Evening star., 1930-12-14
Feeding OF BIRDS
!. IS YULE CUSTOM
Legation Officials Tell oil
Christmas Folklore in
-. Scandinavia.

+ The custom of feeding the birds at
Christmas time, which has prevailed in
Norway and, Sweden for many genera
tons, might well be followed in this
country with beneficial results for both
hungry birds and needy farmers.
Great sheaveS of straw or hay, filled
with variety of grains, corn, oats, etc,
are prepared by the farmers through
cut these. Scandinavian countries and
sold to city residents or those living in
the suburbs, who tie the sheaves to
veranda or gate posts on Christmas
eve. In the country the farmers place
these bundles of grain upon the roofs
of. barns, or other prominent places,
where the birds can eat to their fill on
Christmas morning
Festivities Shared With Birds.
visit to the Norwegian and Swedish
legations ELECTED information that the
custom as practiced in the two coun-
tries is almost identically the same.
The idea was started through the
behef that Christmas being a time Of
happiness and feasting for all should
Also include the BIRDS" explains a men,
Der of the Norwegian legation. I'VE
usually have considerable snow by
CHRISTMAS time and it is hard for the
pros to md food. It is a very beauti-
1u1 sight to see them flock around the
sheaves on Christmas morning, and for
several mornings after, until the food
Christmas feasting"
Despite cold weather prevailing in
Norway. 1t is said that many colorful
Dlros still remain there to enjoy their
Christmas banquet. Although most of
the niros partake OF the grain contained
IN tne sneaves on the posts, one little
gray and green bird, closely reSembling
me american tom-tit, is given a special
dish" of tallow. which he prefers to
the feast Of grains.
Farmers Fill Sheaf Orders.
At the Swedish legation, it was said
that orders for Sheaves for the birds
are frequently placed with the farmers
long before Christmas. The farmers
PICK up quite nice fund by supplying
RESIDENTS OF city suburbs and those who
are far enough removed from the CITY
70 nave birds IN the neighborhood with
grain sheaves
Denmark, the third of the Scandi-
nsyian trio, does not have this custom
OF feeding the birds. This. it was ex-
planned, is probably because. being f,Ir-
ther south than Norway or Sweden. the
Danlsn birds have an easier time find
mg their own Christmas dinners.
Santa Claus Is Unknown.
: Neither does Denmark tell its chill
0ren the story of Santa Claus. THE
great event for Danish youngsters is the
christmas feast held on the Gath of
december, which is followed bv the
lighting Of the Christmas tree and die-
Tibutdon of gifts. A Quaint legend
which Is retold to the children of DEN
marx &C Christmas. and which gives to
every little Danish boy and girl the
thr11l which comes to the American
child with the thought of Santa Claus
coming down the chimney, is that of
the little hobgoblin, "the Jule-nisse {"
VINO lives out in the barn of every
home, and who can be seen on Christ
mas eve, II one Is clever and quick |
enough 70 glimpse him. The Jule-nisse
Is always given q share of the Danish
CHRISTMAS dish, rice porridge, which is
paced N bowl for him near his
hAunts. One must give the little
gnome share in the Christmas feast
II one wishes good luck to come to the
nousehold during the year The julie
nlsse- u also found in Norway and
-, Tree Is Festive Symbol.
Like Denmark. both Sweden and
Norway give the Christmas tree a |
prominent place in the Yuletime cele- |
brations
beautiful Of the evergreen family is |
used in the country whose name it |
bears exclusively as the Christmas tree. |
Modern electricity, though perhaps |
safer, b never used for lighting the |
Christmas tree in Norway, Wax
Capers OF various colors decorate the !
uee. with cakes and chocolates for the |
Lighting Of the candles on the tree
constitutes an important part of the !
festivities.
Christmas in the Scandinavian coun- |
exies, as 1t does in the United States. |
brings together members Of families |
Due 70 the high import duty on auto !
mobiles in Norway. the motor car is
not used as extensively as it is here.
Instead OF the chug-chug of the au-
tomobile and its noisy footing horns. |
one hears the jingling of sleigh bells |
In Norway as persons travel to family |
reunions at Christmas time.
Church Attendance at YuIetide.
Although Norway and Denmark sse
little of Santa Claus and his reindeers, |
he Is a welcome visitor in Sweden, |
where all the children know him as
Jule-Tomte or the Christmas elf. who, |
dressed in the quaint costume known TO |
American and English children, travels !
about the countryside on Christmas eve
and distributes his gifts to the chill
dren.
For several hundred years Sweden
has carried out a picturesque custom
on Christmas morning. At o'clock in
the morning while 1t is still dark every
body, both in city and country rises to
attend early church services Travel
iAR in. horse-drawn sleighs. the bells
iinfling a merry Christmas greeting.
great lighted torches are carried by
those on their way to church. and we
are told that the brilliant lights. NOV
ing rapidly through the countryside,
q of seed heautV