Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-12-11
YULETIDE BUSY
Time FOR CUPID
Some Christmas Love Supersti-
tons. Customs and Practices
in the Old World
PURSES FOR POOR BRIDES
Money Collected and Presented in
Way So as Not to offend Girls
Flowers Used in Proposals by
Shy Young Natives Of Alps.
Good st. Thomas, serve me right

And send me my true love tonight.
That may gaze upon his face.
Then him in my fond arms embrace.
After placing u piece of holly under
her pillow, many girl, in the north Of
England especially, repeats these lines
to herself before retiring to rest on
Christmas eve. according TO writer
In London Tit-Bits.
Cupid plays an important part in
many Of the superstiticns and customs
that are still extant at this season.
Another queer custom In the north,
although IL is not now so prevalent as
il was, is that of gathering maidens'
purses. The money for these purses is
collected some weeks before Christmas
from the inhabitants of the mining
towns, and they are given as MARI -
portions TO the poorest among those
girls who are soon TO be married. On
Christmas eve a full purse is quietly
thrown In at the girls window, so that
her feelings shall not he wounded by
an ostentatious distribution.
A Christmas practice among super
stitiOuS girls who wish 10 dream about
their future lovers is that of abstain
ing from food or drink or speech dur
ing the whole Of Christmas eve. Then,
after all the family have retired, they
make cake of -four, salt and water,
called dumb cake" This they eat
just before retiring TO bed in the be-
lief that their somewhat indigestible
supper viii cause them To dream Of
their future husbands.
In the Alps there exist several
charming Yuletide customs of propos-
ing marriage by the language of flow
ers. If girl accepts bouquet OF
edelweiSs from man during the
period from Christmas day To New
Years eve the action denotes that she
accepts him ms her future husband.
Another Christmas custom in Switz-
erland is for the young man 10 place "A
flower pot containing single rose, and
q note ON the window sill of The girls
room when she Is absent from home.
He then waits for a reply. If the maid
accepts the flower before New Years
eve. then the young man boldly enters
the house 10 ask papa" If, on the
other hand the rose is not touched.
but is allowed 10 fade away, the pro-
pOsal is rejected without single word
of love having been exchanged be
tween the couple. This is II useful
custom for bashful bachelors
In Sardinia Christmas wooing is far
~ /. H.. e.
Their has manageable daughter. the
would-be sutton applies 10 him for per
mission 10 speak To her by means Of
species Of telephone that has been i'm
use for the purpose for centuries Of
ChriStmases
II is a long string with wooden
knob at each end. The girl drops one
knob OUT Of her window and. the shut.
tiers being closed, places the other knob
10 her ear. Down below her would-be
lover pours words of undying devotion
into his knob
ON every New Years day iu Rouma-
mia a fair Of marriageable girls is
held. The girls are all drawn up in
one line and the men in another with
the parents OF both behind them. If
young man likes the look of any par
ticuiar girl ne steps out Of his line.
goes up 10 her and enters into CONVEX
sation. II he is favOrablv received by
the girl. his parents and her parents
compare notes as 10 the marriage set
Element and similar practical matters.
Many quaint Superstitions are asso-
clated with the festive season in vari
Gus parts of Britain In Hertfordshire
mas day Is considered 10 be very un-
lucky: while in other parts II is
thought TO be inviting III luck to allow
any new leather in the house dlying
folk say that n green Christmas
makes fat churchyard.' but in Dew
onshire they say that a green Christ
mas makes a prosperous year.
Superstitious people assert that one
should he careful about the choice OF
the holly for the decorations. Part
should be smooth and part prickly.
Then, providing both kinds are carried
into the house AT the same time, all
will be well. But should the prickly
variety be taken I'm first. then the hus-
band will rule the household during
the coming year; if the smooth is
brought I'm first the wife will be top
dog"