The Red Cloud chief., 1883-12-28
Christmas Surerstitions.

1t Is a curious fact that the forms and
traditions of our ancestors, connected
with our festivals, have been retained
and handed down from ono generation
to another with very few changes;
none, however, except where c~iviliza.
titn has softcned and beautified them.
fr he mistletoe and holly, the Yule-
ia and Christmas candles, are NJ full
of meaning In the New York homes of
to-day as they. were in merry old En-
gland when Herrick wrote:
""Kindle the Christmas brand. ana then
4 TIL sunset let II burn
One of the earliest customs Is the
decorating of our homes and churches
with evcrgreens mt Christmas-tim for
Our forefathers believed that the dec
orttion of private dwellings in rccogni-
ton OF the Incarnation of the Divinity
wN,ld, by marking the homes Of the
believers, preserve them from the in.
%tr,ision and evil auspices of fiends.
II is regarded rs q very unlucky cir
cunstance il any leaves or spriSs are
lrvpped or remain behind on the re-
moval Of the church or home decora-
ions, and all must be cleared away be-
hre Candlemas-day February y; and
m Sno account should the sacred mistle.
bs Dough the standing symbol Of
NUxgh-and-ready Irritation, without con
~'riSusness or necessity Of harm-be
cast into the street or carelessly throws
tside; for love luck il must be burned
10y The oldest unmarried member of tn,
family. male or female.
II II wishes to revive an old Romau
4 natnm Iat hin, cnpI m l.ll., I....l A -
lis .friends as typical of good wishes.
end 1t may have a double meaning by
adding a sprig of mistletoc, the glcari.
inglberries conveying a message OF hope.
fh1f the holly carries good wishes and
I brdsight or fOrethought, the mistleloe
H. ~ assurance of ~ surmount d:fi-
cul6es,' and many a wife has been won
BY This little token Of assurance.
From the remotest times of the burn
inSsof the Yule or Christmas log, it has
hail all kinds of supcrstitions connected
Win 1t. In some parts of Europe the
log must be of n certain kind Of wood,
~ 10 Devonshire it consists of fagots of
ash bound together, and an extra glass
ftorn the cider barrel is expected by tho
g,oet for every crack made by the blaz-
irg fagots. One log is the general GUS
tom, but VIC have known n hod of coal
selected for that purpose when wood
wis inaccessible. A bit of the Christ
mas log must always be saved
to eight next years Christmas
file with. and be sure that
thu fire does not 60 out during tie
nigM, nor until Christmas Day at sun
down. In many homes music Is played
d, ring the er,mony of lighting the
lire. but on no &C count must it b. light
ed before the proper time, which is at
sunset. Christmas Eve. The Yulc or
CT tetmas candles should b, lit soon
NJ err but for good luck the light must
be taken from the Christmas fire. 1t is
very bad luck to snuff them, and they
sh ,nki be set on the highest shelf or
tallein the room. The Oldest person
present must extinguish them, but II bit
OF each must be saved to relight on
NtNYcar's Eve, to see the old year out
an ! The new year in. 1t is considered u
ve..y bad omen for any one to leave the
tai Ia during supper or Christmas Eve
un III tall are through. and ses that there
10 iln even number of guests, if you will
ms ks friends during the year. Be sure
NV " NV tu's Sbht uUtOtICuCi
in The house. and let no one tempt you
to Gu, them before the proper time.
Neyar refuse to take or give food and
shtlter at Christmas time.
III very lucky for n child to be born
ON Christmas Day, especially if the day
falls On Sunday. And the girl who is Il
bri opn the 18th of December is said TO
have nothing to fear.
1T no other time is n black cat-a
strt nse black c~at--thought to be lucky
but q Christmas. Ii one comes into
the house. it is a sur sign of money.
Noperson but the boys must presume
to 10 Out-Of-doOrs on Christmas morn
ing until the threshold has been con-
sec saepd by the incoming footsteps Of a
linn folks what hab short talking
OIL Christmas Day or night
won't hab no luck in friendship, love
or pocket" said an old colored nanny;
and b sure you wish some one q "Mer-
Try Christmas" before you put your
Shoes and stockings on; and for real
|gooi luck kiss the Oldest person in the
h0use first on Christmas morning, and
the Youngest On New Years morning.
Hoyptf's Ba!ar.