The Washington times., 1904-12-25

tendants. Afterward the coin thus col
iected is spent In a general jolliacation.
In Scotland he who first opens the
door on Christmas expects more good
luck than win fall to the lot OF other
members of the family during the year.
because. as the saying goes, .-he let's in
Yuie.''
In Herfordshire they make a cake,
poke stick through the center of II,
then hang 1t on the horn of an OK and
say charm. begging a good crop of
corn for the master. Men and boys at
tending the OK range themselves around.
If the OK throws the cake behind him.
the men get 1t; If he tosses IT in front
Of him, the boys get IT. The cake Is
then eaten with an Accompaniment of
hot cider while all repeat the charm
Night for Children.
In Germany. Christmas Eve is the
children's night. and there Is tree and
an exchange of presents. England and
America borrowed the Christmas tree
from Germany. where the custom is
ancient and of long standing
In the smaller towns and villages in
northern Germany the presents are sen:
by all the parents to some one fellow.
VINO, in high buskins, white robe, mask
and haxen wig, personates the servant.
Rupert. On Christmas night ne goes
around to ever house and says that
Jesus Christ, his Master, sent him The
parents and Older children receive him
with pomp and reverence. while the
younger ones. as may well be imagined.
are badly scared.
He asks for the children, and then
demands of their parents report OF
| their conduct during the past year, The
| good children are given sugar plums
while fer the bad ones a rod is given
| TO the parents, with instructions to
/ use ii frequently.
| In those parts of Pennsylvania where
| there are many German settlers the lit
| tie sinners find birchen rods suggest.
| ;vely placed In their stockings on Christ
| mas morning.
| In Poland the Christmas gifts are
hidden, and the members of the family
search for them. In Sweden and Nor
way the house Is thoroughly cleaned
and juniper and fir branches are spread
over the floor. Then each member ot
house. or outer shed, where he takes his
| annual bath.
Sing Christmas Carols
But it is to old England that we looE
/ for the merriest Christmas. For two
or three weeks beforehand men ant
! boys of the poorer class, who were
called waits sang Christmas carol.
under every window. Until quite re
Gently these carols were sung al
through England, and others OF simila,
import were heard in France and Italy
I Scotland, the cherries. passes Christ
mas by. and reserves It's merrymakinG
for New Year
The English are said 10 take their
pleasures sadly but in the matter o1
| Christmas old England could give us
| cards and spades and still win Par
| ties of Christmas drummers used to &c
| around to the different houses, gro
| tesquely attired. and play all manner OF
pranks- The actors were chiefly boys
and the parish beadle always went
| along TO insure order.
The Christmas dinner of old England
| was thing TO give modern dyspepsia
| The main dish was a boar's head roast.
| ed TO a turn, and preceded by trumpets
and minstrelsy- Mustard was indis2en.
sable with this dish. Next came a pea.
cock, skinned, roasted. and carefully
put back into his gorgeous pIumage
bit Of cotton, soaked in spirits and ig
nited. was put into his mouth. Tnt
noble bird was stuffed with spices, bast
ed with yolks of eggs and served with
plenty of gravy. Geese. eapons, pheas
ants, carp's tongue. frumenty, ant
mince or shred" pies made up the bal
ance of the feast.
Lord of Misrule.
| The chief functionary of the OLE
Christmas was called the Lord of Mis-
rule. With such liberty, not to sa,
license. as was exercised it IS no
| strange that an edict was eventual,
issued against the Lord of Misrule II
the house of the king and nobIemen h.
held full sway for twelve days iIl
badge of office was 4 fools baubIe. an,
he war always attended by a page, botl
of them being masked.
In the monasteries. before the reforma
| tion. monk was given similar power
and vested with the title The Abbot G
Enreason." In this there is a strang
| inconsistency, since the custom flourish
ed most in the reign sacred to TIL
Glastonbury thorn. According to legend
Joseph of Arimethea, with his compar
ions, at one time stopped near a ce,
tain hill to rest
The hill was named .-weary-au Hill.
afterward corrupted to --Werral Hill.
On leaving. he thrust his hawthorn sta
into the ground and left it. The sta
grew constantly. budded, and every yea
thereafter bloomed gloriously at III
dawn of Christmas morning. What
the light from the monastery window.
during the reign Of the Abbot Of Ur