Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-12-22
Christmas the Greatest of All lts

Festivals.
From time itnmemoral Christmas has
been the greatest of holiday IN Sweden;
In heather times the midNinter lesiiN'u
was celebrated in honor OF the sun. WiiGsl
had lctreated more and more SINCE MID
summer and now, after the winter sostice,
began To return causing darkness to be
defeated by light, says the chicago Ie9-
ord. There was then great Teasing in
the chieftains banqueting halls. where
tie i,ards sung songs in honor Ct fallen
heroes and where eating and Giinkln%
played an important part. Touching III"
head OF the god irc3's boar the waili9i:'
made vows about the valotnns deeds they
wonld perform nest summer, when We
ice which now held their dragon Ships
fcttorcd near tlie shore would be melted
hy the sun. The e%cessive eating ana
drinking at the winter festival continued
also during the middle ages WHEN Christ
mas had taken or q new significance.
Many peculiar Christmas customs pre-
vailed until about the middle Of this et-
t,irv os,Iecally among the rural niila-
tants a few OF them hay been iatsiGe'i
10 this date although The ndvf,l"a ci civ
iiizaiiou has almost rnnatsd $unef-
stition and has refined manners i,eriees
the customs still retained the Sn edo lad
formerly much TO keep i'll mind at christ
mas. Nothing that necessitated rotary
motion should be done on Christmas day,
Anybody Who visited Il ncighbor on that
day ran the risk OF getting boiled water
thrown in his face. On Christmas eve
Straw must be laid on the floor Tor ihe.
OF The family to sleep on during The night
Christmas day II s;ill the greatest hot
day in Sweden. The Swetes OF today are
more temperate than those of oiden times,
hui no n,iser is SO mean that he docs not
prepare well for Christmas. and no home
is so poor thst it is rot then better lio..
etcd tiian usual With the essentials Of
good living Especially in thu rural home
tile house wife is for many days busilN en-
gagged in preparations for the great boil
day Bread of different kinds must be
1 al q f-t-
mas mig killed and sausage made. the dried
lngiish must be soaked in lyc. and every
/ thing must he scrubbed and ceaht o.
Christmas exc as much animal food Is
,.ookrti as the iouse can afford and i'll Ger
tain. homes whrre old customs are retained
tic 6inner Is eaton ii the kitchen. anu
everybody dips mis- bread in the hot broth
in which tie pork has been boiled. The
day before GMiistmas is therefore often
IN .ast called The great dipiing Gay In
order that all beings small he happN the
rf,ri,lar gives TIE cattle and the horses
extra food. lets loose tie watchdog and
puess +; sheli OF lntirasheA OATS on
pue for ~. birds. This last custom pre-
Wallis even III cities. i'resh spruce treea
are placed outside tie doors and on bal
cotai
After dinner the Christmas tree a ycuns
spruce. Is blessed With fruit, paper COY;
cred candy. bright colored slas, balls and
ornaments and paper Tags CT 81 nations.
Un each branch = hung snlall cals!le o.
!. taper. Thee are li&h;e'l ii tic eNenins
:lifft inc tte|iSElP'l Cililuit5ii "
make +; merry rins dance around the tree
Thereafter the members OF the family
collAet around rEe table. and the Christi
.aa. presents are distributed.
Masked persons in picturesque costumes
ara secl. On the streets carrying bundles
of presents for friends or relatives. They
greet roa:ly everybody they meet with
the words. Merry Christmas. and arc
answered. same 10 you On and after
Christmas day Swele ON meeting an
acquaintance viii say, Good continuation
of the Christmas. until New Year. when
the same ceremony begins with the words
! IA good New Year etc.
! When the present bearers have returned
from theil mission. ali hands partake OF
the supper, in which the 'utfisk dried
insfsh or goldfish soaked In I've and
/ porridge must NOT he lacking. Many fam
lilies usually nave also pig head OH iis
table. perhaps i'll memory OF the 'go3
Irey's boaf with apple in the mouth"