The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
Correspondence of The Journal.

Christiania, Norway, Dec. l., 1909
AS in most European countries, Christ
mas has for centuries been associated
in Norway with several odd customs,
OF which many are now more and
more passing into oblivion. In the
rural districts only are they still in
vogue.
Only those most characteristic will
be mentioned here.
Several weeks before Christmas the
preparation for the festivities began.
Among these the er-breWing was
one Of the most important ones. Even
in the poorest families this extra
strong beer for Christmas was con-
sidered the one thing needed in order
to make the feast real one. ~
The weeks preceding Christmas were
considered the most fatal ones of the
year, because during these long nights
| all the powers of darkness were par
| ticularly busy, and the "Christmas
beer" as well as human beings were
/! liable to fall victims to their evil in
! fluences. In this respect st. Lucie
| night: (Dec. 13.) was the worst of them
ALI, In Norway that night was espe-
cially well, known, because then the
spirits of the dead ("Aasgaardsreien"l
| We're particularly active. Whatever
this wild horde met, unprotected, they
took along with them in their hurri-
cane flight thru the darkness. Every
body was, therefore, very careful not
| to be out of doors that night, and
many strange tales were told how peo-
pie, especially young. girls, were lost
! on such occasions. A woman lost in
this manner made known the cause of
! her disappearance by throwing down
her. silverbelt on the spot from where
she was carried away, when she passed
the place the following year, then one
| ON hn of 1on c,,>i ,Sf,r
company.
In order to- protect the christmas
| beer" against ravage by "Aasgaards-
relen,-it was, customary to treat the
tpatron saint of the house to part OF
the. brew, which in such cases always
seems to have been holly tree in the
fneighborhood Of the house. a-a-
4 Itspwas an old custom that during
t juletide- all. quarrels should be sus-
fpendeds and bloody fights were severe
ly punished. In Norway this prohi.
bltlon. was embodied in the laws OF
the country. "Christmaspeace'' began
EDec. 81 and lasted during the follow
ling three weeks, and every violence
committed during this period was pun
ished; by extra heavy fines. These reg
ulatlons were in full force as late as
in the sixteenth century. To keep this
peace period UP to- it's intention, il
became necessary, especially in the
| toWns;8to strengthen the number OF
guardians of the law. AS long as this
4 'Julefred lasted, all law suits should
frest, and in the homes no work out.
|isidel of what was absolutely neces-
I sary should be performed, and as such
only the preparation Of food for mar
and beast was considered. All kind
/ ling wood and other fuels needed dur.
ing these three weeks should be made
ready for service beforehand. Spe
fob ~ RI 1nnfnY ny,
4 any work by the aid of wheel nipple
,ments, such as spinning wheels anG
: the like. This came from the belle.
that during Christmastime the SUI
stood still, and, therefore, nothing else
should take the liberty to spin around
To illustrate what a fixed idea thi:
was, the following story is told: a
. hired girl on a farm once made mo
ton as If to start the spinning vince
during this peace period. The farm
er's wife, seeing it, rushed at her, say
$ ing: For Gods holy deaths sake