Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15

" anticipation of the morrow
and its pleasures. she may
not be doing precisely the same things or
observing the same customs as her little
sisters and brothers across the sea, but
there is hardly doubt that she is think
ing the same things and feeling that
Christmastide is the most fascinating
time Of all the year.
The little Dutch grille. the German
fraulein, the French samin, tie italian
bimbo and even the little Esperanto
kna bino. are radiating the spirit of
Christmas by the festivals and observ-
ances Of their own country. If the impos-
sible feat of travelling over the whole
world in one night and peeping into each
and every country could be accomplished,
there are many strange and wonderful
sights one might behold.
In Sweden he would see the spirit of
Christmas most festively displayed In the
cities. where many of the country peas
ants come and erect booths in the mar
cotton drilling and illuminate with fancy
lanterns. Here they sell trinkets which
they have made in anticipation of the
holidays. The children over there are
most fond of their jul-griesen and JUL
brachen. little gingerbread cakes baked
in the shape of goats and pigs, bought es-
pecially at the gingerbread booth
1t is said that the pigs so much resem-
BILE the goats that it is difricult to distin-
guish between them, but the children new
er mind and enjoy an abundance of them
every year. American Mary would Won
der why they should have pigs and goats
instead of Santa's reindeers. The story
that the Swedish children know SO WELL
which has been handed down to them
through generations. gives the reason for
the choice of those animals.
x
The pigs and goats are remembered at
Christmas because the favorite festival
of the heathens, before Christ was born,
was held at this time of year long, long
ago by their ancestors. Goats make them
think of Thor's goats. which drew his
chariot across the skies as he hurled his
thunderbolts. and pigs make them think
Of Freya's magical hog. whose golden
bristles lighted the darkest night and
could run faster than any horse. Thor
and Freya were chief among the gods of
these people. Freya was the most popu-
lar of all because he was the sun god and
upon his favor depended the good har-
vest, fruitfulness and consequently pleas
ure.
The people celebrated his birthday at
the time Of the winter solstice, for then
the days began to lengthen and it seemed
the appropriate time for the birthday of a
sun god. One night during their feasting
the people were always sorroWful for
then they remembered the anniversary of
a great sorrow.
Baider. the god of beauty, was loved
by every one except Loki, the god of evil.
One night Balder dreamed that he was
to die, and when he to d his mother, she
went far and wide to beg everything,
animate and inanimate. to do no harm to
her son. They all promised. and from
that time on 1t was the favorite pastime
of the gods to amuse themselves by
throwing stones and other missiles at
| Balder because he seemed fnvulnerabie.
Wicked Loki knew that there was one
thing that was not asked to refrain from
harming Balder. and that was the mistle-
toe.
He induced Hoor, the blind brother of
Balder. to throw the mistletoe at him,
making him believe that he was doing
Balder honor instead of harm. Hoor did
as he was hidden, and poor Balder fell
dead. The night of Balder's death was
the longest in all the year and every
one believed 1t was because the god of
beauty was dead. So then they began to
make sacrifices to the rest of the gods,
| whom they thought might be angry.
Then as the days heightened the people
| thought their prayers were being answer
| ed and the ceremony was practiced every
year after.
X
OF course. now they understand that
| the sun has reached its southern limit at
| this time Of year and is returning on its
northern journey. but the old idea of
| making Jultide festival of light still
tpervades among the Swedes, who realize
that the worst of the winter is over and
that slowly the light will come back. So
the Swedish children have their pigs and
goats In remembrance of this old folk
| tale. "a
Their Christmas trees are kept for
many days after Christmas. and very
| beautiful custom prevails in connection
with them. The tree is again lighted