The herald., 1920-12-16

tune, as symbol of
health. wealth and prosperity. and in
those days long ago the house that
sported "A branch of miStletoe at
Christmas would never be unlucky.
1t is from the Druids that the GUS
tom of decorating our churches and
homes with evergreenS comes, for they
believed that all the sylvan spriteS
fiocked together on these bCslghS.
there to remain until the warm wealth
or came. In midwinter the DruidS
sent around sprigS of ivy and mistle-
toe to remind the people to decorate
their dwellings with evergreens, In
order TO prOpitate the sylvan sprites
and secure protection from frosts and
wintrv blasts. Holly berries long have
been considered as giving wonderful
power when worn In the shape of q
wreath, which must be made and worn
In imitation of sacred crown OF
thOrns and Of berries and the wearer
Of this crown must 60 alone at mid
night on Christmas and sit In the
dark. and. I'm accordance with that
ancient tradition. when worn on
Christmas eve the holly wreath will
evoke visions of spirit forms coming
In the air to sing their Noel songs. and
all the beasts will be seen to kneel
down In worship.
The Yule cake and Yule log. too,
have their important part In this an
cient Saxon tradition for the Christ
mas festival season. The cake had the
same powers rs the bride cake has on
Christmas night. The Yule log was
used to light the Christmas fire the
next year because IL preserved the
house from fire during the year und
subdued the. spirit Of the flames.
Its powers were bestowed in the DAYS
of the Druids, when the betting fires
were lighted and the brands secured
frO.l the fire To light the fire the next
year. The ancient Saxons burned the
Gule log as II symbol of the turning of
the sun toward spring.
Even the moon contributed ITS
share 10 Christmas superStitions. for.
rs the legend runs. if Christmas comes
during the waning of the moon we
shall have a very good year. and the
nearer to the full moon the better.
Holland, perhaps. has the prettiest
custom of all nations for the Christ
mus festival. On the night before
Christmas In commemoratinn of the
star of the east, the young men of
tl5ir towns assemble and carry
through the dirk streets n large.
bright star; all the people go out to
greet and give to the bearers of this
star of Bethlehem" as ii is called.
Aims for the poor.
Seven days before their New Year.
The Chinese worship the Kitchen God
by preparing dishes of candy and vari-
Gus sweets with which they smear his
mouth. Later they burn him amid the
hiring off of crackers. the deity bein.
sent up I'm n chariot of smoke and fire
to conference with the king of the
celestial regions. The idea of smear-
ing his mouth with sweets is that he
Nluy Hul shy dlHlHlnS nut money!
ed words. or that his lips may stick
together and SO prevent his talking
too much.
The Kitchen God. according to story
had been III treated by his brother and
sister-in-law. who were very rich and
had many servants. but allowed their
brother to work with the servants and
have dinner with them. Their cruelty
developed day after day. until M last
they treated him heavenly by seating
him In sedan chair made Of paper.
The creation of giving gifts at
Christmas came. not from presents OF
gold and silver given to the Christ
child. as many believe. hut from an
old custom of priests putting on board
of all outgoing ships a box of aims.
This box was opened at Christmas
time and masses snid for the giyers
Of the nlms, and was called Christ
mass box. and from this has com.
,ur custom OF Christmas boxes md
-dft giving