Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1886-12-30

CAKE In the form OF CONN, OF more
the "manger," and the
baby cake" are in evident allusion
to the infant Jesus, and His manger
cradle. So of many of the customs,
both of the past and present, con-
nected with our Christmas festivities.
In connection with these observances
there were many innocent supersti-
tions, that our more refined civiliza-
tion has discarded, but which in
those remote, and darker periods,
were comparatively innocent, and
contributed greatly to make
the occasion one of great joyousness
as we'll as of real pleasure. Some OF
these Christmas customs were quite
amusing, and would not be unpopu
lar, are not, even in our day. kiss
ing under the mlstletoe," is famil
lar phrase. Some of our readers may
not understand the allusion. We will
explain. In former times, and even
now, in parts of England and the
British Isles, on Christmas day, the
mistletoe was hung about the room,
and hall, at convenient height to be
easily reached. and the berries pluck
ed from its branches. 1t was le-
gend of those early times, and even
now in many places, that the maid
who was not kissed under the mistle-
toe, would not be married the follow
ing year. This ceremony was not
correctly performed, unless at the
same time berry was plucked from
the branch above them. The chances
for marriage were supposed to be
Increased, with every additional ber-
ry thus plucked, with its essential,
kissing accompaniment. Tie some
what similar custom among some of
our young people now, especially
when some of US, now old, were
young, and quite popular too, of
'picking the cherries, one, two, three"
or more, may have had its origin in
this plucking of berries, and kissing
under the mistletoe.
This was certainly very pleasant
and easy, as well as novel, preventive
of ''old maidism." It is said that
the mistletoe IS becoming scarce in
some parts of the country, and as a
consequence, the number of old
maids, and bachelors, is on the in
crease. To remedy the evil growing
out of this scarcity, an effort has
been made successfully, l believe, to
increase the crop of mistletoes by
sort of grating process. This is
certainly very philanthropic, and will
doubtless meet with favor, and re-
ceive the grateful Acknowledgements
as it ought from those who have hith-
erto been deprived of the hymenial
benefits, which this kissing under the
mstletoe undoubtedly confers upon
the fortunate recipients.
In that part of our country where
our statistics show a falling off in the
per cent of marriages, the propagation
and careful cultivation Of the mistle-
toe, and this medicinal use of it, as
preventive, is piously recommended
by the LEDGER. This evergreen is
supposed to grow in great abundance
in Mexico and vicinity. There are,
however, still some sad cases, Eve
need not name our melancholy
friends) men and women, in our
midst, who still pine and suffer on in
lonely bachelor and maidenhood,
within easy reach of this panacea for
all their loneliness and ''forlornity.
We most affectionately commend
such to each others tender care DUR
ing the present Christmas opportu-
nifty. Our readers have read of the
"Yule log," and the 'Yule feast." "
This was an immense log, similar to
the great ''back lock- so familiar in
the days of FIRE places. The "Yule
log was cut the proper length, and
then drawn into the house, with ropes
attached, with great rejoicing, and
much amusing ceremony, and placed
in the great fireplace for the Christ
mas fire and festivity. The word
"Yule" comes from the more North
ern nations of Europe and was BY
them applied to their annual celebra
ton of the birth Of Sol, or the sun
''Yule'' means wheel, and refers te
the annual revolution Of the sun, tc
their minds describing a great circle
or wheel, hence their feast of "Yule'
or the "wheel." So it is, this Gus
tom, like many others among US, ii
of pagan origin. At these Yult
feasts in "Merrie England" a centu
ry or two ago, they had a peculiar
dish, called 'Hackin" or ''great sau
sage" so called from being hacked
or chopped very fine, perhaps the ori
gin of our modern sausage. Thi
was made into great roll, and boiled
at daybreak. A very funny custom
obtained in regard to this ''Hackin.
which must have been very amusing
to all, save the cook. II the "Hackin'
were not done, at exactly the appoin
ted time, two brawny fellows seizet
the maid, or cook, one under eacl