Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-12

children. it is an event of utmost i'm
portance to all youngsters. In some
districts st. Nicholas parades around in
person: in an attire very similar to
that of our American Santa Claus, gen
orally carrying a big bag filled with
apples. prunes. nuts and homemade
cookies which he distributes among the
children who have been obedient dur
ing the year
The next and in modern days the
most important festive day of the
whole Yule season is Christmas. His
tory relates that it was only in the
wear 354 r. G. that the Roman Bishop
Liberius designated December % as the
birthday of Christ. the Romans re-
garded this particular day the
birthday of the Sun. and as they were
Furthermore DESTROYS of giving a more
religious Importance to two important
Roman festivals which also fell due in
the same period. With the observation
of Christmas day the ChrStkindli de-
scribed AS lovely angel with wings"
gradually started to take old Santa's
place in many sections of Switzerland.
Christkindli, the Christ Child. is said to
come from the far north and always
brings a wonderful Christmas tree.
decorated with all the glittering things
associated with fairyland and heavily
laden with manifold gifts.
pretty legend about the origin of the
Christmas tree tells us that in the be-
ginning of the ninth century Il certain
St. Winfried went to preach Christianity
to the people in Scandinavia and northern
Germany. One Christmas eve these
people were gathered round q huge oak
to offer human sacrifice, according to
the Druid priests, but st. Winfried hewed
dowr the great tree, and it fell there
appeared in its place a tad young fir
When St. Winfried saw it he cried to the
people that here was come new tree, I'M
stained by blood, which, in pointing to the
Sky, showed them what they were to
worship.
1T is the Christ Child he said Garry
it to the castle of your chief and in future
instead of the bloody rites of the Druds
your worship shall be in your own homes
with ceremonies that speak the message
of peace and good will to all A day
viii come when there shall be not a house
in the north wherein the birthday of
Christ the whole family shall not gather
together round the fir tree in memory of
this day and to the glory of the only God"
Legend also tries to explain why
candles are burned on every Christmas
tree. 1t states that the Romans burned
candles at the feast of Saturn-one of the
two festivals which fell due December %
AS sign of good cheer, and that the
Jews also burned candles during their
feast of the dedication, which happened
to fall due about the same date. 1t is
therefore deemed quite possible that for
this reason there would have been many
candles burning all over Palestine about
the time Of the birth of Christ, and from
this comes the term Feast of Lights
which is the name used in the Greek
Church for Christmas day.
In many parts of Switzerland the
peasants are still fervent believers in
mystic powers and supernatural occur
renCes which ancient traditions have re-
ported to be prevalent during Christmas
time.
IF you want, for instance. to find out
how the weather will be during the next
year. cut Christmas eve an onion into
halves: peel off twelve layers. one for each
month, and fill the same with salt Those
peelings which contain damp salt the next
morning predict rainy weather for the
respective month.
Young people who are anxious to