The Arizona sentinel., 1886-02-06
CHRISTMAS IN NORWAY.


 Celebrate the Great Christian Holiday.
 On the morning of the festal day the roads are thronged with sledges convey ing visitors to their destinations, the brass bells which decorate the hardy lit tie Norwegian horses making a merry tinkling in the frosty air. The very air itself seems to palpitate with the sweet chimes of the bell melodies; and is not a sleigh ride one of those delights that defy rivalry? The day begins with divine service. The churches are very plain, and the worship simple; and whenever the service is over relatives and friends assemble at different houses according to invitation, where a pre- liminary repast, consisting of a variety of fviands, liquors and sweets, is partaken of before dinner, which (woe to the dyspepticD follows immediately after. The first courtesy, however, shown to a male guest on entering a Norwegian house, no matter at what hour of the day, is a pipe of tobacco. The din- ner is a lengthy affair; fish, poultry, meat, entrees, cakes and preserves go round and round again and again. Be tween the courses intervals are allowed for the singing of national songs, the giving of standard toasts, and the drink ing of healths. To the Norwegian the words GGnale Norge cold Norway'D have powerful spell in them, and on festive occasions like the present they can not be resisted. In an instant Ganale Norge is repeated by every voice; the glasses are filled and drained, and then bursts forth in a simultaneous chorus the national song of Norway, "For Norge" There is no nation in the world that can surpass Norway in this enthusiastic love of country. When the dinner is over the chief guest rises, saying, Tak for naarden (thanks for the meal or entertainment), which is re- sponded to by all present, who bow to the host and hostess at each end of the table. At seven o'clock tea is handed round, then little later in the evening comes a knock at the door, and some four or five boys enter dressed in white mantles; the tallest of these holds large colored lantern shaped like star, while another bears a small illuminated glass box contain ing two little wax Dutch dolls, one of which represents the Virgin Mary sit ting in chair and the other the infant Jesus lying in cradle. A bit of handle is moved by wire from side to side of the lantern, making it appear as if the doll mother was rocking the cradle at h<or.f fha ko represent the star in the East which guided the Magi to the lowly manager These mysteries are all explained during the exhibition in the words of caroL chanted by the boys. After these lads are dismissed with some slight refresh ment or bonbons and a little money, another band of masked performers. rather older than the last, make their appearance. They are dressed in mili- tary fashion, with cooked hats on the head, tattered-looking uniforms, pur- posely decked with tinsel, and wooden swords suspended at their sides. Chey are very like our own November Guys, only much more Interestingly These maskers per- form all kinds of fantastic tricks for the duuSeHeHG Ol Ine SpectdIOIS, COHSplcu- ous among them being q pantomimic military review. No one in Norway ever refuses to admit these performers of their annual mummeries, or sends them away empty-handed. Numerous diversions and games now follow among the household; supper is announced and partaken of; the gentlemen settle down for general smoking, and the ladies disappear upstairs, where an eager talk ing and chatter of tongues goes on as they put on their wraps Then come the sledges to the door; hearty shakings of the hand, with loudly expressed good wishes, are exchanged all round, and the happy guests are borne swiftly over the snow, glittering in the moonlight, to their respective homes Chanabers' Journal.