The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-12-15
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS:
FOUND IN DIFFERENT COUN-
TRIES OF EUROPE.
In Many of Them the Farm Animals
Play an Important Part in the
Observances of the
Dav

In different nations one finds many
odd ideas regarding the Christmas sea-
son. Among the observances that grew
up by degrees all over Europe, many Of
them grotesque and absurd, and some
with prOfuse and unseemly accompani-
ments, we're also not few of more
pleasing and humanizing kind, and
among the rural population the brute
creation was included as interested par
ties.
Among the fancies Of this kind that
longest survived in Europe, and even
became naturalized in our own prosaic
land, was one that the cattle, at one
O'Clock on Christmas morning, when
ever they were free to do so, would turn
their heads to the eastward and get
down upon their knees to worship the
King that was born in a stable; and
still another, which continued to COM
paratively recent times, that during the
Christmas season the barnyard cocks
were accustomed to crow with unusual
force and frequency by day and by
night.
The early inhabitants of the great
Scandinavian peninsula were accus-
toned to celebrate, at this season, the
great festival Of their gods When the
people of the peninsula became Chris
tians, although no less Jealous for their
Christmas observances, they retained
some of the old practices, and are to this
day careful to associate with themselves
in its festivities every living thing
about them. The author of THE Land
of the Midnight Sun" tells US in his
account of Christmas in Norway:
''The Christmas feeding Of the birds
is prevalent in many Of the provinces OF
Norway and Sweden. Bunches of oats
trees and fences, for them to feed upon.
Two or three days before carloads of
sheaves are brought into the towns for
this purpose, and both rich and poor
buy and place them everywhere. Every
poorman and every head of a family
had saved a penny or two, or even one
farthing, to buy bunch of oats for the
birds to have their Christmas. On this
day, on many farms, the dear old horse,
the young colt, the cattle, the sheep, the
goats, and even the pig receive double
their usual amount of food 1t is
beautiful custom, and speaks we'll for
the goodness of heart of the Scandina-
vian.'
A singular custom prevails in Serv1a
and Bulgaria among the orthodox. If
it can possibly be avoided no one crosses
a strange threshold on Christmas day.
In the same countries an early ceremony
has to be performed by the head of each
household. Before breakfast is served
corn is placed in a stocking, and the
chief Of the family sprinkles a little of
it before the door. saying: Christ is
born" to which each of the inmates re-
plies: "He is born indeed Then the
house father has to wish, and advanc-
ing to the hearth where logs are burn
ing in readiness strikes them till
sparks fly out, with a good wish for the
horses, another for the COWS, another
for the goats, and so on through the
whole farming stock, winding up with
an extra blow for plenteous harvest.
Then the ashes are collected, coin is
placed among them and the whole is
hidden or, in some districts, burned.
AS for the Yule logs, they are not per-
mitted to smolder quite away, but are
carefully garnered, and the burnt ends
placed in clefts in fruit trees, so as to
insure bountiful CROP.