The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-12-06

Another method of learning of the appearance of
lover (this time his features) would be to pour
melted lead into bowl of water, and, from the
shape which the CONCEALED metal took when 1t
cooled, imagine some one who appeared like that
Christmas in Russia is very bustling
time. Remember, this means prewar and pre-
revolution times in Russa) The peasants pre-
pare to- and eventually do form into a procession
and march through the village. They to
pass the houses of the nobility the mayor and
other officials, stopping at each to sing carols
and receive, in return. copper. This habit Of
begging is called "Koenda" masquerade fol-
lows the procession, and the evening
star arises the supper Is spread.
Paris INDUCES in one great fete the night before
Christmas. 1t finds everyone eating sumptu-
GUS dinner, and the restaurants taxed to their
greatest capacity, for Christmas eve, If at
no other time of the year he has full meal the
Frenchman has it then At the Founding hos
piial in Lyons a practice is maintained which Tin
the light of recent statements about the decreas
ing birth rate in Frnnce) is somewhat humorous
royal welcome Is prepared for the first infant
received that day. This special honor, however
has very beautiful meanng-it being intended
to contrast the humble story of Savior with
that of this foundling
In sunny Italy sumptuous banquet is pre-
pared, consisting mainly of fish cooked in many
different ways. Fish is eaten for n week previous
to Christmas and its feast day. rhe churches
are largely attended and the italian is careful to
see that his children go also. The children have
their part of the rejoicing in what is called the
"urn of fate" In receptacle, preferably an
urn, are placed written fortunes. and the chill
dren and their friends In the order of their ages
draw lots. Great merriment is occasioned by
some Of the ludicrous results. This is to them
what the Christmas tree is to the American child.
Peru presents scene Of varied activity Mt this
time Of the year; people are bustling to and fro
and having jolly good time; suddenly the
church bell rings calling them to the midnight
Tha int Of thp nayt rufn (hrto
day. is usually centered about a bull fight,
the most popular one Of the year and one In
which 1t is said the women take more interest
than the men, After this there is a religious pro-
From Germany we get the Christmas tree San
tn Claus from Holland; from Belgium and France
the Christmas stocking, and merry Christmas"
from England.
And Merry Christmas It was, with its ruddy
glow from the Iindllng Yule logs and the CLEAN
from the pearly berries Of the mistletoe. There
early records Of the mistletoe having been
used decoration, and 1t held in great
reverence by the Celtic nations.
The bringing in Of the Yule log had origin in a
really Interesting manner. In the days when
England was young 1t was the custom, of the serfs
to bring fuel with them to the baronia! hail. The
dinner which they received there to last as
long the wood burned. This was called bring
ing a ''wet wheel" The wet wheel was usually
green branch or limb Of tree and 1t is obvious
how, since their dinner depended upon the size
of the stick furnished, the stick eventually be-
came larger and larger until 1t assumed the pro-
portions of log. The term "Yule' which is pre-
fixed to 1t simply signifies that 1t is log of the
"Yue" season.
In the old days the feast of st. Martin. Novem-
ber l. opened the Christmas season. From that
time on mummery and merriment were king.
Elizabethan England. and England of a
later PERIOD is rich in traditions and supersti-
tious beliefs.
Anyone turning mattress on Christmas day
would die within the year; but the baking Of
bread was commended, and lOaves baked on that
day would grow moldy
Yule cakes were supposed to have miraculous
power, and them representations of Jesus were
sometimes pressed.
In some places in Oxfordshre every maid serv-
ant had the privilege and frequently exercised it.
of asking man for ivy to decorate the house. II
the man assented, well and good; but If he re-
fused the maid stole pair of his breeches. The
next day they could be nailed to the gate on
the highway.
The first maid to pass under this evergreen on
Christmas day to be married within the
year, and equally sure of being kssed-for that
the penalty to be paid by any maid who
passed under it. After each offense a berry was
plucked while the privilege supposed to cease
with the last berry.
For anyone but dark-skinned person to cross
the threshold first Christmas day consid-
cred unlucky in parts of Scotland. the reason for
this being that Judas had red hair. No one would
think of giving light matches at this time
in certain counties, and the bees were supposed
to sing all night Christmas eve, although previous
to this sprig of holly had been placed the
hive. Mortas who die on that night are certain
of immediate and perennial happiness.
But enough of these children of the Imagination,
citizens of the past. Do not hear. just outside
chamber door. youthful choir singing
carol. did Washington Irving that Christ
mas morning when he was at Brncebridge hall?
And, through the night, there not voices eth