The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-12-24

~ disposition shown to 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 moro friendly and intimate
contact with their masters than at any
other time Of the year Throughout
Scandinavia, Germany and Austria the
peasants are accustomed to erect in
front of their cottages Oh Christmas
day pole to which is fastened large
sheaf Of oats or corn for the benefit of
the little birds, while in many districts
grain is spread outside on the doorstep
and window sills Oh the evening of Dec.
"a. The Albanians, the Montenegrins
and in fact nearly all the races of the
southeast Of Europe, irrespective of
creed or nationality, make a point Of
distributing their first largo Christmas
meal cake among the cattle, after hay
ing broken it Oh the horn of an OK,
while during the siege of Paris, when
each soldier of the beleaguering Ger
man army managed to have his little
Christmas tree, however scant or poor,
set up on Christmas eve in remembrance
of the loved cnes at home, nearly every
trooper made q point of 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 excep-
tions to be found to this rule. Thus in
Calabria it is customary among the
peasantry 1t Christmas time to place
cake upon = table and to drive the oxen
around it, those who attempt to taste
tho food being slaughtered Oh the spot.
In the isle CT Man the cruel pastime
known IS hunting the wren," and
which dates back to pagan times, is
still prac,ice,i every Cl ~istmas morning,
all tde viil:;se.a turning out, every
one armed vii, two sticks-one for
beating tho :-'lcs and the other for
throwing at IL, i:irds. The origin of the
custom is to be found in the legend ac-
cording to which "there formerly lived
in tie isle Of Man a very beautiful fairy
who exercised great influence over the
male population by means of her voice,
enticing them into the sea, where they
that fears were entertained that the is-
land would be depopulated. Eventually.
however. a knight Grant of King Ar
thurs Round Table appeared upon the
scene, and he, having discovered a
means Of overcoming the fairy's charm.
pressed her so hard with a plot for her
destruction that she could only save
herself by taking the form of a wren
While she was in this form spell was
cast upon her which compelled her to
assume tho bird s form on each Christ
mas day and decrced that she should ul-
timately 'die by human hands," hence
the cruel hunting of the wren is kept
up, ard after the birds have been killed
the children place them on ivy bushes
and carry them around in procession.
But it is in France, especially in the
western and southern portions thereof,
that the peasants made q point of intro
ducing their domestic animals il to the
celebration of Christmas not only at
home, but also at church, ON the ground
that the poor creatures having partici-
pated in the joy Of mankind at the
birth Of Christ should participate in the
annual commemoration of the event.
Thus in Brittany cattle and sheep may
be said to form part of the congregation
that attends the quaint yet thoroughly
reverent mass performed in most of the
churches of the seacoast villages on
Christmas eve. On the right side of the
altar a bower is constructed Of fragrant
pine and fir branches, with great bunch.
es of crimson berried hollies and mistle.
toe glistening among the verdure. On.
der this canopy there sits the mos.
beautiful maiden of the village, hel
hair falling on her loose white gar.
! ments, while in her arms there reposes q
young infant. Beside her stands a young
man Uaaripo q cold aphroiderod rofsa