Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-12-14

DANES caught under the miStletOo bough.
We can hear the laugh and the merry
Jest, and list to the olden tale. Those
were the days when
"a Christmas gambol oft would cheer
poor mans heart through half a year"
Tradition is so rich in material that
one must look hard or the labyrinthine
mazes of the antiquarian will swallow
him up, and shut him away from any
sympathy with the general reader.
Whence arose the custom of decking
with green's the wise ones do not seem to
be quite clear, but the practice was I'M
doubtedly of very ancient date, and al
most universal. Poetry and romance
cluster around these sacred evergreens,
where woodland spirits were supposed to
dwell, and volumes could be written
upon this most engaging theme. The
mistletoc, "scorning the sordid SOIL"
was held to be especially sacred when
found upon the oak, its mysterious origin
adding to its Importance and sanctity.
Even the name, mistletoe, has linger-
ing and musical charm that calls up
host of old-timc memories and in spite
of ourselves we wander away to the en-
chanted halls and the castles of the past
According to some botanists the name
has Celtic origin, and comes from the
word WocS0gl, meaning moss; others say
it is from the Icelandic WiStiHeiR, signi-
flying II slender twig. The family of tho
mistletoe is largo, numbering several
hundred, the researches of modern bot
anists having added good many; but
tbn Inor 10, b,o i.,t b,
toe of old England, the ciscum album,
with its tender, greenish blossoms and
its white, waXy berries.
The birds are said to be very fond Of
these berries, which have such a viscous
quality that they are apt to adhere to
the bills of the little creatures, until to
be rid of the cncumbrance they persist
entity strike them upon the banks OF
trees, and thereby plant the seed in
definitely.
The holly and the bay, the ivy and
the laurel, all offered protection to the
sylvan deities, and kept alive the fanci-
full myth that these elusive spirits re-
paired to houses sodeckcd, and remained
till frost and snow gave place to sun
shine and blossoming fields.
Around the Yule-log, anciently called
"Yulc-clog" or "Christmas-b block"
many were the merry markings in honor
of the festive day, and many were the
quaint obscrvances and customs, now
forgotten, or only known in the pages of
the old chroniclers.
In the north Ct England we read that
the servants in the farm-houses were
allowed ale at their meals while the
Yule-log continued to burn, and it is
hardly necessary to add that the log was
of respectable size. In fact, they are
spoken of again as great trees" and
much emphasis was placed upon the
huge blazing fires which were always
lighted upon Christmas Eve, with much
parade and ceremony. Then ensued days
of feaSting and frolic, often stretching
into weeks, where the wassail bowl went
round and master and servant sat side
by side.
1.-THE heir with roses in his shoes
That night might village partner choose"
Some old writer informs us that "the
boar's head soused was anciently the
first dish on Christmas Day, and was
carried up to the principal table in the
hall with great state and solemnity." A
carol was sung during the progress, and
mention is made of "brawn," "mustard"
and "malmsey!" Following this APP
pctizer comes such an array of good
things as would make anybody envious
only for the memory of our own plum
puddings and mince pies and our own
nineteenthcentury triumphs in the
way of cookery. Among the games that
enlivened the feast was one where
a mimic dragon passed bowl of roasted
apples, covered by flaming spirits,
among the guests. Whoever failed
to take an apple with his fingers came
under some kind of a penalty, and here
in lay the sport of ''Snapdragon."
Times have changed, and although tho
spirit of Christmas Day remains, it's ex-
preston takes different form, and the
tree, loaded with its exchange of loving
gifts, stands foremost as the browning
feature of modern observances. To even
speak of the Christmas-tree calls up
such host of German superstitions,
and all the beautiful stories of the
Christ-child, that it is hard to pass them
by, and only touch upon this most inter
esting and fruitful theme. Year after
year, in palace and cot, in the broad
ways of fashion and in famine's squalid
lanes, comes the sweet influence. The
German children see the Christ-child
everywhere at Christmas time, and st.
Nicholas is the bearer of his good gifts.
A German Christmas-tree is very re-
splendcnt and glittering affair. The
gifts are not hung upon its branches,
but instead, innumerable tiny candles
and colored lanterns, the whole made
still more brilliant by INTERVIEWING gold
and silver threads, which the little ones
eagerly grasp and sacredly hold, as hair
of the blessed Christ-child.
Somewhere it is said that Old En-
gland, associated as it is in all our minds
with the very essence of Christmas mer-
ry-making, knew nothing of a Christmas
tree until Queen Victoria introduced it
for the pleasure of her own children
Elizabeth A. Davis, in n. Y. Observer.