The Washington times., 1903-12-20

distinct traces. This feast in honor of
the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn,
was celebrated in old Rome every De
cember. Children and slaves were over
whelmed with presents. and merriment
reigned in every form for whole week.
South Europe and Spanish and Portu-
guese America have retained Christmas
day as a time for public rejoicing; while
in the northern countries it's celebra-
ton has more domestic nature. There
it is home and family feast.
T15 Winter Solstice.
\ The customs of Scandinavia and Ice
land rely most distinctly on the old
northern myths The celebration of the
winter solstice was great festival of
the olden times. For long time II was
believed that the year stood still at the
solstice. With it began again the reign
of Frey. the sun god. The ~Yuletide''
the Scandinavians called Christmas.
"Yui' means wheel. The old inhabi-
tants of Scandinavia imagine the sun
like a wheel "Yuleklapp'' signifies the
clapping OF wheel. and the expression
is still in use for the manner In which
the presents are distributed in the north
of Europe They are thrown into a
room and packed in a mysterious man
ner. so that everybody cannot guess
what the contents are. Verses general
iy accompany each bundle directing the
presents from one person to another.
This peculiar usage is derived from the
mysterious manner in which the sun
god gave his presents. the flowers. the
green grass. and the leaves. Therefore
the green decoration is still in use for
Christmas. Also the Christmas tree is
derived from the early sources 1t Is
Of right a fir tree, because that remains
always green. 1t symbolizes eternal
spring Christmas applied IT to the
worship of Christ. because through him
eternal spring began for humanity.
The candles signify eternal light, which
came into thu world with Christ.
The Norwegian Holiday.
In Scandinavia the people have the
greatest veneration for 'Yuletide-" :"
The courts ere closed. old quarreIs for
gotten. feuds adjusted. A pretty SYM
boil of the spirit that /reigns is the prac-
tice of placing in a row every pair Of
shoes in each household. so that during
the year the family may 1--we IN peace
and harmony. Candles are left burning
to show the way to "Yule Trumpte''
(the Christmas spirit) bringing the gifts.
A cake of meal is placed III the snow
as a Christmas offering. For the birds
sheaf Of wheat is placed on pole
in front of each house. The family itself
has no time to take a meal on the 24th
of the month. although baking and
cooking began about four weeks before.
On the day OF the celebration. about
noon. the whole housewhoIe viii 90 I'm
the kitchen and dip a piece of bread
In the ham broth Then everybody has
to prepare again for the "Yulekiapp."
and the great supper following. After
this games are played. They are usual
ly interrupted by a knock at the door,
four or five boys dressed in white en-.
ter. One carries a star-shaped lantern.
and another an ornamented glass box
containing two dolls, the Virgin and
the Christ child. The boys sing Christ
mas carols. ASterward appear masked
performers who do tricks and play pam
tomimes.
Hauling the Log.
England. too. is in line with Scandina-
via in faithfully preserving the old Gus
tom of "YuIetide" There they have a