Democratic messenger., 1896-12-26


Mass In spain.
al2S Among the most pleas
<SySSAS4a ing features of the uni-
49, versal good will that pre-
SR& walls AT Christmastide i'll
the old world is the kindly
~ disposition shown 10 ex-
tend the enjoyment of the festivity To
the dumb animals. which just at this
season of the year may be said to be
brought into more friendly ard intimate
contact with their masters than at any
other time Of the year. Throughout
Scandinavia. Germany and Austria the
peasants are accustomed 10 erect in
front Of their ct fiagcs on Christmas
day pole to which is fastened "a large
sheaf If oats or corn for the benefit of
the little birds. while in many districts
grain is spread outside ON the doorstep
and window Sills on the evening of Dec
~. The Albanians, the Montenegrins
and in fact nearly all the races of the
southeast Cf Europe. irrespective of
creed or nationality. make u point of
distributing their first large Christmas
meal cake among the cattle after hav.
ing broken il on the horn ut an OK,
while during the siege of Paris. when
each soldier Cf the heleagucring Ger
man army managed To have his little
Christmas tree. however scant or poor,
set up on Christmas eve i'll remembrance
Of the loved ones at homo. nearly every
trooper made point Uf leading up his
horse To see his tree and To receive his
masters ration of bread in honor of the
occasion.
Only in certain districts Of southern
Italy and in the isle Of Man are cxcep-
tions 20 he found 10 this rule. Thus in
Calabria II is customary among the
peasantry at Christmas time to place
cake upon "a table and To drive the oxen
around it. those who attempt TO taste
the food being slaughtered on the spot,
In the isle of Man the cruel pastime
known as hunting the wrcn." and
which dates back TO pagan times, is
still practiced every Christmas morning,
all the villagers turning cut. every
one armed with two sticks-one for
beating the bushes and the other for
=
custom is to be found in the legend ac-
coriing To which "therc formerly lived
in the isle Of Man avery beautiful fairy
who exercised great influence over the
male population by means Of her voice,
enticing them int the sea. where they
We're drowned. So lcng did this continue
that fears were entertained that the is
land would tc dcpopulated Eventually,
however. knight eirart of King Ar
thurs Round Table appeared upon the
scene, and he. having discovered
means Of overcoming the fairy charm,
pressed he. so hard with Il plot for her
destruction that she could only save
herself by taking the form Of wren.
While she was in this form spell was
cast upon her which compelled her TO
assume the bird form on each Christ
mas day and d, creed that she should ul-
timately die hv human hands," hence
the cruel hunting of the wren is kept
up, and after ihr birds have been killed
the children place them en- ivysbushes
and carry them around III pH sslon.
But it is in France, especially n the
western and southern portions taercof.
that the peasants m." no!Ht Of intro
ducing their domestic animals into the
celebration uf Christmas not only al
home. but also at chnrch en the ground
that TIE poor creatures having partici.
pated III the JOY If mankind AT the
birth Of Christ should participate in the
annual commcmoraiiOn of the event.
Thus III Brittany cattle and sheep may
be said 10 form part Of the congregation
that attends the quaint yet thoroughly
reverent mass performed i'll most of the
churches of the seacoasf villages on
Christmas eve. On the right side of tn
altar bower Is constructed Of fragrant
pine and fir branches, with great bunch-
es of crimson berried hollies and mistle.
toe glistening among the vPrdure. I'm
der this canopy there sits the most
beautiful maiden of the village, her
hair falling on her loose white gar
menis. while III her arms there rcposes a
young infant. Beside her stands Young
man wearing gold embroidered robe
and leaning on u staff. while an OK. a
donkey and four sheep quietly MUNICH |
corn from "a couple of managers. As
soon as. the gospel fs been = red a
small chorister conceded in the card :
board figure Of a rooser begins to chant
the verses, ''For TO 6s q child is born,
initiating clevcrly at the close Of each
strophe the crow Of chanticleer. The
deep bass voice Of another grown up cho =
lister hidden somewhere in the fir branch
bower above described "lows" the re-
iponsc Of 'Ubi?'' (where). which soug5
- If il proceeds from the OK. AttnoS
: horister concealed near the sh9f raas
the word "Bethlepm, and Sztn
baritone voice, apparently proceeding
rom the donkey. hrays "EaQu
Us go ibitherl. Ther' apSr tSc&
his acolytes and IL, eniire: CO..
ion form "a procession lad inarcF
he altar to the bower where th2%
niatioa Cf the nativity +. ...fa--.
he priest, having spi iS. the me So
MI child rs well a u, aiiimals&
.oly water. thereupnu makes his ~ay 20 S
he chief entrance 10 the chu.'h, 'no =
cors of which arc wide op,sIr iooA'ns
sually out ON to the 81, ~ '"' e''''''
nd tRc.hocks Of the Y.
while been driven into
.orv ,igh, = ,So ,,,a,a around the p6ryI
al. Taxing up his posi-. .'n ~ ~, m 'op'
most step Of re p9- 30 - /
.lairns. .Is. ." ~ Ut'i'A' my u'aR !
,i' ,.',,. has sent me this ~ ..ulant
nivl,t pf-ahe nativity 'hlesSfs your CAT
tie and voar fiocks. bccuse -. is ohT.
ri. Ut TINS ihe animals NpslrA <cnstitute
yopr er. attest help and s..lstee. of PROS
p i,y should participate ia the Joy |
which fills all our rhearts. Now |
your tiocks pas, rne.>
The shephSr.,..aaasr'ttle irerdzs then
hcgin Ia d--vn the aniiaals pass wl,lle
the pricSi. dipping tic sprinkler. Saro
thecfly,r ever of holy erfshQcrs
,ne latter upon the horses. the asses, the
oxen. the cows and the sheep. The
clang of the bells around their ncckS,