Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-28
CHRISTMAS sIPERsTITIONS.
An Interesting chapter of FOLKLORE.

Christmas supers.itions take many forms.
Though the day was not much Observed iI
Scotland 1t used to be considered uulucky
to spin, as causing cattle to 20 mad and
lame. Bread baked on Christmas Eve is
said never to grow moldy. lde dough
kept unbroken through the year is pre-
servatvc against perils by IRE, water or
sword and the NCfmOus thought from mad
dogs also The crumbs liep! TIL 5HiinS and
mixed with corn the Dhpes and Poles give
as medicine for horses ami cat le. To this
day in many parts of Wales, eleven Christ
mas puddings are bpllcd. one fDr each of the
apostles, except Isclti,i. lAe last is only
to be eaten as the year is NJ u insure good
luck. In Devonshre n hot cake dipped in
cider is taken to the orchard n1l deposi ed
in the fork"d lranch cf m apple tree, while
guns are fred and cider hr0wn into the air,
the company singing the while:
Bear good apples gul pears.
Barns ful, biss ful., sack full,
hoping thereby to secure plentiful fruit
wear, and should the sun siiue On Christmas
day they look upoa it rs IN augurY of an
abundant crop.
According 10 folk lore i is considered
lucky for the festival to fall on Sunday,
ST.. ms hi,tr., ,r, ~ ,hat
u. u.' a. @ ca,,,.ia,. l.; ,iioh 80
ny uu,ucN' VI ~ "a IT., 80
'.u peop,e y. "'s, O" -. ','I olrm ,,,;iI
fail and the Winter be severe and tempest
uous. Then there are the Old lines:
Winter lnunl"r.
l.lch mans rood ami
Poor nIIu munger
The people # Kt7nz, OF the Moselle,
wrap wheel in st'aT ANA, ijihnS IL Gown
| hill on fire, auglr whelrer tAeY are 10 nave
| a good vintage II IS supp 'sei 10 pe iaVor-
able ii it reaches tn, water a!l@ht- straw
| strcwn as L used to ne ~ cAufchcs II Cntist-
mas time, was deemed me otsl preventive
against seeplessrcss ana he best protection
| to fruit trees.
peculiar efficacy. While The Gcrmah malaen
mclts wax into water through the end OF
key. hoping thereby tn dis oyer 'he iorm OF
| her future husband; or,wiih Aef clnpah'ohs'
taps at the door OF the hen-honse, iuly per-
suadcd that she to "h1m the cock crows IN
response viii he first married Or not con-
tent win ms uames ur o3'uus u'ter iu nel
stVeral shitors ana utV r'nih'' Whicn wiz oe
the favored woo,r ny the me 'ha sprouts
Drthe lweltth Nlght' tnc hu.Hl'n Hi'is piucc
each her Sc parate hcap "l gram on lhe H'pr,
and know that the owner o. whichever tle
COCK sci CTS 10 eat iron VIII Nt hrst VIE
In all countries vcn'nrGs'mc iHsidehs nave
pcerei alone luto the Silss' or, more couI-
ag"ous still. into well al ohTis'nas MD
night, hoping 10 see me iaci ol nm VINO
is to rule tier lives. Inc ule io- mas peeh
bestt with Christmas supeisuIi9hs ana oo'
! servances ever since those SeanalnaVia.n
| fea' Is in honor OF the god lhHr' hound IL
old feuds were forgotten, as tEc nquof DUO
| bled in the wassail bowl amid Singing shout,
ing and merrlment. 1t was secured cearrea
and brought home long orio:e ana ,huaily
| lighted with brand from t"at Oh lAs' year,
which was carefully preserved as earn
against fire. Indeed, In oikshlTr, p1rti4h
| of it, thrown upon the tiFe, WAS supl osed -
lavc the rower oil aliayln% storms IN
France, Cherry, plum or ruN rre me WOODS
| chosen, and, sprlnEled with sA', a,d water
many healing proper'lesNie as2uptu 10 lhenl'
In Dcvonshire it is formed os ASH tago's
bound together, and for every crack IN ourn-
ing the master is supposed 10 IHrHlsh an
| additional draught OF ter or cider.
Travellers raised their hats t. ihi u!e log
us it was brought in, and 1t was tlnilIefeu
had omen If IL squntinG person, q naI-looted
woman, or any one with bare feet ntered
while II W. burning All VINO helpTu 70