The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1884-12-26
CHRISTMAS sUPERsTITIONs.

Christmas superssitons take many
forms. Though the day was not much
observed in Scotland, it used to be con-
sidered unlucky to spin, as causing cat.
tie to 20 mad and lame. Bread baked
on Christmas eve is said never to grow
.moldy. Yule dough kept unbroken
through the year is a preservative
against perils by fire, water or sword,
and the Normans thought from mad
dogs also. The crumbs kept till Spring
aud mixed with corn, the Danes and
Poles give as medicine for horses and
cattle. To this day, in many parts OF
Wales, eleven Christmas puddings are
boiled, one for each of the apostles, ex-
cept Iscariot. The last is only to be
eaten as the year is up, to insure good
luck. In Devonshire hot cake dipped
in cider is taken to the orchard and de-
posted in the forked branch of an apple
tree, while guns are fired and cider
thrown into the air, the company sing
ing the while;
Bear good apples and pears,
Barns full. bags full, sacks full,
Hoping thereby to secure a plentiful
fruit year, and should the sun shine on
Christmas day they look upon it as an
augury Of an abundant crop.
According to folk lore, 1t is consid-
cred lucky for the festival to fall on
Sunday. bringing strong winds, but a
fair, dry Summer, and greatness to
children born on that day; unlucky on
Saturday, in which case old people will
die. as we'll as children born on the an
niversary. Fruit and corn will fail and
the Winter be severe and tempestuous.
Then there are the old lines:
Winter thunder,
Rich mans food and
Poor mans hunger.
The people OF hronz, on the Moselle,
wrap a wheel in straw, and rolling II
down hill on fire, augur whether they
arc to have n good vintage. Ii is sup
posed 10 he favorable If it reaches the
water alight. Straw strewn as 1t used
to be in churches at Christmas time,
was deemed the best preventive against
sleeplessness and the best protection to
fruit trees.
Christmas charms and love oracles
have peculiar efficacy. While the Ger
man maiden melts wax into water
Through the end OF key, hoping there.
BY to discover the form OF her future
husband; OF, with her companions, taps
at the door OF the hen house, fully per-
shaded that she to whom the cock
crows in response will be first married;
or, not content with this, names four
onions after her several suitors, and de-
termines which will be the favored
wooer by the one that sprouts before
the twelfth night; the Russian girls
place each her separate heap of grain
on the floor, and know that the owner
of whichever the cock selects to eat
from will be first wife. In all coun.
tries venturesome maidens have peered
alone into the glass, or more courageous
still, into well at Christmas midnight,
hoping to see the face OF him who is to
rule their lives. The Yule log has
been beset with Christmas superstitions
and obser, ances ever since those Sean
dinavian feasts in honor of the god
Thor. Round it old feuds were for
gotten, as the liquor bubbled in the
wassail bowl amid singing, shouting and
merriment. 1t was secured, charred,
and brought home long before, and
finally lighted with brand from that
of last year, which was carefully pre-
served as charm against fire. Indeed,
In Yorkshire, portion of it thrown
upon the fire was supposed 80 have the
power OF allaying storms. In France,
cherry, plum or oak are the woods
chosen, and, sprinkled with salt and
water, many healing properties are as.
cribed to them. In Devonshre it is
formed of ash faggots bound together,
and for every crack in burning the
master is supposed to furnish an addi.