Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-22
Christmas In Foreign Lands.
From December Table Talk

In Burgundy, carols are exceedingly popu-
lar. Indeed. not more cherished is the Ger.
mans Christmas tree, with its glittering orna-
ments, and the Christ-child, or the English.
mans red hollyberries. mystic mistletoe. blaz-
ing hearth-fire and smoking plum pudding,
than are the ditties sung, all through advent,
until Christmas Eve. by the good folk OF that
province. Flreside gossip mingles with the
quaintly-worded praises of 1.-The little Jesus "
Bagplpes drone in the village streets. The
strolling minstrel is always accounted a well
come addition to the neighborly hearth-side
gatherings, and when Christmas Eve is past,
the piper makes the round OF the houses,
whence he fails not to issue with many a COM
pliment, as well as some small coin, by way OF
reward for the playing of his uncouth and
understanding tunes.
Wine and chestnuts provide refreshment up
to Christmas Eve; then, big supper is furn-
lshed forth to many as can assemble under
one roof. Burning brands support the huge
Sucte or Yule-log. which is believed, by the
smali-fry of Burgundian humanity, to fetch in
its wake delectable shower Of sugar plums.
Therefore, are these little people as quiet az
their superabundance Of vitality will permit
for they know that, if good, something nice
Will be found to reward them, in their slippers
or wooden shoes, on the morrow.
On the score of noise and hilarity, the
grown-up folk atone for all deficiencies Of the
youngsters. ''Noel! Noel!' echoes and re-
echoes everywhere until the midnight mass ID
said, to attend which the pious carry dirninu-
tive, party-colored tapers. amidst the jubila-
ton OF the Ginning church bells.
In Sweden, when, at their brightest, the au-
rorde ooreddes make scintillate their crimson
faichions, which rend the golden sky-curtain
to let one see the purple fleets Of cloudland
pass IN an enchanting procession before the
silver blink OF the stars, then do the peasants
dance on the straw in honor of Yule-tide, and
rustic damsels throw straws at the roof-tim.
Ders, to ascertain, by the number of straws
sticking thereon, how many groomsmen will
stand besides their brides at the altar during
the ensuing year. Songs and tales, brandy and
nut-brown ale, and great Yule-cake. cheese
crowned. apple-wreathed. and, set at the base
Tor the three-branched Christmas candlestick
are all objects OF Importance at Swedish Yule
tide festivities
In country not far from where s.the two
splrits OF the globe, the magnetic and the elec-
tric, according to Michelet, do nightly hold
carnival in the polar circle, the poor Icelan-
ders are allowed, as a rare treat, to have bread
to eat with their Christmas mutton and milk
porridge.
In southern Lapland, should the households
the seasons needs, in popular belief, the dis
gusted iule-svains, or Christmas COLLINS, will
30 befoul the woodpile that there shall be nc
getting ct its contents. There, also, 1t il, that
the girl who wishes, nuptially speaking. "a
learn her fate, places table in the center Of
q vacant chamber, and on it two elasses-the
one OF water, the other Of brandy; then, taking
broom, she must sweep the room three times
carefully against the sun; and il she 10 to enter
the married state, her future husband will ap.
pear before she completes the third round, and
drink from the water glasif sober man, or from
the brandy tumbler Il he be drunkard. Again,
II q Laplander at Christmas, before retiring,
pulls on his boots and Aings them over his lsfi
shoulder, he shall know, from the shoss point.
ing toward the door, whether long journey
or death WI BE- his portion during the new
year; but d, on the other hand, the boot toel
tvslvs-neaAh's issss q his pssssns sxistsass.