The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-22
Yuletide Customs

religious feast. celebrating the birth
Of the Christ Child, It Is interesting
to note that many Of the customs
which have grown up about It are
essentially Of pagan origin.
The mistletoe, for example, as wide
~ used Is the holly In some sections,
marks the Introduction into Yuletide
observances Of pagan mythology.
This sprig Of green with the white
berries is really . parasite, that q,
it grows on . host tree from which It
obtains nourishment. Its significance
is that 1t Is = sign Of greeting and,
since It was widely used In countries
where the standard greeting was .
kiss or an embrace. 1t has come to
have q special significance for u.
Thus the quaint custom Of taking
osculatory liberties with any likely
looking lass caught under the mistie-
toe. OF course. II the prospect Isn't
attractive. there Is no obligation to
take advantage Of implied opportun-
ity.
In Scandinavian mythology We find
that Balder the Beautiful dreamed
he would die. whereupon his mother,
queen Of the Gods. obtained . prom
ise from all things In heaven and
on earth that they would not harm
him.
After that It became . popular
game for Balder to stand up and let
the others throw things at him. They
were amused to see spears and stones
turn aside in mid-air and miss their
pretended mark.
But Ioki. the Jealous God, learned
that no promise had been made By
the mistletoe. which was neither In
heaven nor on earth but between
them. 50 he tipped . spear with It
and guided the arm Of Hod, Balders
blind brother. The spear found its
mark and Balder was killed.
All things IN heaven and earth
wept for Balder until he was brought
back to life BY Freyje. Goddess Of
love. and thereafter tho mistletoe was
declared sacred to that divine pas
zion.
Apparently without direct relation,
the Druids Of the British Isles also
regarded tho naistletoe . sacred. II
enemies met under . tree Ii which
1t grew they were required 70 lay
down their arms and become friends.
In this manner developed the Gus
tom Of placing mistletoe over the
doorway ct Christmastime. pledsing
friendship TO b sealed with an af.
fectiouate greeting.
Incorporated IN Christmas celebrs-
tions ~ also find customs Of the an
Gent Germans. Greeks and Romans.
The Wild revelk Of the Twelve Nights.
Of Bacchanalia and Saturnalia find
expression IN the seasons merriment.
Decorations recall those Of the tenn
pies Of Saturn, radiant with burning
tapere and sarlands. and the Roman
CRY Of Bona saturnalia" finds coun-
terpart IN tho modern merry Christ
mas"
Even before the ancient Greeks
and Romans ~ find the ancient
Aryans. who worshipped the sun, cele-
hratins ct this season tho Victory
OF The Sun God over the powers Of
darkness ::ihich had been forcing him
lower and lower IN the SKY. When,
1t Last, tho suns retreat was halted
and 10 began to return, It was : cause
for rejoicing.
But none Of these pagan celebra-
tons caught the meaning Of Christ
mas - We know It. The softening
influence Of tho Christian philosophy
was needed to make It . season Of
universal goodwill. It required the
angels singing above Bethlehem 70
bring about . condition which
Shakespeare described as . ..hallow-
ed and gracious time"
Try It, Daddy
Production Of Christmas playlets In
many schools and the numerous
classroom programs which marx the