Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-01-07

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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 O 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 on Christmas
day a pole 70 which is fastened q 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 on the evening Of Dec.
"a. The Albanians, the Montenegrina
and in fact nearly all the races of the
southeast Of Europe, irrespective Of
creed or nationality, make q point OF
distributing their first large Christmas
meal cake among the cattle. after hav-
ing broken IL on the horn Of an OK,
while during the siege Of Paris, whom
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 love, mes at home, nearly every
trooper made q point Of leading up his
horse to SEQ 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 1t is customary among the
peasantxy at Christm2s time to place
cake upon 2 table and to drive the oxen
around it, those who attempts to taste
tho food being slaughtered on the spot.
In the isle OF Man the cruel pastime
known ~ "huntiss the wren," and
which date bak to pagan times. is
sill practioed every Christmas morning,
ell Tho vil|egess turning ouk every
one armed With two stioks-ons for
beatinG the bushes and the other ~
theowing ct NJ bisd2 The origin ofAA
custom b to - found In the legend -
eordin6 70 which there formerly lived
in w. isis Of Aaa ivory hssutifnl fairy
who exercised great influence ov@ tho
male population by meant Of her voioe,
sntioi0g tbm into the $50 where they
wess Asowned. - LoDS did this continue
that fears were entertained that tho Ia.
land would he depopulstsd. Eventually.
however. . Knight eE.ant q King Ar
thurs Round Table appeared upon the
sDens, and -. having discovered .
mems II overcoming the fAiry's charm.
pressed her 20 hazd with . plot for her
destruction that she could only AVE
herself By taking The form Of . wren.
While sho va in this form . spell was
cast upon her which compelled her to
assume the Lird's form on each Christ
mas day and decreed that she should ul-
timately Idle by human hands, hence
the cruel hunting Of the wren is kept
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 a 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 p~artici-
pated in tho JOY Of mankind at the
birth Of Christ should participate in the
annual con.memoration of the event.
Thus In Brittany cattle and sheep may
b said 10 form part Of tho congregation
that attends tho quaint yet thoroughly
reverent mass performed In most Of tho
churches q the seacoast Villages on
Christmas eve. On the hight side q tho
altar . bower u constructed Of fragrant
pine and ar branches, with great bunch
@ Of crimson bexYted hollies and mistle.
20 ~glistenins among tho verduro. On.
der thin CANOPY there stu The most
beauatful maiden Of tho village her
hair falling ss her loose white gar
msntu, while In hsR axms thefs reposes .
young infant. Beside her stands . young
man wsaF1ns . gDld embroidered rcbe
md leanins On . stan. while m OK, .
donkey and four sheep quietly munch
corn fYcm = couple Of managers. As
soon ~ the gospel has been read q
small chor.yter concealed In the GARD
board figure Of . rooster begins to chant
the verses, ''For to us a child IL born"
initiating cloverly at the close Of each
strophe the Of . chanticleer. The
deep bass voice Of another grown up Choir.
lister hidden somewhere in the DR. branch
hover above described "lows'' the re-
sponse Of "Ubi2:s where). which sounds
q II 10 proceeds ffum the OF. A tenor
chorister concealed near the sheep baas
the word bethlehem" and then q
baritone voice. apparently proceeding
from he DONKEY, brsvs s6amus'' (lee
. 70 thithes). Tbsseupcu tbs Eectce.
hia ,acolytos and The sntire ccnosega-
- ~ - D0h -
~ 49, - ths bower w4sss ~ repse-
-nm0 - na1eo10 OM4O4
- hgano OnkaB1 - xnsth9
- ak11o = ~ - - 011nb 49,
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