The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1897-12-22
NORWAY AND SWEDEN
YuleTlDE CUSTOMS IN THE LAND
OF THE VIKINGS.

dinavIan Santa Claus Franks OF the
Hired Men Legend of the BrotherS
UIv and Grimm.
The peasautry of Norway aud Sweden
generally build their homes as near each
other as convenient Often five to seven
families 1.-Two adjoining. constituting
miniature village. After tho first day
has passed tho enjoyment commences.
Dancing is the principal enjoyment for
the youth, while tho old people aud the
children stay at homo and rehearse
tales that AFRO rcpleto with orgies and
Nilsson, er 'remtegubben, as he
also is called. The latter is II miniature
being that corresponds i'll many respects
to the Scotch brownie, but is quite
Santa Clausliko i'll general appearance.
Tho tales that are told have been handed
down from generation to generation.
and We're at ono timo believed, and even
III some districts considerable oredcnco
is still given to what is stated about
these unnatural beings
Nissen is the being that is of the
greatest interest to tho young lilo is
not u bad fellow at all, il he can only
have his way Where he lives no ono
knows. II Is supposed that he spends
tho days sleeping i'll some of the hills
or under the ground. Although he is
small, he is possessed with super
natural power and can do much to
shape the fate of II person, either good
or bad. Great caro- is therefore oxer-
eised To do what is known will please
Nisscn. Special attention must he given
him Christmas eve. Should he como
around after midnight and his favorite
dish, romegrod has not been placed
outside near tho door, trouble will re
suit.
When the people awake in the morn
ing, they can expect to find their cattle
in II terrible condition Nissen general
ly vents his vengeance ON tho animals
of tho farm. They will be tired the
next day, showing that Nissen has been
playing some prank with them, thereby
keeping sleep from them. Articles in
tho barn will he found topsy turyy,
while tho horses have been turned
around in their STALL but if tho dish
has been placed out for him ho is hap
py He shows his grntefulness i'll deeds
When tho hired man in that case goes
out to the barn Christmas morning, he
may expect 10 find all his chores done
The horses have becn curried 50 they
look fine as silk while tho cows give
twice their usual amount of milk In
many cases the wood has been split
Many superstitious people on this oe.
casion bar the door with piece of steel
They are afraid of him, and steel is
the only thing that Nissen has no power
over. lie has often been known to havo
entered the house and stolen food Many
n hired girl can vouch for the fact that
sho has heard him climbing about ON
the shelves of tho lardor and oven in n
few cases he has been seen
Tho youth still in IA manner retain
tho habits of their ancestry. AZ eventido
they gather together from tho small
villages and visit their neighbofs AS
rulo, the ground Mt this time of year is
heavily covered with snow, and the trip
has to be made ON skis This is ono of
the most delightful features of the cello
bratiun The SKI is tho national article
of loaomotion aud the boys and girls
are adopts in tho art OF standing ON
them IA the deep declines and rugged
hills Tho young people go from neigh
Dor 10 noighbor gathering moro of them.
They have often no particular dcstiua
ton, but know they Will end somo
where When they come TO some partic
ularly large farmhouse, they drop their
oil Ia a.
in readiness for them in tho way of
food, drink and music. Tho fiddler
strikes up his merry tunes, and those
present are hurled into II vortex OF mer
riment.
In most parts Of the country this fea.
turo Is III no way married, and the dance
goes ON until late in tho morning, when
the young go home, only to meet some.
whero else the following night
In some of the primitive parts of Nor
way, as Guldbandsdalen and Noss,
fights were INDUCED In i'll years gone
by This custom has not entirely chang
ed but the fatalities that were 80 com
mon then do not exist now Then when
q couple went to one of these dances
tho girl would generally talto her low
er's funeral gown along, fully expect
ing that ho would need it before tho
night had gone.
In the eouthcrn part Of Sweden, Yul
lotta, a custom that is very beautiful, is
recognized by tho peasantry. The early
morning mass at 4 80 Christmas day is
attended by nearly every ono. Tho
members Of tho congregation have often
as far as seven miles to walk through
the snow They como from all direc
tions III delegations, each carrying
long polo upon which piece Of pitch
Is burning. As tho surroundings are
still in darkness, tho sight of those
moving lights toward one center is inn
posing Tho hired men in this part OF
tho country have u rather peculiar joke
that they try to play upon each other
Christmas morning It is to try to get
up early and 20 over TO the ncighbors
and perform the chores Of tho hired
man there before he gets up Great de-
light IS taken IN the preparation Of this
trick
In tho carly part Of the century it
was Il belief that ON Christmas eve all
the unnatural beings joined together III
n grand carausal. They were led by
Thor the god Of the clements. and they
few through the air, creating "A terrible
noise and often damage Johan Welha
ven $ poem "Asgaardsrcicn" tells Of u
deed that was committed by this flock.
1t was Christmas eve, and wedding
was being celebrated The bride was Of
tho fairest and the bridegroom the
wortliest Many had been invited, and
the general enjoyment was enhanced by
the free flow Of liquor When every one
was in a sleepy condition from its su-
pernuous use, tho doors flew open, and
the brothers Grimm and Ulv entered.
Ulv had recently been refused by tho
bride, and he was out for revenge. An
attack was made. The women huddled