The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-15
CHRISTMAS EVE IN
MANY FOREIGN LANDS.

In Scandinavia there is the greatest
veneration for YuIetide. The courts
are closed, old quarrels forgotten.
feuds adjusted. A pretty symbol of the
spirit that reigns is the practice of
placing In row every pair of shoes in
each household, so that during the year
the family will live in. peace and har-
| mony. Candles are left burning to
show the way to Yule Trumpte (the
Christmas spiriD bringing the gifts.
One sets a cake of meal in the snow as
a Christmas offering; for the birds a
sheaf of wheat is placed on pole in
front of each house to provide them
with food. The family itself has no
time to take regular meal on the Gath,
although baking and cooking begin
about four weeks before. On the day 81
| the celebration at noon the whole
household will assemble in the Kitchen
and dip a piece of bread in the ham
broth. Then everybody has to prepare
| again for the Yuleklapp and the great
! supper following. After this games are
played. They are usually interrupted
| by a knock at the door Four or five
| boys dressed in white enter. One car-
ries a star shaped lantern, and another
an ornamented glass box containing
two dolls, the Virgin and the Christ
child. The boys sing Christmas carols.
Afterward appear masked performers
who do tricks and play pantomimes.
Besides Scandinavia and Iceland,
England has most faithfully preserved
the custom of the Yule log. 1t is a
massive piece of wood. usually the rug
ged root of an oak, which is kept burn
ing at Christmas time for twelve days.
A piece is kept for the following year. 1t
was first lit in honor of the heather
sun god; then the custom was transfer
red to signify the Eternal Light. The
log is drawn in triumph from its rest
ing place amid shouts Of laughter. ev-
cry wayfarer doffing his hat as it pass
es. This is an example Of the old Yule
song:
Part must be kept wherewith to tend 3,
The Christmas log next yeare,
And where It's safely kept the hend
Can do no mischief there.
In England a very important symbol
of decoration is the mistletoe. 1t is
customary for every young man to try
to bring his beloved under the mistle-
toe. where he is allowed to kiss her.
For this custom we are indebted to
Scandinavian mythology. The plant
was dedicated to the goddess Friga. II
was the emblem of love. and every one
who passed under 1t received a kiss.
st. Nicholas is especially venerated in
Russia The emperors usually bear his
name. In the rural life of Russia
Christmas evening is an important
event At sunset young and old assem-
BILE. forming a procession. and visit the
village dignitaries, singing carols and
receiving coppers. This part of the
ceremony is called "kolenda,' which
means begging for money or presents.
masquerade follows, in which the
adults transform themselves into cows,
pigs and other animals in remembrance
of the nativity in the manager. In the
evening supper is served on a table
covered with straw. The feast begins
by dividing the blessed wafer. An old
Christmas custom in Russia is to SINCE
a boar. An old woman, a man and
boy execute that function. The gold
bristIed animal is symbolic of light.
Bringing in the boar's head was for
merIy an elaborate ceremony during
the Christmas day repast at all man
sions of the wealthy The boar ap-
pears on Christmas day with a lemon,
the old symbol Of plenty. in his mouth.
In France we find a mixture of vari-
Gus customs The up to date Partisan
divides his Christmas dinner, the re-
veillon." into many courses, taking
each at a different place and reaching
home for the last cup of coffee at
breakfast time. The hanging up of
stockings Christmas night is a common
French custom. The children receive
their presents hidden in these. like the
Roman children at the time of the sat
urnalia. The Provencals in the south
Of France venerate the Yui= log. called
there Cache TO-"