Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-12-24
BY CARL HANEs

Al far back as history goes, the.
people 81 the North knew Of the ''Yuie-0
tide, kind Of homecoming, where
children gathered under the roofs Of
their parents, and PEOPLE visited back
and forth.
Then came the tidIng of Christ. the
son of God, and to the people of the
North came the real Christmas spirit.
Oh, for the Christmas In good. old
Denmark
Early III December you commences 70
feel ii iii the afr. Father and mother
are making an extra trip to the city,
bringing home. in the evening, NUM-
Der of mysterious packages and parcels,
some ARE carried To the pantry and
others are brought 70 the spare-room,
10 which the key II turned, and hidden
in some safe place where the children
are supposed not ID find them.
As the great day gets nearer, every
body Ii working hard but with willing
hands. Butchering and baking has to
BE- done: the whole house has TO be
cleaned from cellar TO garnet, floors are
scrubbed as clean as clean can be, vim
dows ARE polished the walls and ceilings
are swept, everything IL Strengthened
and put Ii place. The barn, the stable,
the hog-pen, the chicken coop,
should BE- slick and clean. Everybody
Ii working feyeriah and then
Then the first stroke on the chime In
the church tower vibrates through the
alr. II Ii Christmas eyel The men
uncover their heads, the women fold
their hands. After the Ginning follows
the slow, solemn prayer strolea three
for God the Father, three for God
the Son, and three for the Holy Spirit.
Quietly the men put the tools IN the
aaed, quietly the women set the tables.
Everybody appears III the house,
Heatly dressed, and, after short pray
Ell, the s'Chriatman Evening Supper
Is partaken IL, III the time OF our
grandparents this supper always start
ed In with i big bowl of rice mush,
well buttared and covered nicely with
sugar and powdered cinnamon, next
WA roasted goose, and finally i special
Danish dish, round, appla-iike balls.
INSIDE of the very best pancake dough
md baked ii i pan made for this pur.
pose. After i little while comes the
Christmas tree, always On Christmas
eve, with ita candles and d lot of home.
made things such Az Jacob iattars,
paper hearts and paper fiowerst next
the distribution of the gifts. where no.
body MUST ID forgotten,
Nobody must be forgotten at Christ.
mas tisne Substantial gifts Of roasta
and cakss are sent 10 tho poor people
flowers and lIttle daintiea To the slcl
ST bedridden. Even the dog, chained
ID his kennel. II remembered; and big
bundle If unthrashed grain Ii dashed Il
stake or tree Iii the garden for thu
birds.
Santa Glausg oh, yes. We have him
only We call him "Nissen;Y he Ii sup
posed 10 be IL small dwarf-like man viii
broad shoulders and heavy set, with i
long flowing beard; he ID dressed Ia i
gray jacket and gray kneepanta, On Ill.
head he wears d long red pyramid
shaped cap that falls from his head fal
down on his back ending hi tassel
He ID supposed 10 be more permanent
than our Santa Claus, aa his abode il
said to be under the surface, In III.
round hills In the country; he Ii goo,
natursd and he Ii ready to give Til,
farmers 4 helping hand II he Is wei
treated, but he IL evilminaed whel
teased 'Nissen's'' best meal ii
large bowl of mush with chunk d
butter IN the middle; and d century az
the farmer would newer forget 10 pa
this dish out In the stable Christina
evening. 0nceit happenea 70 the stor
goes--that .Nissen' could not see til
butter. and be became 10 mad that
wrung the neck III the best steer Ia Iii
stable. but nevertheless he went an
ate the mnah, and he discovered lhs
the butter was there all right. only
was melted down III the bottom of II
bowl; and when the farmer come out
the stable Christmas morning he four
i hnshai baskat filed with gold coins.
Christmas morning the church bel
are again Ginning and calling the mo
necessary chores are speedily done Al
everybody prepares for church,
The "trip TO the church ought to
done ii big hoh-sleigh, but aonetim'
this ii impossible because the snow
lacking. although everybody wishes 4
snow Christmas night and Christina
morning. not the fine wina-whipp.
snow, but great biz flakes failing 80
and gently
On the road and outside the chur,
Merry Christmasl'' Il shouted
neighhora and strangers, 10 friends ri
foes alike.
The church Ii decorated with eve
n. III Al IN. q "a .ss..s. II -. 8.