The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-12-21
FOLK LoRn OF cHRIsrMAs.
Belgian Cnstons That Are Dying
Out.

s - Out.
New York Times.
Although not SO keenIy followed up
as in Germany and England: the festi-
val OF Christmas. as celebrated in Bel
gium, stiil presents certain amount
o interest. especially IN respect of iti
traditional ASPECT. Many OF the old
customs. which today are but a mere
traceabie to heather rites and prac-
THE priesthood realizing the vener-
alton In which these customs are still
held. not only refrain from discounte-
nancing practices which the Holy
Church regards as heretical on ac-
count Of their origin. but even enjoins
Wherever possible. details of these
customs have been modified with a
view OF bringing them into as close
obedience as possible with the instruc-
One OF the easiest tasks In this re-
spect was the announcement of this
Sld custom ttsn Ct 2h eeasing woTk for twelys
the discussion OF all differences and To-
Among, the .seasonable customs ano
heen dying. out. IL they are not al
ready dead in many parts Of the coun-
try. are the following:
Christmas eve being dedicated tC
Adam and Eve, boys bern on that day
were christened- Adam, and girls Eve,
Fortune telling on Christmas day
was INDUCED in. at Brussels. for ex:
ample. the burghers assembled around
the fre and roasted chestnnts. listen
ing to their fortunes" meanwhile. At
Spa, handful OF salt was cast upon
there would be d death In the family
though Il the salt remained hard a
guest you'd die II BY ehancs one Of
ment.
Among the metal workers OF the
proince Of Hainaut molten lead was
produced BY the operation were
supposed to represent incidents in The
life fthe "plunger"
the coming year was determined by
placing lighted candles In walnut
shells, which We're allowed to float on
a basin of water. II the candles went
agricuituraily speaking: II they re-
maIned alight until the end 1t would
be good year.
foretoid Joy IL they burned without
spluttering; sorrow. If there was any
noise,
round the skersavonbolk," or yufe log.
and listen to tales of the wehr-wolf.
drinking gin meanwhile. The tales
are no longer told; the gin drinking
yuIe log. sprinkled with some of the
gin, were distributed among the com
pany; the remains formed a charm
against fire, and were placed under the
bed for that purpose.
At Hoeylaert, near Brussels. thu
young men were allowed to go blind
folded into the hencoops of the local..
tya IL they caught a bird they could
either keep 1t or claim Its value IN
According to an existing belief ev-
| erything living changes Its position
| at the hour of midnight on Christmas
day. Everything sown In the fields
| that day is bound to bear fruit-eVen
| though It be sown on the snow itself
While II Is considered unlucky To
| spin flax on Christmas day, a shirt
| made from flax on that night Is good
| for many HIS" Christmas day eggs
| always produce fine chicks. farmer
could ensure good crops from his fruit
! traes by striking them with an axe
| on Christmas day. always provided
that nobody went near the trees WIN
a spinning wheel within twenty-tou'
| hours.
In the province of Antwerp the
| peasants say that a "hellwagen or
| Chariot Of blood is driven through the
| sky al full gallop on Christmas ni9nt'
| the explanation being that some I'M
| spious peasant dared to go out Wooo
gathering with his wagon one CHRIST
/ mas night. and that by way on pun
| ishment, he Is condemned 10 oriNe "
| through the sky year by year.