Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-12-16


tree. while guns are fired End cider
thrown into the air, the company singing
the while:
Bear good apples and pears,
Barns full, bags full, sacks full,
Hoping thereby to secure plentiful fruit
year, and should the sun shine on Christ
mas day they look upon it as an augury
Of on abundant crop.
According to folk lore ii il considered
lucky for the festival to fall on Sum
day, bringing strong winds, but a fair
dry summer and greatness 70 children
born on that day; unlucky on Saturday,
in which case old people will die, as well
AZ children born on the anniversary. Fruit
and corn will fail, and the winter be Sc
we're and tempestuous. Then there are
the old lines
Winter thunder,
Rich mans food ana
Poor mans hunger.
The people of Kronz, on the Moselle,
wrap wheel in straw and. rolling IL
down hill on fire, augur whether they are
to have a good vintage. It is supposed
to be favorable il it reaches the water
alight. Straw, strewn as il used to be
In churches at Christmas time, was
deemed the best preventive against sleep
lessncss and the best protection for fruit
trees.
Christmas charms and love oracles
have peculiar efficacy. While the Ger
man maiden melts wax inSo water
through the end of key, hoping thereby
to discover the form of her future hus-
band; or, with her companioEs, taps at
the door of the hen-house, fully per-
suaded 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 determines
which will be the favored w0oer by the
one that sprouts before 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 d wife. In
all countries venturesome maidens have
peered alone into the glass, or, more
courageous still, into we'll at Christmas
midnight, hoping to see the faAe of him
who is to rule their lives. The Yrsle log has
been beset with Christmas suggestions
and observances ever since these Scan
dinayian fcasts in honor of the God Thor
Round it old feuds were forgotten, as
the liquor dubbed in the wasNaiI bowl
amid singing, shouting and marriment.
It was secured, charred and brought
home long before and finally lighted
with brand from that Of last year,
which was carefully preserved as a charm
against fire. Indeed, in Yorkshire. q
portion Of it. thrown upon the fire, was
supposed to have the power of allaying
storms. In France cherry, plum or oak
are the woods chosen, and, bprinkled
with salt and water, many heaEag prop
critics are ascribed TO them. Iii Devon
shire it IS formed Of ash faggois bound
together, and for every crack la burning
the master is supposed to furnish an adj
ditional draught of beer or cideA.
Travellers raised their hats tothe Yule
log as It was brought in, and it was con-
sidered bad omen il squirting person.
flat-footed woman, or any one with bare
feet entered while it was burning. All
who helped to bring it in were guaran-
teed against spells Of every kind. It
might, If feasible. be kept lighted till
Candlemas day, when all Christmas dec
orations must be swept away. for as many
leaves as are left 50 many COLLINS will ap-
pear and death in the house ar family
Is sure to ensue. When the Yssie log IS
lighted Yule candles should be burned.
which must be extiaguished bs the old
est person present. and no snAffers on
any account must be used. AT ST. Johns
college, Oxford, large stone candle
socket, ornamented with figures, still re-
mains for the Yule candle burned at
high table for twelve nights 81 Christ