El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-12-23

prehistoric worship OF the heavenly
yule Log Is WOrshipPed-
The Yule log in Servis is an object
If household worship. being cut Cin the
woods and handled with mucn quasi.
religious ceremonial II IS DapIizeo
with wine and anOlnted Win OIL OF
.rsd-- with honey. No woman IS al
,l----d -trder any circumstances TO
couch il. Il sanctifies the hearth ana
the whole house When II has oeee
burned. the chsrred remains are used
as medicine for man ana oeast' scraps
of il are attached to fruit trees %
make them bear. and the ashes are
sprinkIed on cabbages TO protect them
II is manifest that the log was
originally and very aneiently an loo-
The rites connected with II are sup
Dossd to be a modification OF the wor-
shin of a pagan god called Dayoog.
The ancestors OF the modern SsLos
sacrificed pigs 10 Day bog ana IN mess
modern tines OF Christmas day roast
Mo is rhe great feast dish in every
Serbian house. Usually il is cooked our
~ doors. and when il is put on the
fire. the men and boys OF the family
- Lutte IL by firing Off pistols and guns
pretty Christmas Customs.
soon after daybreak on Christmas
d5-- arrives the "POlazulk. Designation
which may be translated as me
c1n,e-~ He Is a younE boy. usually
80 a nearby village. When the door
is OPENED TO him. he cries, Cnrish
i horn and entering. throws hand
ful OF wheat about livery one an Al
svers He r. born in truth. Insn tne
come goes 60 the hearth and with
a shovel strikes showers OF sparks
from the Nule log saTing- May yO0
have during the year IS many catties
horse. sheep. hos and goats as there
Amen- the vIachs. al ancient people
widely scattered over the central Bal
kans a big fire is made IN eacn mouse
on Christmas Eve, 20 Keep Chrlst
warm The ashes are not swept Ous
Of the hearth until Epiphany, ana
meanwhile the fire mas not De allowed
20 go out Boys go round and knock
at door after door T4th SUCK N
response 70 which gifts OF cakes and
nuts are bestowed upon tnen- Ineir
leader carries at his waist long
string. on which h threads the cakes
the latter being shaped IKE Dough
nuts. with holes through the mludle-
TIN. family Christmas cake is a huge
affair decorated with currantS and
sesame seeds. After being sprin kIed
with a few drops Of holy water. u -
broken into pieces and given TO the
sheep. horses, Gld other domestic
animals. 10 keep them IN good health
Christmas Holy Day With Greeks
Among the Creeks and BulgarS
Christmas is a holy day but not a
holiday. Accordingly. New ! ears takes
Its place as ar 0NE-.SAtAA AoA LUIS
family rejoicings. and the giving OF
gifts. The father OF each family.
however 1oOr. must give 20 his vile
and 70 each Of his children sum or
money. The children's money IN a
peasant household. is put in an earthen
Jar and kept. 50 that when they are
grown Up there viii De snug bit OF
capital 10 help start them in life
II the we'll 20 DO classes. every
man Is expected 20 call on all the
ladies Of his acQuG,utsnce- and IN each
instance he must bring a gift On his
departure, he finds the household ser
wants all drawn ID in a row. and 10
each of them he gives money This
is repeated al every house he visits.
so that the tax on his purse IS likely
10 be not inconsideraolc- But he can
not fail 20 call u9on any woman
friend without rislIinf the loss OF her
friendship and that OF her family as a
penalty
Coins Baked IL Cake.
Or returning from church. the head.
o. the family breaks a pomegranate on
the floor. 10 insure the good fortune
and health of the household for the
the corners 10 blind the Evil one. At
night a big cake. i'm which two coins
Of gold silver. Or copper have been
baked. is cut in Slices one for each
person. Those who Ec- the coins are
crowned king and queen The girls put
hits Of their cake under their pillows
that night. in orde- that in dreams
they may see their future husbands