The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-12-23
HOLIDAY IN SWEDEN.
Christmas the Greatest of All Itl
Festivals

Christmas the Greatest of All It,
Festivals.
From time immemoral Christmas has
been the greatest of holidays in Sweden
In heather times the midwinter festival
was celebrated in honor of the sun, which
had retreated more and more since mid
summer and now, after the winter solstice,
began to return, causing darkness to be
defeated by light says the Chicago Rec
ord. There was then great feasting In
the bards sung songs in honor of fallen
heroes and where eating and drinking
played an important part Touching the
head Of the god Frey's boar, the warriors
made vows about the valorous deeds they
would perform next summer. when the
ice which now held their dragon ships
by the sun. The excessive eating and
drinking at the winter festival continued
also during the middle ages. when Christ
mas had taken on new significance.
vailed until about the middle of this CEN
fury, especially among the rural inhabi-
tants. A few of them have been retained
to this date, although the advance of civ
ilization has almost eXterminated super
stition and has refined manners. Besides
the customs still retained the Swede had
formerly much to keep in mind at Christ
mas. Nothing that necessitated a rotary
motion should be done on Christmas day.
Anybody who visited a neighbor on that
thrown m in his face. On christmas eve
straw must be laid on the floor for the
children to play in and for the members
Of the family to sleep on during the night
Christmas day Is still the greatest holi-
day in Sweden. The Swedes of today are
more temperate than those Of olden times,
but no miser is SO mean that he does not
prepare well for Christmas, and no home
Is SO poor that 1t is not then better pro-
vided than usual with the essentials Of
good living. Especially in the rural home
the housewife is for many days busily en-
gagged in preparations for the great holt
day. Bread of different kinds must be
baked. Christmas beer brewed, the Christ
mas pig killed and sausag e made. the dried
lingfish must be soaked in I've, and every
thing must be scrubbed and cleaned. On
Christmas eve as much animal food Is
cooked as the house can afford and in Ger,
tain homes where old customs are retained
the dinner is eaten in the kitchen, and
everybody dips mis- bread in the hot broth
In which the pork has been boiled. The
day before Christmas is therefore often
in Jest called the great dipping day In
order that all beings shall be happy the
farmer. gives the cattle and the horses
places sheaf of unthrashed oats on
pole for the birds. This last custom pre-
walls even in cities. Fresh spruce trees
are placed outside the doors and on ball
confess
After dinner the Christmas tree younA
spruce, Is dressed with fruit, paper COW
cred candy, bright colored glass balls and
ornaments and paper flags of all nations.
on each branch is hung small candle or
taper These are lighted in the evening.
and the delighted children are allowed TO
make a merry ring dance around the tree
Thereafter the members of the family
collect around the table, and the Christ
mas presents are distributed.
Masked persons in picturesque costumes
are seen on the streets carrying bundles
or presents for friends or relatives. They
greet nearly everybody they meet with
the words, Merry Christmas" and are
answered, Same to YOU On and after
Christmas day a Swede on meeting an
acquaintance will say Good continuation
the same ceremony begins with the words
a good New Year. etc.
When the present bearers have returned
from their mission, all hands partake OF
the supper, in which the .tlutfisk' dried
lingfish or Goldfish soaked In I've and
boiied, the Christmas cheese and the rice
porridge must not be lacking. Many fam
lilies usually have also a pig s head on the
table, perhaps in memory of the 'gcd
Frey's boar with apple in the mouth"