Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-12-19
NO. 81.
Christmnsin NORWAY.

On the morning Of the festal dav the
roads are thronged with .ledges conveying
visitors TO their destinations, the brass bells
which decorate the hardy little Norwegian
horses making a merry tmkling in the
frosty air. The very air itself seems To
palptate with the sweet chimes Of the bell
melodies. The day begins with divine ser
vice. The churches are very plain, and
the worship simple; and whenever the ser
vice is over relations and friends assemble
at different houses according To invitation
where preliminary repast, consisting Of
variety of viands, liquors, and sweets is
partaken Of before dinner, which (woe to
the dyspepticD follows Immediately after.
The first courtesy, however shown to
male guest on entering a Norwegian house.
no mntter at what hour of the day. is
pipe OF tobacco. The dinner il a lengthy
affair; fish poultry meat entrees cakes
and preserves go round and round again
and again. Between the courses intervals
are allowed for the singing of national
songs, the giving of standard toasts, and
the drinking Of healths To the Norwegian
the words GdnB Np,gT cold Norway
have powerful spell in them, and on fes-
tive occasions like the present they cannot
he resisted la an instant GdDlE Norii is
repeated by every voice: the glasses are
filled and drained. and then bursts forth in
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, Tok for mdrdea thanks for the
meal or ENTERTAINMENT, which is responded
TO by all present, who bow TO the host and
hostess at each end of the table
At : o'clock tea is handed round. then a
little later in the evening comes a knock at
the door, and some four or five boys enter
dressed in white mantes; the talest of
these holds large colored lantern shaped
like a star, while another bears small
Illuminated glass box containing two little
wax Dutch dolls. one of which represents
the Virgin Mary sitting in a chair and the
infant Jesus lying in a cradle. A bit of
candle is moved by wire from side to side
OF the lantern, making it appear as if the
doll mother was rocking the cradle at her
feet, and the lantern is meant to represent
the star in the East which guided the Mag
TO the lowly manger, These mysteries are
all explained during the exhibition in the
words of carol, chanted by the boys At
ter these lads are dismissed with some
slight refreshment or bonbons and little
money, another band of masked perform
eTs, TaJnef Oluer tnan Jne last. make their
appearance. They are dressed in military
fashion. with cooked hats on the head. tat
tered-looking uniforms, purposely decked
with tinsel, and wooden swords suspended
at their sides. These maskers perform all
kinds of fantastic tricks for the amusement
of the spectators conspicuous among them
being a pantomimc military review No
one in Norway ever refuses to admit these
performers Of their annual mummeries, or
sends them away empty handed. Numer-
Gus diversions and games now follow
among the households supper is announced
and partaken Of the gentlemen settle
down for a general smoking aud the
ladies disappear upstairs, where an eager
talking and clatter 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 horne swiftly over he snow,
glittering in the moonlight, to their
resppctiye homes CbuUIipy.S'S .Tout.u0J