The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-12-23

must burn all night; if it went out.
it was a sign Of i'll luck. The Yule
Clog ceremony is still observed in
Northern England, and the peasan-
try connect various superstitions with
it. For instances, should a squirt
ing person, or one bare-footed, come
to the house while the log is burn
ing, it is regarded as an i'll omen.
The use of the mistletoe came from
pagan times and rites, when the pic
turesque, white-robed Druid priest
during the winter solstice assembled
the oak tree, at the foot of which
were tied the sacred white bulls.
With the blessed pruning hook, he
clipped the mistletoe, which fell in
to a white cloth held by other priests
Bulls were sacrificed in the cere
monies that followed. The mistle.
toe thus clipped was divided and TAX
en- home, where it was supposed to
be charm against witchcraft. Vain
indeed, the precaution, when a pref
ty witch stands beneath the sprig sus-
pended above her head-luring the
lover to her cherry lips!
Saint Nicholas, or Nicolas, became
the patron saint of Christmas time
Santa Klaus is the Ouch name fos
this saint.
Some authorities claim that St.
Nicholas was born in Asia Minor:
others, that he was the patron saint
Of the poor, of the unfortunate, and
of children. After his death par.
ents made presents to their children
on that anniversary in his memory.
1t may seem far cry from saint
to the jolly, red-faced old Santa of
our holiday time, but no, he is sym
bolical figure, representing all the
kindness, good-fellowship and best
wishes Of all the world to his broth
err.
The boar's head used to be the Gull
mary Christmas triumph of the middle
ages. Today the turkey has qualms
at Thanksgiving and Christmas time,
only to give US qualms if we too
freely indulge in too many drum
sticks, too much white meat or de.
licious dressing. 1t is a wonder tina:
the old Puritan INDUCED in turkey as
food. He frowned down too much
Christmas gayety or rejoicing, be.
cause in parts of England and North.
ern Europe the holiday festivities
were carried to excess, where the Lore
of Misrule and Merry Makers mad.
of the holiday a mockery amounting
at times to riot.
The ringing of the bells is love
ly Christmas custom, and the burn
ing Of candles. In some parts o.
Northern Europe a candle is in thu
window all of Christmas Eve to igh
the Christ Child on his way about thu
village. What is sweeter than tn
Christmas carols or noels that rims
out into the night?
"Sing all we may
Because the king of kings
Was born this blessed day."
4ucIc SIlOIlc d SLdI OuC "a I1SdNSu
night
The men of earth should deem arigh
Then this was Jhesus of might"
Long ago the shepherds on the plain.
saw the star and heard the Heavenly
Host. Long ago the Babe lay in thu
manger and the wise men came ou'
of the East to worship-yet toda!
the Babe holds his sceptre of Low.
and draws the hearts of men ans
good will.
What matter that some of the Gus
Tins that inger with US date back Il
far-off pagan time?
Every Christmas symbol that We
hold-the giving of presents, the light
ing Of the tree laden with gifts, the
memory of the poor and the forgot.
ten brother that comes to US at leas,
once a year-all lift man out Of him
self toward higher things-toward &
better understanding Of his fellow
man.
Merrie Christmas and Glad New
Year!