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

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people of the North knew of the 'Yuie-
tide, a 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 In December you commence to
feel 1t in the air. Father and mother
are making an extra trip to the city.
bringing home, In the evening, q num-
Der Of mysterious packages and parcels,
some are carried TO the pantry and
others are brought to the spare-room,
20 which the key ls turned, and hidden
In some safe place where the children
are supposed not to find them.
AS the great day gets nearer, every
body Is working hard but with willing
hands. Butehering and baking has 10
be done; the whole house has to be
cleaned from cellar TO garnet, floors are
scrubbed as clean ms clean can be, vim
dows are polished, the walls and ceilings
are swept, everything Ii Strengthened
and put Iii place. Tho barn, the stable,
the hog.pen, the chicken coop,
should be slick and clean. Everybody
Il working feyerish and then
Then the first stroke on the chime in
The church tower vibrates through the
air. IL Ii Christmas eyel The men
uncover their heads. the women fold
their hands. After the Ginning follows
the slow, solemn prayer strokes three
for God. 1.-THE Father, three for Cod
the Son, and three for the Holy Spirit.
Quietly the men put the tools in the
shed, quietly the women vet the tables.
Everybody appears IN the house,
neatly dressed and, after short pray
err the 'Christman Evening Supper"
il partaken Of In the time Of our
grandparents this supper always start
cd 10 with big bowl OF rice mush,
well buttered and covered nicely with
sugar and powdered cinnamon, next
was roasted goose, and finally special
Danish dish, round, apple-like balls,
made Of the very best pancake dough
and baked hi 4 pan made for this pur-
pose. After little while comes the
Christmas tree, always ON Christmas
eve, with its candles and lot Of home
made things such as Jacob lattera,
paper hearts and paper flowers; next
the distribution of the gifts, where mo-
body must be forgotten.
Nobody must be forgotten at Christ
mas tine. Substantial gifts Of roasts
and cakes are sent to the poor people,
flowers and little dainties 10 the sick
or bedridden. Even the dog, chained
% bis kennel, II remembered; and big
bundle Of unthrashed grain is dashed to
i stake or tree IN the garden for tho
birds.
Santa CLAUSE oh, yes, va have him,
only we call him "Nisaen;n he Is sup.
posed to be q small dwarf like man with
broad shoulders and heavy set, with a
long flowing beard; he il dressed in q
gray jacket and gray kneepants, on his
head be wears long red pyramid.
shaped cap that falls from his head far
down on his hack, ending in tassel.
He II supposed TO be more permanent
than our Santa Claus, as his abode is
said % be under the surface, in the
round hills in the country; he is good
aatured and he IN ready to give the
farmers d helping hand II he Ia well
treated, but he is evil-minded when
toased, .Nissenis" best meal ia A..
large bowl of nush with chunk of
butter In the middle; and a century ago
the farmer would never forget to put
this dish out In the stable Christmas
evening. onceit happened so the story
goes-that "Nissen" could not see the
butter, and he became 30 mad that he
wrung the neck Of the best steer in the
stable, but nevertheless he went and
ate the mush, and he discovered that
the butter was there all right. only ii
was melted down in the bottom of the
bowl: and when the farmer come out in
the stable Christmas morning he found
bushei haskat filled with gold coins.
Christmas morning the church bells
are again Ginning and calling: the most
necessary chores are speedily done and
everybody prepares for church,
The trip to the church ought 70 be
done in big bob-sleigh. but sometimes
this Is impossible because the snow is
lacking, although everybody wishes for
snow Christfnas night and Christmas
morning, not the fine wind-whipped
snow, but great big flakes falling soft
and gently.
On the road and outside the church
Merry Christmasl" IL shouted 10
neighbors and strangers. to friends and
foes alike.
The church Is decorated with ever
greens; the old Christmas hymns are