The labor world., 1898-01-15


playing some prank with them, thereby
keeping sleep from them. Articles in
the barn will be found topsy turvy,
while the horses have been turned
around in their stall, but if the dish
has been placed out for him he is hap
py. He shows his gratefulness in deeds.
When the hired man in that case goes
out to the barn Christmas morning, he
may expect to find all his chores done.
The horses have been curried so they
look fine as silk, while the COWS give
twice their usual amount of milk. In
many cases the wood has been split.
Many superstitious people on this oc-
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. He has often been known to have
entered the house and stolen food. Many
hired girl can vouch for the fact that
she has heard him climbing about on
the shelves Of the larder, and even in a
few cases he has been seen.
The youth still in a manner retain
the habits Of their ancestry. At eventide
they gather together from the small
villages and visit their neighbors. AS a
rule, the ground at this time Of year is
heavily covered with snow, and the trip
has to be made on skis This is one of
the most delightful features Of the cele-
bration. The ski is the national article
Of locomotion, and the boys and girls
are adopts in the art Of standing on
them in the deep declines and rugged
hills The young people go from neigh
Dor to neighbor gathering more Of them
They have often no particular destina-
tion, but know they will end some
where. When they come to some partic-
ularly large farmhouse, they drop their
skis and go inside. Here everything is
in readiness for them in the way of
food, drink and music The fiddler
strikes up his merry tunes, and those
present are hurled into vortex of mer-
riment.
In most parts of the country this fea-
ture is in no way marred, and the dance
goes on until late in the morning, when
the young go home, only to meet some
where else the following night.
In some of the primitive parts Of Nor.
way, as Guldbrandsdalen and Voss,
fights were INDUCED in in years gone
by: This custom has not entirely chang
ed, but the fatalities that were so COM
mon then do not exist now. Then when
a couple went to one Of these dances
the girl would generally take her lov-
er's funeral gown along, fully expect
ing that he would need it before the
night had gone.
In the southern part Of Sweden, Yul-
lotta, a custom that is very beautiful, is
recognized by the peasantry. The early
morning mass at 4 80 Christmas day is
attended by nearly every one. The
members Of the congregation have often
as far as seven miles to walk through
the snow. They come from all direc-
tions in delegations, each carrying a
long pole upon which piece Of pitch
is burning. AS the surroundings are
still in darkness, the sight Of those
moving lights toward one center is i'm
posing. The hired men in this part Of
the country have rather peculiar joke
that they try to play upon each other
Christmas morning. It is to try to get
up early and go over to the neighbors
and perform the chores Of the hired
man there before he gets up. Great de-
light is taken in the perpetration Of this
trick.
In the early part Of the century it
was a belief that on Christmas eve all
the unnatural beings joined together in
a grand carousal They were led by
Thor, the god of the elements, and they
few through the air, creating a terrible
noise and often damage. Johan Welha-
ven's poem "Asgaardsreien" tells of a
deed that was committed by this flock.
It was Christmas eve, and a wedding
was being celebrated. The bride was Of
the fairest and the bridegroom the
worthiest 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 it's su-