Middletown transcript., 1896-12-26

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 at Christmas time to place
cake upon 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 wren," and
which dates back to pagan times, is
still practiced every Christmas morning,
all the villagers turning out, every
one armed with two stioks-one for
beating the bushes and the other for
throwing at the birds. The origin Of the
custom is to be found in the legend ac-
cording to which "there formerly lived
in the 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
were drowned. So long did this continue
that fears were entertained that the is
land would be depopulated. Eventually,
however, a knight errant Of King Ar
thurs Round Table appeared upon the
scene, and he, having discovered q
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 com1elled her to
assume the birds form mi each Christ
mas day and decreed that she should ul-
timately ''die by human hands," hence
the cruel hunting Of the wren is kept
up, and 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 point Of intro
ducing their domestic animals into the
celebration Of Christmas not only at
home, but also at church. on the ground
that the poor creatures having partioi-
pated in the joy Of mankind at the
birth of Christ should participate in the
annual oommemoration 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 bower is constructed Of fragrant
pine and fir branches, with great bunch
es Of crimson berried hollies and mistle-
toe glistening among the verdure. Un-
der this canopy there sits the most
beautiful maiden of the village, her
hair falling on her loose white gar
ments, while in her arms there reposes q
young infant. Beside her stands young
man wearing gold embroidered robe
and leaning on staff. while an OK, a
donkey and four sheep quietly MUNICH
corn from a couple Of managers. As
soon as the gospel has been read a
small chorister concealed in the card
board figure of rooster begins to chant
the verses, "For to us a child is born,"
initiating cleverly at the close Of each
strophe the crow Of chanticleer. The
deep bass voice Of another grown up Choir
lister hidden somewhere in the fir branch
bower above described CLOVIS" the re-
sponse Of "Ubig' (where), which sounds
as if It proceeds from the OK A tenor
chorister concealed near the sheep baas
the word Bethlehem" and then a
baritone voice. apparently proceeding
from the donkey, brays "Eamus" (let
US go thither). Thereupon the rector,
his acolytes and the entire congrega-
Hon form procession and march from
the altar to the bower where the repre-
sentation Of the nativity is arranged.
The priest, having sprinkled the mother
and child as well as the animals with
holy water, thcreupon makes his way to
the chief entrance to the church, the
doors of which are wide open. looking
usually out on to the sea. All the cattle
and the flocks Of the village have mean
while been driven into the ohurohyard
and stand crowded together in the sill
very light Of the moon around the por-
tai. Taking up his position on the top
most step Of the porch, the rector ex-
claims: "God in his mercy, my dear
children, has sent me on this radiant |
night Of the nativity to bless your cat
tie and your focks, because 1t Is only
right that the animals which constitute
your greatest help and source Of pros
perity should participate in the joy
which fills all our hearta Now lead
your f1ocks past me-"
The shepherd and cattle herders then
begin to drive the animals past, while |
the priest, dipping the sprinkler into
the silver ever Of holy water, showers |
the latter upon the horses, the asses, the |
oxen, the cows and the sheep The |
clang Of the bells around their neoks,
their lowing, their baaing, their bray |
Ing and neighing, as we'll as the cries |
and words of command Of their drivers, i
,reate q tremendous din, above which |
sver and anon rise the solemn words of |
The priest, "Benedicat vos omnipotens |
Deus, Pater ct Filius ct Spiritus Sane |
tusI'' the choristers bringing the bless
ngs to a close with q resound;ng
sAmenr'
Every one who has wintered in Spain
will recall to mind the "Missa del
3allo. !" or ''cock's mass" celebrated In
III the churches on Christmas eve, or
ather Christmas morning. The chanti-
.leer being the bird that is first to her
Id in the advent of the morning light,
he Spaniards, by happy and quaint
onceit. like to imagine that he is anx-
Gus on this night Of nights to call upon
hem even at midnight to be awake and
o salute the happy morning. Id, the
churches Of Madrid and Seville I
his midnight mass in honor Of the
'Dios Nino" is rendered with exquisite
'astoral music, castanets and tambour-
THr TRAMscRIpT q 40 I wear.