Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-12-24
CUSTOMS
FOUND IN DIFFERENT C0UN'
TRIES OF EUROPE.
In Many Of Them the Farm Animals
Play an Important Part in the
Observances Of the
Day.

In different nations one finds many
odd ideas regarding the Christmas sea-
son. Among the o%bservances that grew
up by degrees all over Europe, many o
them grotesque and absurd, and some
with p~rofuse and unseemly accompani-
ments, were also not a few OF nor
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 ore 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
paratiyely 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 ccus-
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 taeir
Christmas obsertances, they retained
some of the old practices, and are to this
dav 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 q Christmas in Norway;
"The Christmas feeding Of the birds
Is prevalent In many of the provinces OF
Norway and Sweden. Dunches of oats
are placed or the roofs of houses, on
trees and fences, for them to feed upon,
Two or three Gays before carloads OF
sheayes are brought into the towns fo'
this purpose, and both rich and pool
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 a 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 Hecei ie double
their usual amount Of icod. 1t is
beautiful custom, and speaks well foI
the goodness of heart of the Scandina-
Wan"
A singular custom prevails in SerVia
and Bulgaria among the orthodox. II
II can possibly be avoided no one crosses
a strange threshold on Christmas Cay,
In the same countries IN 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 s~prinkles a little OF
IL befcrc the door, saying; Christ Is
BORN" to which each Of the inmates re-
plies: "IIe is born indeed" Then the
house father has to wish, and advanc'
INK to the hearth where logs are burn
ing in readiness, strikes them I'LL
sparks fly out, with a good wish s2r he
horses, another for the cows, another
for the goats, ard so on through the
whole farming stock. winding up with
an extra blow for a plenteous harvest
Then the ashes are collected, a coin II
placed among them AID the Whole Is
hidden or, In some d'atricts, burned
As Cor the Yule logs, thcy are not peg
ndt'ed to smolder quite away, but arr
carefully garnered, and tia burnt eDd'
placed 10 c,ofts IN fruit trcts, 50 as Il
ins1ra a toUntlfll crop