The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-12-07

u1SlI1ClS Ol. 4NlC11OAdS Pe@AeA0
 in person, in an attire very similar to that of our American Santa Claus. generally carrying a big bag filled with apples, prunes, nuts ana nome made cookies which he distributes among the children who have been obedient during the year.
 The next and in modern days the most important festive day of the whole Yule season is Christmas Day. History relates that it was only in the year 554 D. C., that the Roman Bishop Liberius designated Dec. 25th as the birthday of Christ, as the Romans regarded this particular day as the birthday of the Sun, and as they were furthermore desirous of giving a more religious importance to two important Roman festivals which also fell due in the same period. With the obser- vation of Christmas Day the Christ kindli described ''as a lovely angel with wings gradually started to take old Santas place in many sections of Switzerland. Christkindli, the Christ Child, is said to come from the far North and always brings wonderful Christmas tree, decorated with all the glittering things associated with fairy land and heavily laden with manifold gifts.
 A pretty legend about the origin of l the Christmas tree tells us that in the beginning of the Ninth century a cer- tain St. Winfried went to preach Christianity to the people of Scandi navia and northern Germany. One Christmas Eve these people were gathered round a huge oak to offer human sacrifice, according to the Druid priests, but St. Winfried hewed down the great tree and as 1t fell there appeared in it's place a tall young fir. When St. Winfried saw it he cried to the people that here was come new tree, unstained by blood which in pointing to the sky showed them what they were to worship.
 "It is the Christ Child" he said,
 'carry 1t to the Castle of your Chief and in future, instead of the bloody
 rites of the Druids, your worship shall be in your own homes, with ceremonies that speak the message of peace and goodwill to all. A day
 will come when there shall be not house in the North wherein on 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 Christ
 mas tree. It states that the Romans
 burned candles at the feast of Saturn lone of the two festivals which fell due on Dec. 25th-as a sign of good cheer, and that the Jews also burned candles during their feast of the dedi-
 cation which happened to fall due about the same date. It is therefore deemed quite possible that for this
 reason there would have been many Icandles burning all over Palestine about the time of the birth of Christ land from this comes the term Feast
 of Lghts'' 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 oc-
 currences which ancient traditions i, havO reported to be prevalent during iChristmas time.
 If you want for instance to find out
 how the weather will be during the
 next year, cut on Christmas Eve an onion into half: peel off twelve layers, , one. for each month. and fill the same
 with salt. Those peeltnss which con-
 tain damp salt the next morning pre- dict rainy weather for the respective month.
 Young people who are anxious to
 learn something about their matri-
 nonial prospects are advised to drink [ three times from nine different foun-
 tains. when the church bells are ring ing on Christmas Eve and they will
 then behold their future mate stand ing, at the church door. Observing , this particular custom Is. of course. . quite possible in Switzerland, where public fountains are found every where in good humber.
 ! If you are courageous enough to z. consult the oracle as to the length i. of time which is still allotted to you
 on earth, takeyour Bible on Christmas
 Eve and the first Psalm which strikes n your eye contains in stanzas the num- ' ], Der of years which you are yet given to live,
 To safeguard your chickens from all animals of prey, another ancient : custom advises you to clip their wings :, between II p. m. and midnight OF z Christmas Eve. . Children born on Christmas Day :, can see ghosts and are abls to tel a youT fortune. Water can be changed : into wine and if you are soyne sor Q of an adept in the mysterious art o1 magic, you are at that time anre tt ;. safeguard yourself against all bodil, = injuries. If farmers will fertilize thu
 soil or tie 8 band of straw arount v, the trunk of their fruit trees durinf i. Christmas week, the same will bea. = special quantities of fruit for the nex
 season.
 e On Christmas eve, for one brfe
 hour, the dumb beasts are said to b. able to converse in human languag n but misfortune is predicted for tn inquisitive who takes 1t upon 'himsel n to listen.
 And when the happy Christina days are over there comes New Year ', Eve with it's jolly social and famil ,r gatherings and it's marve1ously effec ,, tive ringing in of the New Year whe # all the church bells throughout tn = land are lifting up their voices fo n half an hour.
 z+ While Christmas 1917 will hardi -o be a general day of rejoicing in man
 great country in Europe, 6Witzer ,s land is preparing to celebrate it i her usual way. There will be les ;- laughter in the valleys and fewe . brilliant festivities in the fashienabl ,a winter resorts above the clouds - Brotheriy love and sympathy for he
 bleeding neighbors could not will
 otharUisa-hut SwitzerJa1d is prate