Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-12-22
Christmas SupGrStitionS

The Christmas mistetoe twig is potent mascot, and
the hostess who following quaint old fancy presents
her guests callers with twig is not only presenting
them with good luck and good fortune but is doing what
of old the prestly Druids did when they the wor
shippers of the Supreme Being typed in the form of an
oak portion of the parasitic plant to keep regiously
long it lasted The mstetoe twig supposed to give
the power to witches and evdoers and insured pros
perity To those whom the Druids dslked or wished
harm they refused the mstetOe sprig No could poi
the holder of piece of mistetoe for the sprg would
discover poison no matter cunningy administered,
and save the owner from all harm To childess folk the
misetoe brought offspring and to the sick, health In
fact it the symbol of health wealth. and prosperity
and the house that sports branch OF msetoe at Christ
mas will never be unlucky.
1t from the Druds too that the custom of decorat
ing churches and homes with evergreens coes for
they believed that all the sylvan sprtes ocked together
these boughs there to remain until the weather.
In the midwnter the Druids sent around sprgs of ivy
and misetoe to remind people to decorate their dwellings
with evergreens in order to propate the sylvan sprtes
and protection from frosts and wlntry blasts
Holly berries possess and give wonderful power when
in the shape of wreath, which must be made in
imitation of the sacred of thorns red blood
and the must go alone at midnight Christmas
and sit in church in dark Second sight will then to
them, and into the church will file all those of their
friends who will die during the coming year. Worn on
Christmas Eve, the holly wreath will evoke visions of
spirit forms coming in the air to sing their Noel
and all the beasts will be to knee down in worship
If preserved for year, the will give its safe
ty from violence.
The Yule cake has the power as the bride-cake
Christmas night, for if maiden place piece of it
husband Also portion of the cake should be kept for
the next year, as it brings luck in the house.
The ancient Saxons burned the Yue log as symbol
of the turning of the toward the spring They, by
the way considered the mstetoe berries unlucky and
symbol of their hel-Nilheim, abode of the death god
dess.
brand of the Yue log snatched from the fire used
to be carefully preserved kept dry and used to light the
fire the next because kept the house from fire dur
ing the year, and subdued the spirit of the flames.
Even the moon contributed it's share to the Christ
superstitions for the legend runs If Christmas
during the waning moon shall have very good
year. and the to the full the better The
in the will then smile the inhabitants of the
earth.
Russian folk lore tells that this in the
who seeking the isle in which there is death.
At last after travelling far, he found the longed-for
haven, and took up his abode in the After hum
Eve and fierce struggle ensued with the who
victorious; and so the stayed where he
The Jamaica negroes collect all bits of odds and ends
of fnery with which to array themselves the of
Christmas and, choosing king and queen, follow these
leaders about making much noise possible blowing
horns beating drums, and doing mischief generally
In Holland pretty custom exists. On the night be-
fore Christmas in commemoraon of the star of the East
the young of the town assemble and through
the dark streets large bright STAR all people out to
greet it, and give to the bearers of this Star of Bethle
hem aims for the poor.
The custom of giving gifts at Christmas came not
from the presents of gold and silver given to the Christ
child many believe but from old custom of priests
putting on board of all outgoing ships box for aims This
box was opened at Christmas time, and masses said for
the givers of the aims and called Christ Mass.
from this has custom OF Christmas boxes and
gifts.
From Harpers Weekly.