room. The Oldest person
present must extinguish them, but bit
OF each must be saved to relight on /
New Years Eve, to Sc the old ye,r out
and the new year in. It is considered
very bad omen for any one to leave the
table during supper on Christmas Eve
until all are through, and Sc that there
is an even number of guests, if you will |
make friends during the year. Be sure
and have cheese and cake untouched |
IN the house. and let no one tempt you
% cut them before the proper time.
Never refuse to take or give food and
shelter at Christmas time. /
1t is very lucky for child to be born
IN Christmas Day, especially if the dar
alls on Sunday. And the girl who is a
bride ON the 25th of December is said to
lave nothing to fear.
At no other time is a black cat-a
strange black cat thought to be lucky
nut at Christmas. If one comes into
he house. it is a sure sign of money.
No person but the boys must presume
o 60 out-of-doors on Christmas morn
ne until the threshold has been con-
ecrated by the incoming footsteps of
nan.
dem folks what hab short TALKING
quarrels) OH Christmas Day or NIGHT
Won't hab no luck in friendship, love
+ pocket, said an old colored NANNY:
nd be sure you wish some one AIer-
Christmas y before you put your
hoes and stockings On; and for real |
God luck kiss the oldest person in the
ouse first on Christmas morning. and
he youngest on New Years ,norninp.-
larpe2.'s BGzar.