The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-12-24

another horse. Then silence fell, and
the servant, quaking with fear, fed to
the house and died in few days. He
was brought to the graveyard by the
two horses that foretold his DEATH"
Another belief is that if the bread
baked on Christmas Day be crumbled
and thrown upon the ground it will
spring up as little plants, bearing
star-like flowers which possess mirac-
ulous curing power. A similar belief
is that if barley be left in the open
air on Christmas night to be moist
ened with the dew, it becomes imbued
with special curative powers, and if
planted, will produce in extraordinary
abundance.
Jacobs Ladder.
In Poland, there is a very beautiful
and popularity accepted belief that the
scene of Jacobs ladder is re-enacted
on Christmas night, the angels de-
scending to earth and scattering
abroad the benign influence of Peace
and Goodwill.
In England, there is valley in Not
tinghamshire where it is asserted that
If anyone puts his ear to the ground
he will hear the ringing of church-bells
deep down in the earth. The valley is
supposed to have been caused by an
earthquake which occurred many cen.
turtles ago and which swallowed up a
whole village one Christmas morning
while the bells. were ringing, and ever
since they can be heard on the ami.
versary of that day.
The original "Halcyon Days are
those at Christmas time; they are the
seven days which precede and the
seven which follow the shortest day
Of the year, on account of the fable
that during this time the Halcyon bird
| or Kingfisher was brooding, and there
was always calm at sea. 1t was pop
ularly believed that this bird, through
the influence of the holy season, had
| the power of charming the winds and
waves, so that the weather was then
calm and peaceful, and enabled the
halcyon to lay it's eggs in its nest
Quilt upon the waters) and brood up
on them in perfect safety. From this
the phrase, "halcyon days." has come
to mean times of happiness and tran
quility.
The Spirit of Christmas.
In the days of the early Christians
men declared that all nature testified
| in various ways to the recognition oil
| the great event cOmmemorated by
Christians. The winds and the waves
the animals and the plants, and al
| living things became imbued with the
prevailing spirit of joy and peace an6
alteration of this glorious anniversary
Tradition tells us that a universe
peace reigned throughout the eart1
and heavens at the time of Christ!
birth; that profound silence rested
upon the world, the birds stopped Ii
their flight, the cattle ceased to feed
i men became motionless with suddeI
awe in the midst of their labors. tn,
stars glittered with added lustre, ant
the sun twice bounded with joy.
No matter to what section of tn,
Christian religion we may belong, W,
all know that the spirit of peace an,
goodwill which came upon the worl'
at this time of jubilant thanksgiving
a spirit of poesy and romance ur
known and unfelt at any other time,
spirit of charity which makes most O
us open our purse-strings and shar
the wealth that God has given us wit
the poor and lowly as far as we ar
able, knowing that in giving what W
can to Ellis People we are giving
to Him, and thus ensuring for eac
and all of us happy and peaceful
Christmas.