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

A. far back as history goes, the
people of the North knew of the "Yule-
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 in December you commence to
feel II III the air. Father and mother
are making nm extra trip to the city,
bringing home. I'M the evening, num-
Der Of mysterious packages and parcels,
some are carried 10 the pantry and
others are brought to the spara-room,
70 which the key IL turned, and hidden
in some safe place where the children
are supposed not TO find them.
A. the great day gets nearer, every
body IL working hard but with willing
hands. Hutchering 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, win
dows are polished. the walls and ceilings
are swept. everything IL Strengthened
and put Id place. The barn, the stable,
the hog+pen, the chicken coop,
should be slick and clean. Everybody
Is working feyerish. and them
Then the first stroke on the chime In
the church tower vibratas through the
air. X IN Christmas evel The men
uncover their heads, the women fold
their hands. After the Ginning follows
the slow, solemn prayer strokes three
for God--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 set the tables.
Everybody appears IN the house,
neatly dressed, and, after abort pray
~, the schristman Evening Supper
II partaken 81. In the time Of our
grandparents this supper always start
III In with i biz bowl Of rice nush,
well buttared and covered nicely with
sugar and powdered cinnamon. next
WAY roasted goose, and finally special
Danish dish, round. apple.like balls,
made Of the very best pancake dough
and baked in pan made for this pur-
pose, After little while GENES the
Christmas tree, always ON Christmas
eve, with its candles and lot Of home.
made things such AZ Jacob iatters.
paper hearts and paper flowers: next
the distribution of the gifts, where no.
body must be forgotten.
Nobody must be forgotten ut Christ
mas time. Substantial gifts Of roasts
and cakes are sent to the poor people,
flowers and little dainties TO the sick
or bedridden. Even the dog, chained
% his kennel. il remembered, and big
bundle Of unthrashed grain ID dashed to
i stake Or tree In the garden for the
birds. y.
Santa CLAUSE oh. yes, We have him,
only we call him "Nissen," he Ii sup
posed To he a small dwarf like man with
broad shoulders and heavy set, with a
long flowing beard: he il dressed in a
gray jacket and gray kneepants. ON his
head he wears long red pyramid.
shaped cap that falls from his head far
down on hts back, ending In tassel.
He II supposed to be more permanent
than our Santa Claus. as his abode Ia
said 10 BIZ under the surface, in the
refund hills In the country; he Ia good
natured and he In ready to give the
farmers d helping hand If he IL well
treated. but he IL evil-minded when
leased, sNissen's" best meal Ia a
large bowl of mush with chunk of
butter In the middle, and century ago
the farmer would never forget to put
this dish out In the stable Christmas
evening, 0nceit happened SO the story
goes--that t'Nissen'' could not see the
butter, and he became 20 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 Il
was melted down In the bottom of the
bowl: and when the farmer come out In
the stable Christmas morning he founs
hashel haskat filed with gold coins.
Christmas morning the church hell'
are again Ginning and calling; the mos
necessary chores are speedily done anC
everybody prepares for church.
The trip to the church ought TO b,
done In a big bob-sleigh, but sometimes
this il impossible because the snow il
lacking, although everybody wishes fol
snow Christmas night and Christina
morning. not the fine wind-whippet
snow. but great big flakes falling soft
and gently.
On the road and outside the churcl
Merry Christnasl'' In shouted t,
neighhors and strangers. to friends an,
foes alike.
The church In decorated with ever
ssr.aaaa. tha r.ld Christmas hymns mr.,