Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-23
BRITISH yuLsTIoE CUSTOMS.
Quaint Ceremonies That Cluster Around an
Enulish Christmas.

The burning OF the yule-log was one OF
the chief customs which was incor-
porated into English Chrlstmas-tide OBJ
servances from the Scandinayians. who
had Feast Of Yule. when they burned
logs, etc, to Thor. The huge legs which
were consumed In the lordly halls OF
medieval times were usually lighted
with an unburned fragment Of last years
log for luck. Herrick says:
with the last years brand
Light the new block, and
For good success in his spending.
On your psalteries play.
That your surer luck may
Come while the log Is attending"
In some parts. so long as the log lasted.
the servants were allowed ale at their
meals. If fat-foot woman came into
the apartment where the log was being
burned. or any barefooted person. II was
considered a sign OF ill-luck. Travellers
who met the yule-log as 1t was being
borne TO its burning raised their hats to
It; those who helped it on its way were
free from spells Of every kind.
The customs of Christmas-eye are in
Vulnerable, and seem to have been sort
of foretasts Of the twelve jolly days TO
follow. Hot cakes. spiced ale. and fru-
merry were lavishly dealt round, while
carols were Justify chanted forth. Among
other places whore carol singing was
carried on, Merton College. oxford Is
mentioned-the fellows sat round the fire.
sang carols, and drank a grace cup to
one another. Now, the yule-log was
lighted by maidens with clean hands.
1t was said:
Wash your hands. or else the fire
VIII not tiend to your desire;
Unwashed hands. ye maidens know,
Dead the fire. though we blow"
On Christmas-eve in Hertfordshlre. the
farm servants took large cake, pierced
1t with a pole. and then fastened IL on
the horn OF an OK. repeating lines as they
did so. to the effect OF wishing their mas
ter good harvest during the ensuing
year. The men and boys then ranged
round the OK. when. II II CHANGED 10 throw
the cake before II, the sweet loaf became
the perquisite of the boys, but IL behind.
OF the men Bread made on Christmas
eve was said never to become mouldy.
The Kings of England have always kept
Christmas as a special festival. In tho
Norman days 1t was celebrated at Wind
sor, Gloucester. or York. william the
Conqueror chose to be crowned on Christ
mas-Day. and Edward III. added lustre
to the day by instituting the Order OF the
Garter in 1913. Henry V. carried out the
precept Of good Will and peace to alP'
by ceasng hostilitleS on the Christmas
day that fell during the siege OF Rouen,
and proclaiming by heralds that he
would feast right royalty any OF the
enemy who would come to the English
camp" For a long while IL was the Gus
tom Of courters 10 make costly Christmas
and New-Years gifts to the King or
Queen-jewels. purses of gold, and often
personal garments, such as the richly en-
broidered smock @ which was presented
to Queen Mary.
Some quaint superstltons about Christ
mas-tide still linger in various parts OF
England. In Devonshlre, for instance, II
is believed that bread baked on Lnrist-
mas-eve never becomes npuldy, while II
Is everywhere considered unlucky ana I'M
seemly seemly to use mistletoe in church
decorations. In Oxfordshire any man VINO
refuses to bring. at the request or the te-
males Of a house, sufficient greenery to
decorate 1t, becomes the victim OF yari-
GUS practical Jokes, and is excluded from
the privileges Of the mlstletoe bough. The
superstition that mince-pies should not be
eaten before Christmas-eye, but should
certainly be first tasted then, Is a very
common one In Englarl.
It Is not generally known that the
Christmas tree-nOw almost housenolu
word-was introduced there by the Queen
As il ia a German custom to distribute
the seasons gifts by its aid. the propd-
blity is that the Prince Consort hrst
fnA
wears the Royal household was almost the
onlv one where the Christmas-tree was
seen. Now it usually makes its appear
ance on New-Year' SIEVE; and Her MaJes-
ty likes. when she is well enough, 10
distribute the gifts herself. No one al
Court is forgotten; even the servants
have a special tree TO themselves anu
each receives a gift from the Royal hands-
The Queen takes great delight IN present
giving: indeed, she devotes so much
thought and tact to the matter that every
recipient. from her Private Secretary 10
the latest grandchild, IL able TO pronounce
her gift to be Just what was wanted.
she is a most indulgent Granny, max
ing point of having the small ioiKs
with her at the festive season, and never
Directing 10 the noises made by drums
whistles, and mechanical animals.
There Is a rather pretty superstition
about the apple-trees common In the Nia-
land counties If the sun shines through
the apple-trees on Christmas-day' there
will be a good yield the following year.
This. no doubt. had it's origin In the iact
that II the Christmas weather Is Drlght
and seasonable. the probability Is that
a large crop OF fruit will follow as
natural consequence.
In Devonshre the yule-log Is generally
from an ash tree, and is called the
'ashen faggot." which is understood 70
be burning all the twelve days OF Christ
mas. The tradition is that Joseph MADE
n fire Of ashen boughs by which the new
born Saviour received his first robing.