The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-12-07

Another method of learning of the appearance of
Il 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 II
cooled, imagine some one who appeared like that
Christmas in Russia is a very buSng
time (Remember, this means prewar and pre-
revolution times in RussiaD The peasants pre-
pare to, and eventually do form into 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 "Kocnda" \ masquerade fol
lows the procession, and soon as the evening
star arises the supper is spread.
Paris INDUCES in one great fete the night before
Christmas. Ii finds everyone eating "A sumptu-
dinner, and the restaurants are taxed to their
greatest capacity. for Christmas eve, if at
no other time of the year ne has a full meal the
Frenchman has ii then At the Founding hos
ptal in Lyons practice is maintained which On
the light of recent statements about the decreas-
ing birth rate in France) is somewhat humorous
A 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 founding.
In sunny Italy n Sumptuous banquet Is pre-
pared, consisting mainly of fish cooked in many
different ways Fish is eaten for a week previous
are largely attended and the italian is careful to
see that his children go also. The children have
their Dart of the rejoicing in What is called the
urn OF fate. In some receptacle preferably an
urn, placed written fortunes and the chill
dren and their friends, in the order Of their ages
draw lots Great merrimcnt is Occasioncd by
some of the ludicrous results This is 10 them
what the Christmas tree Is TO the American child
Peru presents a scene of varied activity at this
time of the year; people are huSing to and fro
and having jolly good time; suddenly the
church bell rings. calling them To the midnight
mass. The interest of the next morning Christ
mas day, is usually centered about II bull fight
the most popular of the year and one in
which IT is said the women take interest
than the men. After this there is a religious pro-
From Germany we get the Christmas tree; San
Ia 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 klndling Yule logs and the CLEAN
from the pearly berries of the mistetoe There
early records of the mistletoe having been
used as Il decoration, and 1t held in great
reverence by the Celtic nations.
The bringing In of the Yue log had origin in a
really interesting manner. In the days when
England was young it was the custom of the serfs
to bring fuel with them to the baronal hall. The
dinner which they received there was to last as
long as the wood burned This was called bring
ing a wet wheel" The wet wheel was usually a
green branch limb Of - tree, and il is obvious
how, since their dinner depended upon the size
OF the stick furnished HE stick eventually be
came larger and larger until it assumed the pro
portions of a log The term ''Yule" which is pre-
fixed to it simply signif that il is log Of the
"Yule" season.
In the old days the feast of St. Martin. Novem-
her /, opened the Christmas season From that
time on mummery and merrimcnt were king
Elizabethan England and England of
later period, is rich in traditions and supersti-
tous beliefs
Anyone turning mattress Christmas day
would die within the year; but the baking of
bread was commended, and loaves baked on that
day would never grow mody.
Yule cakes supposed to have miraculous
power, and on them repr ntations of Jesus were
sometimes pressed
In some places in Oxfordshire every maid serv-
ant had the privilege, and frequently exercised H.
OF asking man for ivy 10 decorate the house. If
the man assented, well and good; but If he re
fused the maid stole pair of his breechcs. The
next day they could be nailed to the gate on
the highway.
The first maid to pass under this evergreen on
Christmas day was sure to be married within the
year and equally sure Of being ksSed-for that
was the penalty to be paid by any maid who
passed under it, After each offense berry was
plucked while the privilege was supposed TO cease
With the last berry
For anyone but dark skinned person TO cross
The threshold first on Christmas day was 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 ar this time
IN certain cou-tieS, and the bees were supposed
TO sing all night Christmas eve, although previous
to this a sprig OF holly had been placed on the
hive. Mortas who die 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
our chamber door a youthful choir singing
carol as did Washington Irving on that Christ
mas morning when he was at Bracebridge hallf
And through the night there not voices eth