Gilpin observer., 1910-12-22

might 1t to diminish and appear to melt
away by carrying it off
Lead, steel and vermin may be circumvented
II the proper precautions are taken For the
first wear a shirt spun, and sewed by
pure, chaste maiden on Christmas day; wear
something sewed with thread spun Christmas
eve and mo vermin will stick to you"
II one be born at sermon time" on Christmas
morning he can spirits burn elder on
Christmas eve and you will have revealed to you
all the witches and sorcerers in the neighbor-
hood.
Thieves will find it consoling know that If
they steal anything on Christmas without being
caught they can safely steal things all the year.
Likewise steal hay and give to your cattle and
not only will they thrive all the year and grow
fat. but you will not be caught in any of your
future thefts.
A Christmas day passed without eating any
beans and you will become ass; a raw egg
on Christmas morning. fasting and you can carry
heavy weights.
If you have been disappointed save the
crumbs for three Christmas ewes and they will
be effective as physic; shake out the tablecloth
over the bare ground under the open sky after
your Christmas dinner and crumbwort will grow
there; hang wash cout on hedge Christ
mas day or Christmas eve, then groom the horses
with 1t and they will grow fat
Take great of your fire on Christmas
morning; If 1t burn brightly that betokens pros.
perity for all the coming year; if it smolder be-
ware. for that portends misfortune and adversely.
1t is unlucky to give to neighbor live coal
with which to kindle fire Christmas morn.
ing; also 1t is unlucky to carry a coal or any.
thing else from the house Christmas morning
until something has first been brought in
Our Christmas tree which is feature of
most public Christmas eve celebrations and in
many homes. is comparatively in Christen-
dom. but 1t springs from some very ancient GUS
toms. The Egyptians regarded the date palm as
an emblem of Immortality and OF the starlit FIR
mament and at the time of the winter solstce
bod thnfr -,ith to-, .,,.~
held by them to be "a symbol OF life" triumphant
over death. and therefore Of perennial life in the
renewal Of each bounteous year.
Scandinavian myth speaks of service
tree sprung from the blood-drenched soil where
two lovers had been killed by violence. During
the Christmas season mysterious lights which no
wind could extinguish were often flaming
In Its branches. later explanation of the
Christmas tree dates back to Martin Luther and
tells OF him attempting to describe to his family
the beauties Of snow-covered forest under q
starry sky. Unable to make them comprehend
satisfactorily, he went into the garden, cut
small fir tree and set It up in the nursery with
its branches covered with lighted candles.
At about the season when we celebrate Christ
the Jews celebrated their Feast of Lights. or
the Feast of Dedication. of which lighted candles
are prominent feature "The Night of Dedica-
tion" Christmas is called in Germany. while
the Feast of Lights" is celebrated also in
Greece, at our Christmas time, although Christ
mas is dismal time In Greece, being dsliked
by that warmth-loving people because 1t is cold
and dreary-also favorite season for ghosts and
goblins to walk abroad.
During the middle ages the Christmas tree
became an institution at Strassburg and was fa.
miliar along the Rhine for 200 years before its
popularity extended throughout the rest OF the
world.
Christmas cards. which may now be had in
every degree Of elaborateness and gorgeousness
at prices from penny each upward. are compar