The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-27
Christmas in Other Lands.

The festival Of Iule was feature de-
rived from Morse mythology, the word !
Yule being derived from Morse word
for wheel. Ia the Edda the sum is
STYLED fagrahbel fair or shining wheel, |
and q remnant Of his worship under
the image of "a fire-wheel survived in
Europe as late at least as 1873. The
inhabitants Of the village Of KODZ, on
the MoseIle, were in the habit, on ST.
Johns eve, of takfog a great wheel
wrapped in straw to the top Of n neisl
boring eminence, and making il roll
down the hill, flaming all the way; il
it reached the Moselle before being ex-
tinet d good vintage was anticipated.
In the greenery with which, We still
d-ck our houses aud temples of wor-
ship, and in the Christmas trees laden
with gifts, We perhaps see relic Of the
symbols by which cur heather fore
gathers siguitied their faith in tae pow
er of tue returning sun 20 elothe TIE
earth again with green and hang new
fruit on the tree; aud the frumenty
s,iil, or lately, eaten on Christmas eve
or morning, in many parts Of England,
seems to be a lingering memory OF the
offerings paid to Hulda or Berchta, the
divine mother, the Northern Ceres, or
personilcation offrui;fIlness, to whom
they looked for new stores of grain.
TIE burning Of the Yule log (or Yule
clog testifies 10 the use of fire in the
worship Of the sun.
Ia England in earlier times accord
ing 10 the records that nave come down
% u, the old country was "merrie" in
de- q, and nothing else, from one end
ts the other, at Christmas tide-incIud-
lag the whole L days and often taking
IA some succeeding and preceding days.
Carols were tfolled in every street,
IIaSquerades and plays abOuuded in ali
diF,ctions, houses were dressed with
holly, ivy and mis,lztOe; the churches
Issembied sylvan bowers; poles decksd
with evergreens were carried about the
r-ess with every demonstration of
hilariiy. OI every hearth the Yule
Jog was laid, As the foundation in tie
household fireplace, wiLh great eere-
ln0ny, aud made to blaze merrily with
ieaps Of wood and brush piled upon
u 10 give light aud cheer to the who.e
.iOuse. At the gTs'.- table, where plen-
= abounded, the oars head was ush-
red into the banquet upon a huge
silver platter wit flourish Of music.
This was followed 10y the wassail bowl
filled with spieed and sweetened wine
or ale, and kissing with roasted apples
s-Gd toast, and TO which crabs were
often added. When TIE cloth was re-
yloved and this dish was borne in 6y
The butler acclamatiOEs aud other
demonstrations of joy arose, and good
cheer a5Ounded.
The period covered by Christmas
tide WAS sometimes called December
Liberties" as denoting season Of un-
rounded license and jollity. Among
Tne numerous persOnages who presided
over the carnivais of the time were
old Father Christmas, the Abbot of
UnTeasOD, the Prince of Christmas,
the Lord of Misrule and Master OF
&evels. 1t was the duty Of these per
SOUS TO take the lead in all the sports,
| prOcessiOns and masquerSdes, and Oe-
cIpy the chief seats AT the feasts. In a
household book of an old English lam-
/ lily is found this direction: My lords
u=eth and accustometh yerly to gyf
Iim which is ordered To be Master of
ls.vel, yerly in my lords house in
Christmas for the Over-seyings aud or
'leung OF his lordships Playes, Inter
ladies' and Dressings that is plaid before
I,is lor,iships in his house on the sixth
dsyts OF Cristenmass aud they have
la reward for tia; cause yerly, xxs."-
Lsslie's Weekly.