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diff --git a/18570.txt b/18570.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..44cfc7c --- /dev/null +++ b/18570.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4033 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Yule-Tide in Many Lands, by +Mary P. Pringle and Clara A. Urann + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Yule-Tide in Many Lands + +Author: Mary P. Pringle and Clara A. Urann + +Illustrator: L. J. Bridgman + +Release Date: June 12, 2006 [EBook #18570] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK YULE-TIDE IN MANY LANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Sankar Viswanathan, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: CHRISTMAS IN NAPLES. An Italian _PRESIPIO._] + + + YULE-TIDE IN MANY LANDS + + + BY + + MARY P. PRINGLE + + Reference Librarian, Minnesota Public Library Commission + + and + + CLARA A. URANN + + + + Illustrated + + by + + L.J. Bridgman + + and from photographs + + + + + BOSTON + + LOTHROP. LEE & SHEPARD CO. + + 1916 + + + + Copyright, 1916 + + BY LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO. + + + * * * * * + + "The old order changeth, yielding place to new, + And God fulfills Himself in many ways, + Lest one good custom should corrupt the world." + + --_Alfred Tennyson._ + + * * * * * + + + + +ACKNOWLEDGMENTS + + +Thanks are due to the following publishers for permission to reprint +poems: Houghton Mifflin Company for "King Olaf's Christmas" by H. W. +Longfellow, "Night of Marvels" by Violante Do Ceo; Paul Elder & +Company for "The Christmas Tree" by H. S. Russell, "At Christmas +Time"; Edgar S. Werner & Company for "The Christmas Sheaf" by Mrs. A. +M. Tomlinson; John Lane Company for "A Palm Branch from Palestine" by +M. Y. Lermontov; _American Ecclesiastical Review_ for "The Eve of +Christmas" by Pope Leo XIII; E. P. Dutton & Company for "The Voice of +the Christ-child" by Phillips Brooks. + +MARY P. PRINGLE + +CLARA A. URANN + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + +I. YULE-TIDE OF THE ANCIENTS + +II. YULE-TIDE IN ENGLAND + +III. YULE-TIDE IN GERMANY + +IV. YULE-TIDE IN SCANDINAVIA + +V. YULE-TIDE IN RUSSIA + +VI. YULE-TIDE IN FRANCE + +VII. YULE-TIDE IN ITALY + +VIII. YULE-TIDE IN SPAIN + +IX. YULE-TIDE IN AMERICA + + INDEX + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + +Christmas in Naples. An Italian _Presepio_ + _Frontispiece_ + +King Olaf's Christmas + +Serenaded by the Waits + +Toy-Making in Germany + +Decorating the Christmas Tree + +On the Way to Christmas Eve Service in Norway + +A Christmas Bonfire in Russia + +A Christmas Tree in Paris + +A Game of Loto on Christmas Evening in Naples + +Christmas Festivity in Seville + +Lighting the Yule-Log in Colonial Days + +Children of Many Nationalities at Christmas Celebration in a New York + School + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE OF THE ANCIENTS + + "There in the Temple, carved in wood, + The image of great Odin stood, + And other gods, with Thor supreme among them." + + +As early as two thousand years before Christ Yule-tide was celebrated +by the Aryans. They were sun-worshipers and believed the sun was born +each morning, rode across the upper world, and sank into his grave at +night. + +Day after day, as the sun's power diminished, these primitive people +feared that he would eventually be overcome by darkness and forced to +remain in the under world. + +When, therefore, after many months, he apparently wheeled about and +grew stronger and stronger, they felt that he had been born again. So +it came about that at _Hweolor-tid_, "the turning-time,"[1] there was +great rejoicing at the annual re-birth of the sun. + +In the myths and legends of these, our Indo-European ancestors, we +find the origin of many of the Yule-tide customs now in vogue. + +[Footnote 1: Yule-tide] + +According to the Younger Edda, Wodin or Odin, the pioneer of the +North, a descendant of Saturn, fled out of Asia. Going through Russia +to Saxland (Germany), he conquered that country and left one of his +sons as ruler. Then he visited Frankland, Jutland, Sweden, and Norway +and established each one of his many sons on a throne. + +This pioneer traveler figures under nearly two hundred different +names, and so it is difficult to follow him in his wanderings. As +Wodin, he established throughout the northern nations many of the +observances and customs common to the people of the Northland to-day. + +The Edda gives an ancient account of Balder, the sun-god, who was +slain because of the jealousy of Loki (fire). Loki knew that +everything in nature except the mistletoe had promised not to injure +the great god Balder. So he searched for the mistletoe until he found +it growing on an oak-tree "on the eastern slope of Valhalla." He cut +it off and returned to the place where the gods were amusing +themselves by using Balder as a target, hurling stones and darts, and +trying to strike him with their battle-axes. But all these weapons +were harmless. Then Loki, giving the twig of mistletoe to the blind +god, Hoeder, directed his hand and induced him to throw it. When the +mistletoe struck Balder it pierced him through and through and he fell +lifeless. + + "So on the floor lay Balder dead; and round[2] + Lay thickly strewn swords, axes, darts, and spears, + Which all the Gods in sport had idly thrown + At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove; + But in his breast stood fixt the fatal bough + Of mistletoe, which Lok the Accuser gave + To Hoeder, and unwitting Hoeder threw-- + 'Gainst that alone had Balder's life no charm." + +[Footnote 2: From Matthew Arnold's "Balder Dead."] + +Great excitement prevailed among the assembled gods and goddesses when +Balder was struck dead and sank into Hel,[3] and they would have slain +the god of darkness had it not occurred during their _peace-stead_, +which was never to be desecrated by deeds of violence. The season was +supposed to be one of peace on earth and good-will to man. This is +generally attributed to the injunction of the angels who sang at the +birth of Christ, but according to a much older story the idea of peace +and good-will at Yule-tide was taught centuries before Christ. + +[Footnote 3: _Hel_ or _"his grave"_; the terms were once synonymous.] + +According to the Edda, gifts from the gods and goddesses were laid on +Balder's bier and he, in turn, sent gifts back from the realm of +darkness into which he had fallen. However, it probably is from the +Roman Saturnalia that the free exchange of presents and the spirit of +revelry have been derived. + +The Druids held the mistletoe in great reverence because of its +mysterious birth. When the first new growth was discovered it was +gathered by the white-robed priests, who cut it from the main bough +with a golden sickle never used for any other purpose. + +The food peculiar to this season of rejoicing has retained many +features of the feasting recorded among the earlier people. The boar +made his appearance in mythological circles when one was offered as a +gift to Frey, god of rain, sunshine, and the fruits of the earth. This +boar was a remarkable animal; he could run faster than a horse, +through the air and over water. Darkness could not overtake him, for +he was symbolical of the sun, his golden bristles typifying the sun's +rays. + +At one time the boar was believed to be emblematical of golden grain, +as he was the first to teach mankind the art of plowing. Because of +this service he was most revered by our mythological ancestors. + +In an account of a feast given in Valhalla to the dead heroes of many +battles, Saehrimnir, a sacred boar, was served. Huge pieces were +apportioned to the deceased heroes and the meat had such a revivifying +effect that, restored to life, they called for arms and began to fight +their battles over again. + +An abundance of heavenly mead made from goats' milk and honey was +provided for the feasts and on occasions ale, too, was served. + +Toasts were usually drunk in honor of Bragi, god of poetry, eloquence, +and song. The gods pledged themselves to perform remarkable deeds of +courage and valor as they tossed off horn after horn of mead and ale. +Each time their mighty valor grew until there was no limit set to +their attainments. It is possible that their boastful pledges may have +given rise to the term, _to brag._ + +Apples were the favorite fruit, as they prevented the approach of age +and kept the gods and goddesses perpetually young and vigorous. + +Certainly Yule-tide was a very merry season among the ancient people +who feasted, drank, and danced in honor of the return of the sun, the +god of light and new life. + +When messengers went through the various countries bearing tidings of +a new religion and of the birth of a Son who brought light and new +life into the whole world, they endeavored to retain as many of the +established customs as possible, but gave to the old-time festivals a +finer character and significance. + +As the fact of Christ's birth was not recorded and there was no +certainty as to its date, the early Christian Fathers very wisely +ascribed it to Yule-tide, changing the occasion from the birthday of +the sun to that of the Son. For a while the birth of Christ was +celebrated on dates varying from the first to the sixth of January; on +the dates of certain religious festivals such as the Jewish Passover +or the Feast of Tabernacles; but the twenty-fifth of December, the +birthday of the sun, was ever the favorite date. + +Pope Julius, who reigned from 337 to 352 A. D., after a careful +investigation, considered it settled beyond doubt that Christ was born +on or about the twenty-fifth of December, and by the end of the fifth +century that date was very generally accepted by Christians. The +transition from the old to the new significance of Yule-tide was +brought about so quietly and naturally that it made no great +impression on the mind of the masses, so nothing authentic can be +learned of the early observance of Christmas. + +The holly, laurel, mistletoe, and other greens used by the Druids +still served as decorations of the season, not as a shelter for +fairies, as in former days, but as emblems of resurrection and of +immortal hope. + +The glorious luminary of day, whether known as Balder, Baal, Sol, or +any other of the innumerable names by which it was called by the +primitive peoples, still gladdens the hearts of mortals at Yule-tide +by "turning-back" as of old; only to-day it yields its place to a +Superior Power, in whose honor Yule-tide is observed. + + * * * * * + +All Christendom owes a debt of gratitude to its pagan forbears for the +pleasant features of many of its holidays and especially for those of +Yule-tide. The Fathers of the early church showed rare wisdom in +retaining the customs of these ante-Christian festivals, imbuing them +with the spirit of the new faith and making them emblematic of a purer +love and hope. + +New Year's Day as a feast day is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, +on record. It is mentioned by Tacitus in the First Century, but first +referred to as a Christian festival about the year 567. + +In Rome the day was dedicated by Numa to the honor of god Janus, for +whom Julius Caesar named the month of January. Numa ordained that it +should be observed as a day of good-humor and good-fellowship. All +grudges and hard feelings were to be forgotten. Sacrifices of cake, +wine, and incense were to be made to the two-faced god who looked +forward and backward. Men of letters, mechanics, and others were +expected to give to the god the best they had to offer of their +respective arts. It was the great occasion of the entire year, as it +is now in many countries. + +The date of New Year's Day has varied among different nations. Among +the Egyptians, Chinese, Jews, and Romans it has been observed on dates +varying from March first to December twenty-fifth. It was as late as +the Sixteenth Century before the date of January first was universally +accepted as the New Year by the Romans. Nations retaining the +Gregorian calendar, such as Russia and Greece, observe it thirteen +days later than those who reckon time by the Julian calendar. + +Among northern nations the love of fire and light originated the +custom of kindling bonfires to burn out the old year and destroy all +evil connected with its past. Light has long been an expression of joy +and gladness among all branches of the Aryan race. + +The Greek and Latin Churches still term Christmas the "Feast of +Lights," and make it a period of brilliancy in Church and home. The +Protestant covers the Christmas tree with lighted candles and builds a +glowing fire on the hearth. The innate love of light and warmth--the +inheritance from the sun-worshipers of ages past--is always dominant +in humanity at Yule-tide festivals. + + "The King of Light, father of aged Time, + Hath brought about that day which is the prime, + To the slow-gliding months, when every eye + Wears symptoms of a sober jollity, + And every hand is ready to present + Some service in a real compliment." + +[Illustration: KING OLAF'S CHRISTMAS. + +The King that gave Christianity to Norway.] + +KING OLAF'S CHRISTMAS + + At Drontheim, Olaf the King + Heard the bells of Yule-tide ring, + As he sat in his banquet-hall, + Drinking the nut-brown ale, + With his bearded Berserks hale + And tall. + + Three days his Yule-tide feasts + He held with Bishops and Priests, + And his horn filled up to the brim; + But the ale was never too strong, + Nor the Saga-man's tale too long, + For him. + + O'er his drinking-horn, the sign + He made of the cross divine, + As he drank, and muttered his prayers; + But the Berserks evermore + Made the sign of the Hammer of Thor + Over theirs. + + The gleams of the firelight dance + Upon helmet and haubert and lance, + And laugh in the eyes of the King; + And he cries to Halfred the Scald, + Gray-bearded, wrinkled, and bald, + "Sing!" + + "Sing me a song divine, + With a sword in every line, + And this shall be thy reward." + And he loosened the belt at his waist, + And in front of the singer placed + His sword. + + "Quern-bitter of Hakon the Good, + Wherewith at a stroke he hewed + The millstone through and through, + And Foot-breadth of Thoralf the Strong, + Were neither so broad nor so long, + Nor so true." + + Then the Scald took his harp and sang, + And loud through the music rang + The sound of that shining word; + And the harp-strings a clangor made, + As if they were struck with the blade + Of a sword. + + And the Berserks round about + Broke forth in a shout + That made the rafters ring; + They smote with their fists on the board, + And shouted, "Long live the sword, + And the King." + + But the King said, "O my son, + I miss the bright word in one + Of thy measures and thy rhymes." + And Halfred the Scald replied, + "In another 't was multiplied + Three times." + + Then King Olaf raised the hilt + Of iron, cross-shaped and gilt, + And said, "Do not refuse; + Count well the gain and the loss, + Thor's hammer or Christ's cross: + Choose!" + + And Halfred the Scald said, "This + In the name of the Lord I kiss, + Who on it was crucified!" + And a shout went round the board, + "In the name of Christ the Lord, + Who died!" + + Then over the waste of snows + The noonday sun uprose, + Through the driving mists revealed, + Like the lifting of the Host, + By incense-clouds almost + Concealed. + + On the shining wall a vast + And shadowy cross was cast + From the hilt of the lifted sword, + And in the foaming cups of ale + The Berserks drank "Was-hael! + To the Lord!" + +--_Henry Wadsworth Longfellow._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN ENGLAND + + "Christians in old time did rejoice + And feast at this blest tide." + +--_Old Carol._ + + +No country has entered more heartily into Yule-tide observance than +England. From the earliest known date her people have celebrated this +festival with great ceremony. In the time of the Celts it was +principally a religious observance, but this big, broad-shouldered +race added mirth to it, too. They came to the festivities in robes +made from the skins of brindled cows, and wearing their long hair +flowing and entwined with holly. + +The Druids in the temples kept the consecrated fires burning briskly. +All household fires were extinguished, and any one wishing to rekindle +the flame at any time during the twelve days preceding Yule-tide must +buy the consecrated fire. The Druids also had a rather unique custom +of sending their young men around with Yule-tide greetings and +branches of mistletoe (_quiviscum_). Each family receiving this gift +was expected in return to contribute generously to the temples. + +With the coming of the Saxons, higher revelry reigned, and a Saxon +observance of Yule-tide must have been a jolly sight to see. In the +center of the hall, upon the open hearth, blazed a huge fire with its +column of smoke pouring out through an opening in the thatched roof, +or, if beaten by the wind, wandering among the beams above. The +usually large family belonging to the house gathered in this big +living-room. The table stretched along one side of the room, and up +and down its great length the guests were seated in couples. Between +them was a half-biscuit of bread to serve as a plate. Later on this +would be thrown into the alms-basket for distribution among the poor. + +Soon the servers entered carrying long iron spits on which they +brought pieces of the meats, fish, and fowls that had been roasted in +_isen pannas_ (iron pans) suspended from tripods out in the yard. +Fingers were used instead of forks to handle the food, and the +half-biscuit plates received the grease and juices and protected the +handsome _bord-cloth._ + +There was an abundance of food, for the Saxons were great eaters. +Besides flesh, fish, and fowls their gardens furnished plenty of beans +and other vegetables, and their _ort-geards_ produced raspberries, +strawberries, plums, sweet and sour apples, and _cod-apples_, or +quinces. The cider and stronger drinks were quaffed from quaint +round-bottomed tumblers which, as they could not stand up, had to be +emptied at a draught. + +The Saxons dined at about eleven o'clock and, as business was not +pressing in those days, could well afford to spend hours at the feast, +eating, drinking, and making merry. + +After every one had eaten, games were played, and these games are the +same as our children play to-day--handed down to us from the old Saxon +times. + +When night came and the _ear-thyrls_ (eyeholes, or windows) no longer +admitted the light of the sun, long candlesticks dipped in wax were +lighted and fastened into sockets along the sides of the hall. Then +the _makers_, or bards as they came to be called in later days, sang +of the gods and goddesses or of marvelous deeds done by the men of +old. Out-of-doors huge bonfires burned in honor of _Mother-Night_, and +to her, also, peace offerings of Yule cakes were made. + +It was the Saxon who gave to the _heal-all_ of the Celts the pretty +name of mistletoe, or mistletan,--meaning a shoot or tine of a tree. +There was jollity beneath the mistletoe then as now, only then +everybody believed in its magic powers. It was the sovereign remedy +for all diseases, but it seems to have lost its curative power, for +the scientific men of the present time fail to find that it possesses +any medical qualities. + +Later on, when the good King Alfred was on the English throne, there +were greater comforts and luxuries among the Saxons. Descendants of +the settlers had built halls for their families near the original +homesteads, and the wall that formerly surrounded the home of the +settler was extended to accommodate the new homes until there was a +town within the enclosure. Yule within these homes was celebrated with +great pomp. The walls of the hall were hung with rich tapestries, the +food was served on gold and silver plates, and the tumblers, though +sometimes of wood or horn, were often of gold and silver, too. + +In these days the family dressed more lavishly. Men wore long, flowing +ringlets and forked beards. Their tunics of woolen, leather, linen, or +silk, reached to the knees and were fastened at the waist by a girdle. +Usually a short cloak was worn over the tunic. They bedecked +themselves with all the jewelry they could wear; bracelets, chains, +rings, brooches, head-bands, and other ornaments of gold and precious +stones. + +Women wore their best tunics made either of woolen woven in many +colors or of silk embroidered in golden flowers. Their "abundant +tresses," curled by means of hot irons, were confined by the richest +_head-rails._ The more fashionable wore cuffs and bracelets, earrings +and necklaces, and painted their cheeks a more than hectic flush. + +In the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries the magnificence of the +Yule-tide observance may be said to have reached its height. In the +old baronial halls where: + + "The fire, with well-dried logs supplied, + Went roaring up the chimney wide," + +Christmas was kept with great jollity. + +It was considered unlucky to have the holly brought into the house +before Christmas Eve, so throughout the week merry parties of young +people were out in the woods gathering green boughs, and on Christmas +Eve, with jest and song, they came in laden with branches to decorate +the hall. + + "Lo, now is come our joyfull'st feast! + Let every man be jolly, + Eache room with yvie leaves be drest. + And every post with holly." + +Later on, men rolled in the huge Yule-log, emblematic of warmth and +light. It was of oak if possible, the oak being sacred to Thor, and +was rolled into place amidst song and merriment. In one of these songs +the first stanza is: + + "Welcome be thou, heavenly King, + Welcome born on this morning, + Welcome for whom we shall sing, + _Welcome Yule._" + +The third stanza is addressed to the crowd: + + "Welcome be ye that are here, + Welcome all, and make good cheer, + Welcome all, another year; + _Welcome Yule._" + +Each member of the family, seated in turn upon the log, saluted it, +hoping to receive good luck. It was considered unlucky to consume the +entire log during Yule; if good luck was to attend that household +during the coming twelve months, a piece ought to be left over with +which to start the next year's fire. + +[Illustration: SERENADED BY THE WAITS.] + + "Part must be kept wherewith to tende + The Christmas log next yeare, + And where 'tis safely kept, the fiend + Can do no mischiefe theere." + +The boar's head held the principal place of honor at the dinner. So +during September and October, when the boar's flesh was at its best, +hunters with well-trained packs of boar-hounds set out to track this +savage animal. They attacked the boar with spears, or surrounded him +and drove him into nets. He was a ferocious antagonist to both dogs +and men, and when sore pressed would wheel about, prepared to fight to +the death. Before the dogs could grip him by the ear, his one weak +point, and pin him down, his sharp teeth would often wound or even +kill both the hunter and his dogs. The pluckier the animal the louder +the praise sung in his honor when his head was brought into the hall. +The great head, properly soused, was borne in on an immense salver by +the "old blue-coated serving-man" on Christmas day. He was preceded by +the trumpeters and followed by the mummers, and thus in state the +boar's head was ushered in and assigned to its place on the table. The +father of the family or head of the household laid his hand on the +dish containing the "boar of atonement," as it was at one time called, +swearing to be faithful to his family and to fulfil all his +obligations as a man of honor. This solemn act was performed before +the carving by every man present. The carver had to be a man of +undaunted courage and untarnished reputation. + +Next in honor at the feast was the peacock. It was sometimes served as +a pie with its head protruding from one side of the crust and its +wide-spread tail from the other; more often the bird was skinned, +stuffed with herbs and sweet spices, roasted, and then put into its +skin again, when with head erect and tail outspread it was borne into +the hall by a lady--as was singularly appropriate--and given the +second place on the table. + +The feudal system gave scope for much magnificence at Yule-tide. At a +time when several thousand retainers[4] were fed daily at a single +castle or on a baron's estate, preparations for the Yule feast--the +great feast of the year--were necessarily on a large scale, and the +quantity of food reported to have been prepared on such occasions is +perfectly appalling to Twentieth-Century feasters. + +[Footnote 4: The Earl of Warwick had some thirty thousand.] + +Massinger wrote: + + "Men may talk of Country Christmasses, + Their thirty-pound butter'd eggs, their pies of carp's tongue, + Their pheasants drench'd with ambergris, the carcasses + Of three fat wethers bruis'd for gravy, to + Make sauces for a single peacock; yet their feasts + Were fasts, compared with the City's." + +In 1248 King Henry III held a feast in Westminster Hall for the poor +which lasted a week. Four years later he entertained one thousand +knights, peers, and other nobles, who came to attend the marriage of +Princess Margaret with Alexander, King of the Scots. He was generously +assisted by the Archbishop of York who gave L2700, besides six hundred +fat oxen. A truly royal Christmas present whether extorted or given of +free will! + +More than a century later Richard II held Christmas at Litchfield and +two thousand oxen and two hundred tuns of wine were consumed. This +monarch was accustomed to providing for a large family, as he kept two +thousand cooks to prepare the food for the ten thousand persons who +dined every day at his expense. + +Henry VIII, not to be outdone by his predecessors, kept one Yule-tide +at which the cost of the cloth of gold that was used alone amounted to +L600. Tents were erected within the spacious hall from which came the +knights to joust in tournament; beautiful artificial gardens were +arranged out of which came the fantastically dressed dancers. The +Morris (Moresque) Dance came into vogue in England during the reign of +Henry VII, and long continued to be a favorite. The dancers were +decorated from crown to toe in gay ribbon streamers, and cut all +manner of antics for the amusement of the guests. This dance held the +place at Yule that the Fool's Dance formerly held during the Roman +Saturnalia. + +Henry VIII's daughter, Elizabeth, kept the season in great +magnificence at Hampton Court where plays written for the occasion +were presented. The poet Herrick favored: + + "Of Christmas sports, the wassell boule, + That's tost up after Fox-i-th'-hole." + +This feature of Yule observance, which is usually attributed to +Rowena, daughter of Vortigern, dates back to the grace-cup of the +Greeks and Romans which is also the supposed source of the _bumper._ +According to good authority the word _bumper_ came from the grace-cup +which Roman Catholics drank to the Pope, _au bon Pere._ The wassail +bowl of spiced ale has continued in favor ever since the Princess +Rowena bade her father's guests _Wassheil._ + +The offering of gifts at Yule has been observed since offerings were +first made to the god Frey for a fruitful year. In olden times one of +the favorite gifts received from tenants was an orange stuck with +cloves which the master was to hang in his wine vessels to improve the +flavor of the wine and prevent its moulding. + +As lords received gifts from their tenants, so it was the custom for +kings to receive gifts from their nobles. Elizabeth received a goodly +share of her wardrobe as gifts from her courtiers, and if the quality +or quantity was not satisfactory, the givers were unceremoniously +informed of the fact. In 1561 she received at Yule a present of a pair +of black silk stockings knit by one of her maids, and never after +would she wear those made of cloth. Underclothing of all kinds, +sleeves richly embroidered and bejeweled, in fact everything she +needed to wear, were given to her and she was completely fitted out +at this season. + +In 1846 Sir Henry Cole is said to have originated the idea of sending +Christmas cards to friends. They were the size of small +visiting-cards, often bearing a small colored design--a spray of +holly, a flower, or a bit of mistletoe--and the compliments of the +day. Joseph Crandall was the first publisher. Only about one thousand +were sold the first year, but by 1862 the custom of sending one of +these pretty cards in an envelope or with gifts to friends became +general and has now spread to other countries. + +During the Reformation the custom of observing Christmas was looked +upon as sacrilegious. It savored of popery, and in the narrowness of +the light then dawning the festival was abolished except in the +Anglican and Lutheran Churches. Tenants and neighbors no longer +gathered in the hall on Christmas morning to partake freely of the +ale, blackjacks, cheese, toast, sugar, and nutmeg. If they sang at +all, it was one of the pious hymns considered suitable-and +sufficiently doleful--for the occasion. One wonders if the young men +ever longed for the sport they used to have on Christmas morning when +they seized any cook who had neglected to boil the _hackin_[5] and +running her round the market-place at full speed attempted to shame +her of her laziness. + +[Footnote 5: Authorities differ as to whether this was a big sausage +or a plum pudding.] + +_Protestants_ were _protesting_ against the observance of the day; +Puritans were working toward its abolishment; and finally, on December +24, 1652, Parliament ordered "That no observance shall be had of the +five and twentieth day of December, commonly called Christmas day; +nor any solemnity used or exercised in churches upon that day in +respect thereof." + +Then Christmas became a day of work and no cheer. The love of fun +which must find vent was expended at New Year, when the celebration +was similar to that formerly observed at Christmas. But people were +obliged to bid farewell to the Christmas Prince who used to rule over +Christmas festivities at Whitehall, and whose short reign was always +one of rare pleasure and splendor. He and other rulers of pastimes +were dethroned and banished from the kingdom. Yule cakes, which the +feasters used to cut in slices, toast, and soak in spicy ale, were not +to be eaten--or certainly not on Christmas. It was not even allowable +for the pretty Yule candles to be lighted. + +Christmas has never regained its former prestige in England. Year +after year it has been more observed in churches and families, but not +in the wild, boisterous, hearty style of olden times. Throughout Great +Britain Yule-tide is now a time of family reunions and social +gatherings. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Islands each retain a +few of their own peculiar customs, but they are not observed to any +extent. In Ireland--or at least in some parts--they still indulge in +drinking what is known as _Lamb's-wool_, which is made by bruising +roasted apples and mixing the juice with ale or milk. This drink, +together with apples and nuts, is considered indispensable on +Christmas Eve. + +England of all countries has probably known the merriest of +Yule-tides, certainly the merriest during those centuries when the +mummers of yore bade to each and all + + "A merry Christmas and a happy New Year, + Your pockets full of money and your cellar full of beer." + +There seems always to have been more or less anxiety felt regarding +New Year's Day in England, for "If the morning be red and dusky it +denotes a year of robberies and strife." + + "If the grass grows in Janivear + It grows the worse for 't all the year." + +And then very much depended upon the import of the chapter to which +one opened the Bible on this morning. If the first visitor chanced to +be a female, ill luck was sure to follow, although why it should is +not explained. + +It was very desirable to obtain the "cream of the year" from the +nearest spring, and maidens sat up till after midnight to obtain the +first pitcherful of water, supposed to possess remarkable virtues. +Modern plumbing and city water-pipes have done away with the +observance of the "cream of the year," although the custom still +prevails of sitting up to see the Old Year out and the New Year in. + +There was also keen anxiety felt as to how the wind blew on New Year's +Eve, for + + "If New Year's Eve night wind blow South, + It betokeneth warmth and growth; + If West, much milk, and fish in the sea; + If North, much cold and storm there will be; + If East, the trees will bear much fruit; + If Northeast, flee it man and brute." + +AT CHRISTMAS TIME + + At Christmas time the fields are white, + And hill and valley all bedight + With snowy splendor, while on high + The black crows sail athwart the sky, + Mourning for summer days gone by + At Christmas time. + + At Christmas time the air is chill, + And frozen lies the babbling rill: + While sobbingly the trees make moan + For leafy greenness once their own, + For blossoms dead and birdlings flown + At Christmas time. + + At Christmas time we deck the hall + With holly branches brave and tall, + With sturdy pine and hemlock bright, + And in the Yule-log's dancing light + We tell old tales of field and fight + At Christmas time. + + At Christmas time we pile the board + With flesh and fruit and vintage stored, + And mid the laughter and the glow + We tred a measure soft and slow, + And kiss beneath the mistletoe + At Christmas time. + + O God and Father of us all, + List to Thy lowliest creature's call: + Give of Thy joy to high and low, + Comforting the sorrowing in their woe; + Make wars to cease and love to grow + At Christmas time. + + Let not one heart be sad to-day; + May every child be glad and gay: + Bless Thou Thy children great and small, + In lowly hut or castle hall, + And may each soul keep festival + At Christmas time. + +THE NEW YEAR + + "A good New Year, with many blessings in it!" + Once more go forth the kindly wish and word. + A good New Year! and may we all begin it + With hearts by noble thought and purpose stirred. + + The Old Year's over, with its joy and sadness; + The path before us is untried and dim; + But let us take it with the step of gladness, + For God is there, and we can trust in Him. + + What of the buried hopes that lie behind us! + Their graves may yet grow flowers, so let them rest. + To-day is ours, and it must find us + Prepared to hope afresh and do our best. + + God _knows_ what finite wisdom only _guesses_; + Not here from our dim eyes the mist will roll. + What we call failures, He may deem successes + Who sees in broken parts the perfect whole. + + And if we miss some dear familiar faces, + Passed on before us to the Home above, + Even while we count, through tears, their vacant places, + He heals our sorrows with His balm of Love. + + No human lot is free from cares and crosses, + Each passing year will bring both shine and shower; + Yet, though on troubled seas life's vessel tosses, + The storms of earth endure but for an hour. + + And should the river of our happy laughter + Flow 'neath a sky no cloud yet overcasts, + We will not fear the shadows coming after, + But make the most of sunshine while it lasts. + + A good New Year! Oh, let us all begin it + With cheerful faces turning to the light! + A good New Year, which will have blessings in it + If we but persevere and do aright. + +--_E. Matheson._ + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN GERMANY + + "Feed the wood and have a joyful minute, + For the seeds of earthly suns are in it." + +--_Goethe._ + + +It was away back in the time of Alexander the Great that Germany was +made known to the civilized world by an adventurous sailor named +Pytheas, a man of more than ordinary talent, who was sailing +northward and discovered a land inhabited by a then unknown people. He +reported his discovery to the Romans, but the difficulty was that +Pytheas had seen so much more than any of the Greeks or Romans of +those days that they utterly refused to believe his statements. Time +has proved that the sailor was nearer right in many of his apparently +visionary statements than his countrymen dreamed, although it has +taken centuries to prove the fact in some cases. + +The people whom Pytheas then introduced to the polite world were +Teutons, a branch of the great Aryan race and closely related to the +early English. The men were simple, truthful, and brave, but were +sadly addicted to drink, it was said, and consequently were often +quarrelsome. The women were much like those of to-day in their +characteristics: virtuous, proud, and dignified; very beautiful, with +golden-hued hair, blue eyes, and fresh, fair complexions. Like most of +the early peoples, the Teutons worshiped gods and goddesses, and so +have many customs and traditions in common with other branches of the +Aryans. + +If England has enjoyed the merriest Yule-tides of the past, certainly +Germany enjoys the merriest of the present, for in no other country is +the day so fully and heartily observed. It is the great occasion of +the year and means much to the people. + +For a week or more before the day, loads of evergreen trees of all +sizes may be seen coming into the cities and towns to be piled up in +squares and open places until the entire place looks like a forest of +small firs. One wonders where they all come from and for how many +years the supply will last, but it is not likely to fail at present. + +The Lutherans gave Martin Luther the credit of introducing the +Christmas tree into Germany. He may have helped to make it popular, +but certainly there is abundant evidence to prove that it was known +long before the Reformer's time. It is generally supposed to have its +origin in mythological times and to be a vestige of the marvelous +tree, Yggdrasil. + +Possibly Martin Luther thought of the old story of the tree and +imagined, as he traveled alone one cold night, how pretty the +snow-laden fir-trees along his path would look could they be lighted +by the twinkling stars overhead. But whether he had anything to do +with it or not, the tree is now one of the most important features of +Yule-tide among the Germans of all denominations. + +Nearly ten million households require one or two trees each Christmas, +varying in height from two to twenty feet. Societies provide them for +people who are too poor to buy them, and very few are overlooked at +this happy holiday season. + +The grand Yule-tide festival is opened on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, +December sixth; in fact bazaars are held from the first of the month, +which is really one prolonged season of merrymaking. + +In Germany, St. Nicholas has a day set apart in his honor. He was born +in. Palara, a city of Lycia, and but very little is known of his life +except that he was made Bishop of Myra and died in the year 343. It +was once the custom to send a man around to personate St. Nicholas on +St. Nicholas Eve, and to inquire how the children had behaved through +the year, who were deserving of gifts, and who needed a touch of the +birch rods that he carried with him into every home. St. Nicholas +still goes about in some parts of the country, and in the bazaars and +shops are sold little bunches of rods, real or made of candy, such as +St. Nicholas is supposed to deal in. In some places Knight Rupert +takes the place of St. Nicholas in visiting the houses. But Kriss +Kringle has nearly usurped the place St. Nicholas once held in awe and +respect by German children. + +[Illustration: TOY-MAKING IN GERMANY. + +How the rough figures are chipped from the wooden ring coming from the +cross-section of a tree.] + +Because St. Nicholas Day came so near to Christmas, in some countries +the Saint became associated with that celebration, although in Germany +the eve of his birthday continues to be observed. Germans purchase +liberally of the toys and confectionery offered at the bazaars, and +nowhere are prettier toys and confectionery found than in Germany--the +country which furnishes the most beautiful toys in the world. + +From the palace to the hut, Yule-tide is a season of peace, rest, joy, +and devotion. For three days, that is the day before Christmas, +Christmas, and the day after--known as Boxing-day--all business not +absolutely necessary to the welfare of the community is suspended. +Stores, markets, and bazaars present a festive appearance; the young +girl attendants are smiling and happy, and every one seems in the best +of humor. + +Many of the poorer class, of Germans do not eat much meat, but at +Christmas all indulge in that extravagance, so the markets are +unusually crowded. They all like to purchase a plant or a flower for +Christmas and the flower stores are marvels of beauty and sweetness. + +Every one is busy preparing for the great occasion. Grown folks become +children again in the simplicity of their enjoyment and enter into the +excitement with as much enthusiasm as do the children. + +Newspapers are not generally published during the three days of +business suspension, for no one would have time or interest to read +them at such a season. + +In many places churches are open during the week before Christmas, for +with all the bustle and excitement incident to the preparations, the +people, young and old, are filled with a deep spirit of devotion, and +never for an instant forget the significance of the occasion they +commemorate. + +Churches are not trimmed nor are they made attractive with flowers, +songs, or in any special way, but the people go to listen with +devotion to the telling of the old, old story of Christ's birthday and +of the first Holy Night at Bethlehem. + +The day before Christmas all are busy trimming up their homes and +preparing for the great day. Usually the mother of the household trims +the tree, not admitting any other member of the curious and expectant +family into the room. Tables are provided for holding the gifts, as +every one in the family is expected to make a gift to every other +member, and it is surprising to note the interest taken in these +simple gifts--often a soap-rose, an artificial flower, knitted lace, +even sausages, cheese, or butter--and with each and all the +ever-present Christmas cake. It is spiced and hard, cut into every +manner of device--men, women, animals, stars, hearts, etc. The +_Pfeffer Kuchen_ (pepper cakes) or some similar cakes are to be seen +everywhere at Christmas time. + +The gifts are often accompanied with short verses, good, bad, or +indifferent, according to the talent of the giver, but all serve to +make the occasion merry. In some families these simple inexpensive +gifts are so carefully kept that collections may be seen of gifts +received by different members of the family since their infancy. + +[Illustration: DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE.] + +On Christmas Eve the guests assemble early, and by six o'clock a +signal is given for the door of the mysterious room to be opened to +admit the family to the tree: + + "O Hemlock tree! O Hemlock-tree! how faithful are thy branches! + Green not alone in summer time, + But in the winter's frost and rime! + O Hemlock-tree! O Hemlock-tree! how faithful are thy branches!" + +It is ablaze with tiny lighted tapers and radiant with shiny tinsel +cut in pretty devices or in thread-like strips. Bright balls, gay +toys, and paper flowers help to enhance its beauty, and sometimes +scenes from sacred history are arranged with toys at the base of the +tree. + +With the distribution of the gifts the fun begins; each person is +expected to kiss every other person present and help make the occasion +a merry one. + +Holy Night, or, as the Germans term it, _Weihnacht_--the Night of +Dedication--is the time of family reunions, fun, and frolic. Not alone +in homes, hospitals, prisons, barracks, and elsewhere is the pretty +betinseled tree to be seen on Christmas, but in burying-grounds, on +the resting-places of the dead, stand these fresh green trees in +evidence of keeping the loved one's memory green. + +While the custom of having a tree is universal throughout Germany, and +from thence has been introduced into other countries, there are many +customs peculiar to certain sections. In some of the little +out-of-the-way places in the Tyrolese Alps the old-time Miracle Plays +are enacted in a most primitive manner. As the peasants rarely, if +ever, attend the theatre or have any opportunity to see a modern play, +this occasion attracts them from far and near. Where is the theatre, +who are the actors, do you ask? The theatre is the largest place +available, sometimes a large room, sometimes a barn, anything that +will accommodate the crowd that is sure to come. In one description of +a play given on Christmas Day it is stated that the people assembled +in a barn belonging to the vicarage to witness the Paradise Play. The +top of a huge pottery stove at least five feet high served for the +throne of God the Father, the stove being hidden by screens painted +to represent clouds. The play "began at the beginning,"--at Chaos. A +large paper screen bedecked with a profusion of suns, moons, stars, +and comets formed a background, while in front sprawled a number of +boys in tights with board wings fastened to their shoulders to +represent angels. The language was as simple and primitive as the +scenery, yet for the credulous, devout peasants "no distance is too +great, no passes too steep or rough, no march on dusty highroads too +fatiguing, if a Miracle or Passion Play is their goal." + +Does it seem sacrilegious? Not to those who attend it in the spirit of +humility and devotion, as do these Tyrolese peasants. In some places +plays are given in churches on Christmas as they were formerly in +England, but these are not common, and are only found in remote +places. Throughout this country there is always a church service in +the morning which is very generally attended, Protestants and +Catholics alike making Christmas the day of all the year in which they +attend church. + +The name Christmas probably originated from the order that was given +for saying mass (called Christ-mass) for the sins of the people on the +day that commemorates the Saviour's Birth. + +One beautiful feature of a German Christmas is the wide-spread thought +for the poor and the interest taken in them. Many wealthy families +have charge of a certain number of poor families, and on Christmas Day +invite them to their own luxurious homes to receive gifts and enjoy +the tree prepared for them. An address, prayer, and song as they stand +around the tree precedes the distribution of gifts, usually of +clothing and food, with which the guests fill the bags and baskets +they bring with them. And for all there is an abundance of _Pfeffer +Kuchen_, or some other Christmas cake. + +In the midst of all the excitement of lighted tree and pretty gifts, +German children seldom forget to return thanks for what they receive. +They are taught that all these gifts come through the Christ-child, +and that the occasion is not for selfish enjoyment but to give +pleasure to others, and that no one is too poor to give kindly thought +and pleasant words to those around them. + +In some parts of Germany--Lorraine is one--the people burn the +Yule-log; sometimes a huge log that will last through the three days' +festivity, sometimes one so small that the family sit before it until +it is all consumed. Sometimes a part of the log is suspended from the +ceiling of the room and each person present blows at it hoping to make +a spark fall on some watching face; then again some carry a piece of +the log to bed with them to protect them from lightning. But the +Yule-log is not very generally known in this land of great pottery +stoves and closed fireplaces, and that may be one reason why +post-wagons go rumbling about at Christmas time, carrying parcels from +place to place and from door to door, blowing their post-horns +continuously, instead of the parcels being dropped down chimneys by +Santa Claus. + +It is customary, also, in some parts of the country, for the people +and their animals to fast the day before Christmas. At midnight the +people attend church and it is _said_ that the _cattle kneel_; then +both man and beast partake of a hearty meal. There are places in the +German Alps where it is believed that the cattle are blessed with the +gift of language for a while on Christmas Eve, but as it is a very +great sin to listen, no one has yet reported any conversation among +them. In another part of the country it is thought that the Virgin +Mary with a company of angels passes over the land on Holy Night, and +so tables are spread with the best the larders afford and candles are +lighted and left burning that the angelic visitors may find abundant +food should they chance to stop on their way. + +Boxing-day, when boxes prepared for the poor are distributed, follows +the Holy Day and after that business is resumed, although festivities +do not cease. + +Sylvester, or New Year's Eve, is the next occasion to be observed +during Yule-tide. The former name was given in honor of the first +pope of that name, and still retained by many. After the usual church +service in the early evening, the intervening hours before midnight +are spent in the most boisterous merriment. Fun of all sorts within +the limit of law and decency prevails. Any one venturing forth wearing +a silk hat is in danger of having his hat, if not his head, smashed. +"Hat off," cries the one who spies one of these head-coverings, and if +the order is not instantly obeyed, woe betide the luckless wearer. At +midnight all Germany, or at least all in the cities and the larger +towns, may be seen out-of-doors or leaning from windows, waiting for +the bells to ring out the Old Year and welcome in the New. At first +stroke of the bells there arises one universal salute of _Prosit +Neujahr_ (Happy New Year). It is all good-natured fun, a wild, +exuberant farewell to the Old Year--the closing scene of the joyous +Yule-tide. + +THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + The oak is a strong and stalwart tree, + And it lifts its branches up, + And catches the dew right gallantly + In many a dainty cup: + And the world is brighter and better made + Because of the woodman's stroke, + Descending in sun, or falling in shade, + On the sturdy form of the oak. + But stronger, I ween, in apparel green, + And trappings so fair to see, + With its precious freight for small and great, + Is the beautiful Christmas tree. + + The elm is a kind and goodly tree, + With its branches bending low: + The heart is glad when its form we see, + And we list to the river's flow. + Ay, the heart is glad and the pulses bound, + And joy illumes the face, + Whenever a goodly elm is found + Because of its beauty and grace. + But kinder, I ween, more goodly in mien, + With branches more drooping and free, + The tint of whose leaves fidelity weaves, + Is the beautiful Christmas tree. + +--_Hattie S. Russell._ + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN SCANDINAVIA + + The horn was blown for silence, come was the votive hour; + To Frey's high feast devoted they carry in the boar. + +--_Frithof's "Saga," Trans. Bayard Taylor._ + + +"To Norroway, to Norroway," the most northern limit of Scandinavia, +one turns for the first observance of Christmas in Scandinavia, for +the keeping of Yule-tide in the land of Odin, of the Vikings, Sagas, +midnight sun, and the gorgeous Aurora Borealis. This one of the twin +countries stretching far to the north with habitations within nineteen +degrees of the North Pole, and the several countries which formed +ancient Scandinavia, are one in spirit regarding Christmas although +not in many other respects. + +In the far north among the vast tribe of Lapps, in their cold, +benighted country, as Christmas approaches each wandering tribe heads +its reindeer toward the nearest settlement containing a church, that +it may listen to the story of the first Christmas morn which is told +year after year by the pastor, and yet is ever new and interesting to +the people who come from great distances, drawn over the fields of +crisp snow by their fleet-footed reindeer. + +The Lapp is apparently a joyless individual. Men, women, and children +seem bereft of all power of amusement beyond what tends to keep them +alive, such as fishing, hunting, and traveling about to feed their +herds of reindeer. They have no games, no gift for music, they never +dance nor play cards, but year after year drag out an existence, +living within low earth-covered huts or in tents. Even the best homes +are low and poorly ventilated. For windows are not needed where +darkness reigns for months together, where the sun is not seen at all +during six or seven weeks of the year, and where people live +out-of-doors during the long summer day of sunlight that follows. + +In their low, stuffy homes which at Christmas are filled with guests +from the wandering Lapps, there is no room for the pretty tree and +decorative evergreens. The joy afforded these people at Yule-tide is +in the reunion of friends, in attending church services, in the +uniting of couples in marriage, and, alas, in the abundance of liquor +freely distributed during this season. The children are made happy by +being able to attend school, for at Christmas they are brought into +the settlements with friends for this purpose. They have only a few +weeks' schooling during the year, from Christmas to Easter, and while +the schoolmasters are stationed at the little towns, the children work +hard to gain the knowledge of books and religion which they crave. + +In this terrible winter night of existence, amidst an appalling +darkness of Nature and Mind, the one great occasion of the year is +Christmas. Not the merry, bright, festive occasion of their more +favored brothers and sisters, but what to them is the happiest in the +year. + +Christmas Eve passes unnoticed. The aurora may be even more beautiful +than usual, its waving draperies more fantastic, more gorgeous-hued, +but it is unnoticed by the Lapps who have seen it from childhood. Men, +women, children, servants, guests, and animals, crowd into the small, +low homes, without a thought of Santa Claus coming to visit them. +Children have no stockings to hang up, and there are no chimneys for +Santa to descend. In fact, he and his reindeer, with their loads of +treasured gifts, probably left this region with the sun, bound for +more congenial places. + +The church bells break the terrible silence of the sunless towns on +Christmas morning, and as the fur-encased natives wend their way to +church, greeting one another as they meet, there is a faint approach +to joyousness. Of course there must be real sorrow and joy wherever +there is life and love, although among the Lapps it is hard to +discern. + +During Yule-tide the Lapps visit one another, attend to what +governmental business there may be, give in marriage, christen the +children, and bury the dead, whose bodies have lain beneath their +covering of snow awaiting this annual visit of the Norwegian clergyman +for their final interment. + +Think of Christmas without a tree, without wreaths and flowers, +without stockings full of gifts, with a dinner of reindeer meat and no +plum pudding! And imagine what would be his sensation could a Lapp +child be put into a home in England, America, Germany, or even in +other parts of Scandinavia! What would he say could he receive such +gifts as were given you last Christmas! + +But Lapps are only a small part of the population of Norway. Norwegian +children have many jolly times around the Christmas trees and enjoy +hunting for their little gifts which are often tucked away in various +places for them to find. Then there are all sorts of pretty games for +them to play and quantities of appetizing food prepared for their +pleasure. The young folks earn their feast, for all day long before +Christmas they are busy tying bunches of oats and corn on the trees, +the fences, the tops of houses and of barns, and on high poles which +they erect in the yards, until + + "From gable, barn and stable + Protrudes the birdies' table + Spread with a sheaf of corn." + +The Norwegians begin their Christmas with divine services, after which +they meet together for a repast which is an appetizer for the feast +to follow. A pipe of tobacco is given to each man and boy present, +then they smoke while the feast, the great feature of the day, is +being made ready. Fish, poultry, meats, and every variety of food +known to the Norwegian housewife is served in courses, between which +toasts are given, healths drunk, and the songs of Norway rendered. +Among the latter "Old Norway" is always included, for the people never +forget the past history of their beloved country. + +One of the pretty customs of these occasions is that each guest on +arising turns to the host and hostess, who remain seated at either end +of the table, and, bowing to each, expresses his thanks for the meal. + +[Illustration: ON THE WAY TO CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE IN NORWAY.] + +Sometimes after the serving of tea at seven o'clock, little boys in +white mantles, with star-shaped lanterns and dolls to represent the +Virgin and the Holy Babe, enter the room and sing sweet carols. Often +strolling musicians arrive, such as go from place to place at +Christmas. After a large supper the guests depart on sledges for their +homes, which are often miles distant. + +Do you suppose on Christmas Eve, as they look toward the fading light +in the West, the children of Norway ever think of their Scandinavian +cousins, the little Icelanders, in their peat houses, on that isolated +island in the sea, where the shortest day is four hours long, and +where at Christmas time the sun does not rise above the horizon for a +week, and wonder how they are celebrating Yule-tide? + +Christmas is a great day with them also, for they cling to the old +songs and customs, and could the west wind convey the sound of glad +voices across the wide expanse of water separating the island from +the mainland, Norwegian children might hear the Icelandic children +singing one of their sweet old songs. + + "When I do good and think aright + At peace with man, resigned to God, + Thou look'st on me with eyes of light, + Tasting new joys in joy's abode." + +In Sweden there is a general house-cleaning before Christmas; +everything must be polished, scrubbed, beaten, and made clean, and all +rubbish burned, for dirt, like sinful thoughts, cannot be tolerated +during the holy festival. + +As early as the first of December each housewife starts her +preparations for the great day. Many have worked all the year making +gifts for the occasion, but now the carpets must come up and be +beaten, the paint must be cleaned, and the house set in order. The +silver which has been handed down from generation to generation, +together with that received on holidays and birthdays, has to be +cleaned and polished, so must the brasses--the tall fire-dogs, the +stately andirons, and the great kettles--all must be made to reflect +every changing ray of light. + +Then the baking for a well-ordered household is a matter of great +moment, and requires ample time. It is usual to begin at least two +weeks before Christmas. Bread is made of wheat and rye flour, raised +over night, then rolled very thin and cut into discs twelve or +fourteen inches in diameter, with a hole in the center. After having +been baked, these are strung on a stick and left to dry under the +beams of the baking-room. As they will keep a long while, large +quantities are made at this season in each household. + +Then follows the making of sweetened, soft, rye, wheat, and other +breads, as well as the baking of the light yellow (saffron), the +chocolate-brown, and thin gray-colored cakes, and those that are +filled with custard. + +The preparing of Christmas drinks always requires the close attention +of good dames, for there must be an inexhaustible supply of Christmas +beer, made of malt, water, molasses, and yeast, and wine with almonds +and spices, and various other decoctions. + +Then the cheese must be made ready, not only the usual sour kind, but +the more delicious sweet cheese that is made of sweet milk boiled +slowly for hours and prettily moulded. + +The Swedish wife is relieved of the burden of making pies, as her +people know nothing about that indigestible mixture so acceptable to +American palates. + +The festivities begin with the dressing of the tree the day before +Christmas. In this the older members of the family, with friends and +relatives, join with great gusto, preparing paper flowers with which +to bedeck the tall evergreen tree which reaches from floor to ceiling. + +They cut long ribbons of colored paper for streamers, and make yards +of paper fringe to wind with the tinsel among the boughs, from which +are hung bright colored boxes of sweetmeats, fruit, and fancy balls. + +The children are, of course, excluded from the room and obliged to +content themselves with repeating the tales of Santa Claus, as told by +their elders. When a gift is offered in person, or, as is more +generally the case, is thrown in the door suddenly by an unseen hand, +there rings a merry _Glad Frill_ (Good Yule) meaning "Merry +Christmas," for that is the wish of the preceding day or days, rather +than of Christmas itself. + +On Christmas Eve at early nightfall, when the colored candles are +ablaze over the entire tree, and the great red ball of light shines +from its topmost branches, the children are admitted to the room +amidst a babel of shouts and screams of delight, which are increased +upon the arrival of a veritable Santa Claus bestrewn with wool-snow +and laden with baskets of gifts. On the huge sled are one or more +baskets according to the number of bundles to be distributed in the +family. Each bundle bears the name of the owner on its wrapper, +together with funny rhymes and mottoes, which are read aloud for the +amusement of all. Santa Claus always gives an abundance of valuable +counsel and advice to the young folks as he bestows upon them his +pretty gifts. + +After the distribution of gifts and the disappearance of Santa Claus, +all join in dancing and singing around the tree simple, childish +jingles such as the following: + + "Now is Christmas here again, + Now is Christmas here again, + After Christmas then comes Easter, + Cheese and bread and Christmas beer, + Fish and rice and Christmas cheer! + --etc." + +One of the prettiest dances is that of "Cutting the Oats," in which +girls and boys--there must be an extra boy--dance in a circle, +singing: + + "Cut the oats, cut the oats, + Who is going to bind them? + That my dearest will have to do, + But where will I find him? + + "I saw him last eve in the moonlight, + In the moonlight clear and bright, + So you take one and I'll take one, + And he will be left without one." + +The boys represent the cutters and the girls the oats, and great +merriment prevails as the cutters' arms encircle the waists of the +pretty oats, leaving the unfortunate cutter, whom they all dance +around, bowing scoffingly as they shout: + + "No one did want you, + Poor sprite, no one wants you, + You are left alone, + You are left alone." + +Many of their games are similar to "Blind Man's Buff," "Hunt the Key," +and "Hot and Cold," or "Hunt to the Music," the latter being one which +by its modulations from pianissimo to forte indicate the hunters' +nearness to the object sought for. The game of "Blind Feeding the +Blind" causes much amusement among the juveniles; two players sit +opposite each other blindfolded and endeavor to feed one another with +spoonfuls of milk, and their mishaps are very entertaining to the +on-lookers. + +Between the hours of ten and eleven comes the grand Christmas supper, +when all adjourn to the dining-room to partake of the annual feast for +which the housewives have long been preparing. The table is usually +tastefully and often elaborately trimmed with flowers and green +leaves. The corners of the long snow-white homespun cloth are caught +up into rosettes surrounded with long calla or other leaves; possibly +the entire edge of the table is bedecked with leaves and flowers. The +butter is moulded into a huge yellow rose resting on bright green +leaves, and the napkins assume marvelous forms under the deft fingers +of the artistic housewives. + +The Christmas mush holds the first place in importance among the +choice viands of the occasion; it is rice boiled a long while in milk +and seasoned with salt, cinnamon, and sugar, and is eaten with cream. +Several blanched almonds are boiled in the mush and it is confidently +believed that whoever finds the first almond will be the first to be +married. While eating the mush, each one is expected to make rhymes +about the rice and the good luck it is to bring them, and the most +remarkable poetical effusions are in order on these occasions. + +The Christmas fish is to the Swede what the Christmas roast-beef is to +the Englishman, an indispensable adjunct of the festival. The fish +used resembles a cod; it is buried for days in wood ashes or else it +is soaked in soda water, then boiled and served with milk gravy. +Bread, cheese, and a few vegetables follow, together with a pudding +made of salt herrings, skinned, boned, and cut in thin slices, which +are laid in a dish with slices of cold boiled potatoes and hard-boiled +eggs, covered with a dressing of cream, butter, and eggs-then baked +and served hot. + +The fish, rice, and a fat goose are said to be served at every table +on Christmas from that of the king to that of the commonest of his +subjects. + +Christmas morning opens with an early service in church, to which the +older members of the family go in sled parties of from forty to fifty +sleds, each drawn by one, two, or even three horses, over whose backs +jingle rows of silver-toned bells. The sled parties are an especial +feature of Christmas time. They start out while the stars are still +twinkling in the sky, and the lighted trees are illuminating the homes +they pass. + +The day itself is observed with less hilarity than other days during +the season; the "Second Christmas," or day following, being far gayer. +Then begin the family parties, with the looking forward to the great +Twelfth-Night ball, after which the children and young folks end their +evening parties by untrimming the tree of their entertainer amidst +peals of laughter, songs, and shouts. + +The tree, of course, has been supplied anew with candles, fruit, and +candy. The first are blown out and the last two struggled for while +the tree is drawn slowly toward the door out of which it is finally +pitched by the merry crowd. + +The Swedes have four legal holidays at Yule, beginning the day +previous to Christmas, and they make merry while they last. Besides +having the _Jul-gran_ or Christmas tree, each family places in the +yard a pole with a sheaf of grain on top for the birds' Christmas +dinner, a pretty custom common to many countries. + +Business is very generally suspended during Christmas, the day +following, Twelfth Day, and the twentieth day. + +"Do as your forefathers have done, and you can't do wrong," is said to +be the motto of the Swedes. So the customs of their forefathers are +strictly observed at Yule-tide. + +_Svea_, the feminine name of Sweden, the "Queen of the North," +contains what is popularly believed to be the burial-places of Wodin, +Thor, and Freya. The mounds are about one mile from Upsala and are +visited by travelers from all parts of the world. Antiquarian +researchers, however, have recently had a word to say in doubt whether +these mounds contain the remains of the renowned beings, those ancient +travelers. The Swedes, however, still cling to the belief that the +bones of Wodin, the Alexander of the North, rest beneath the sod at +Upsala. In these mounds have been found the bones of a woman and of a +dog, a bracelet of filigree work, and a curious pin shaped like a +bird, but no sign of Wodin's presence. Yet peasants believe that Wodin +passes by on dark nights, and his horse's shoe, with eight nail-holes, +is exhibited in the museum at Utwagustorp. + +New Year's Day is of comparatively little importance; the Christmas +trees are usually relighted for the enjoyment of the poorer children +and gifts are made to the needy. The Yule festivities are prolonged +for two weeks in many places, during which the people visit from home +to home and enjoy many social pleasures. The devout attend church +services each day, abandon all work so far as possible, and on +January thirteenth generally finish up the joyous season with a ball. + +The Swedes do not trim their churches with evergreen at Yule-tide as +that is an emblem of mourning with them, and is used instead of crape +on the door and often strewn before the hearse and also upon the floor +in the saddened homes, so of course at Christmas they would not think +of using it for decorations. But where they can afford it or can +procure them, they use flowers to decorate their homes. + +In Denmark, Christmas is a time of unusual merriment and rejoicing. No +one who can possibly avoid it works at all from the day before +Christmas until after New Year, but spends the time in visiting, +eating, and drinking. "May God bless your Christmas; may it last till +Easter," is the usual salutation of the season. + +With the people of Denmark the favorite dish for Christmas dinner is a +goose; every one, even the cattle, the dog, and the birds, receive the +best the larder affords on this occasion. There is a peculiar kind of +cake that is made for each member of every family, and, for some +reason not explained, the saltcellar remains on the table throughout +Yule-tide. + +Those who own fruit-trees feel it incumbent upon them to go at +midnight on Christmas Eve and with a stick in hand strike each tree +three times saying as they do so, "Rejoice, O Tree,--rejoice and be +fruitful." + +In Denmark it is believed by many that the cattle rise on their knees +at midnight on Christmas Eve, but no one ever seems to have proved +this saying to be true. + +In this country also the children delight in listening to stories of +trolls who have been driven to the island of Bornhern by the parsons +although they once ran riot through Zealand, and the little folks sing +pretty songs of Balder, the sun god, which are a special feature of +the season. + +It is customary to usher in the New Year with a noise of firearms of +every description. + +THE CHRISTMAS SHEAF + + Far over in Norway's distant realm, + That land of ice and snow, + Where the winter nights are long and drear, + And the north winds fiercely blow, + From many a low-thatched cottage roof, + On Christmas eve, 'tis said, + A sheaf of grain is hung on high, + To feed the birds o'erhead. + + In years gone by, on Christmas eve, + When the day was nearly o'er, + Two desolate, starving birds flew past + A humble peasant's door. + "Look! Look!" cried one, with joyful voice + And a piping tone of glee: + "In that sheaf there is plenteous food and cheer, + And the peasant had but three. + One he hath given to us for food, + And he hath but two for bread, + But he gave it with smiles and blessings, + 'For the Christ-child's sake,' he said." + + "Come, come," cried the shivering little mate, + "For the light is growing dim; + 'Tis time, ere we rest in that cosy nest, + To sing our evening hymn." + And this was the anthem they sweetly sang, + Over and over again: + "The Christ-child came on earth to bless + The birds as well as men." + + Then safe in the safe, snug, warm sheaf they dwelt, + Till the long, cold night was gone, + And softly and clear the sweet church bells + Rang out on the Christmas dawn, + When down from their covert, with fluttering wings, + They flew to a resting-place, + As the humble peasant passed slowly by, + With a sorrowful, downcast face. + "Homeless and friendless, alas! am I," + They heard him sadly say, + "For the sheriff," (he wept and wrung his hands) + "Will come on New Year's day." + + The birdlings listened with mute surprise. + "'Tis hard," they gently said; + "He gave us a sheaf of grain for food, + When he had but three for bread. + We will pray to God, He will surely help + This good man in distress;" + And they lifted their voices on high, to crave + His mercy and tenderness. + Then again to the Christmas sheaf they flew, + In the sunlight, clear and cold: + "Joy! joy! each grain of wheat," they sang, + "Is a shining coin of gold." + + "A thousand ducats of yellow gold, + A thousand, if there be one; + O master! the wonderful sight behold + In the radiant light of the sun." + The peasant lifted his tear-dimmed eyes + To the shining sheaf o'erhead; + "'Tis a gift from the loving hand of God, + And a miracle wrought," he said. + "For the Father of all, who reigneth o'er, + His children will ne'er forsake, + When they feed the birds from their scanty store, + For the blessed Christ-child's sake." + + "The fields of kindness bear golden grain," + Is a proverb true and tried; + Then scatter thine alms, with lavish hand, + To the waiting poor outside; + And remember the birds, and the song they sang, + When the year rolls round again: + "The Christ-child came on earth to bless + The birds as well as men." + +--_Mrs. A.M. Tomlinson._ + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN RUSSIA + + "Light--in the heavens high, + And snow flashing bright;-- + Sledge in the distance + In its lonely flight." + +--_Shenshin._ + + +In this enormous kingdom which covers one-sixth of the land surface of +the globe, and where upwards of fifteen million human beings +celebrate in various ways the great winter festival of Yule-tide, it +will be found that the people retain many traditions of the +sun-worshipers, which shows that the season was once observed in honor +of the renewal of the sun's power. With them, however, the sun was +supposed to be a _female_, who, when the days began to lengthen, +entered her sledge, adorned in her best robes and gorgeous head-dress, +and speeded her horses summerward. + +Russian myths indicate a connection with the Aryans in the remote +past; their songs of the wheel, the log, the pig or boar, all show a +common origin in centuries long gone by. + +Russia to most minds is a country of cold, darkness, oppression, and +suffering, and this is true to an altogether lamentable extent. But it +is also a country of warmth, brightness, freedom, and happiness. In +fact, there are so many phases of life among its vast population that +descriptions of Russian life result about as satisfactorily as did +those of Saxe's "Three blind men of Hindustan," who went to see the +elephant. Each traveler describes the part he sees, just as each blind +man described the part he felt, and each believes he knows the whole. + +There are certain general features of the Yule-tide observance that +are typical of the country. One is the singing of their ancient +_Kolyada_ songs, composed centuries ago by writers who are unknown. +They may have been sacrificial songs in heathen days, but are now sung +with fervor and devotion at Christmas time. + +In some places a maiden dressed in white and drawn on a sledge from +house to house represents the goddess of the Sun, while her retinue +of maidens sing the _Kolyada_, or carols. Here again appears the +ancient custom of gift-making, for the maidens who attend the goddess +expect to receive gifts in appreciation of their songs. + +The word _Kolyada_ is of doubtful origin. It may refer to the sun, a +wheel, or a sacrifice; there is no telling how, when, or where it +originated, but the singing of these songs has been a custom of the +people from time immemorial, and after the introduction of +Christianity it became a part of the Christmas festivities. + +Ralston in his "Songs of the Russian People" gives the following +translation of one of these peculiar songs: + + "Kolyada! Kolyada! + Kolyada has arrived. + On the Eve of the Nativity, + Holy Kolyada. + Through all the courts, in all the alleys, + We found Kolyada + In Peter's Court. + Round Peter's Court there is an iron fence, + In the midst of the Court there are three rooms, + In the first room is the bright Moon, + In the second room the red Sun, + And in the third room, the many Stars." + +Strangely enough the Russians make the Moon the _master_ of the +mansion above, and the Sun the _mistress_, a twist about in the +conception of these luminaries worthy of the Chinese, and possibly +derived from some of Russia's Eastern invaders. In the above song, the +Stars, like dutiful children, all wish their luminous parents good +_health_, + + "For many years, for many years." + +In parts of Russia, the Virgin Mary and birds take the place of the +Sun and Stars in these songs, which are sung throughout the Yule +season by groups of young folks at social gatherings, or from house +to house, and form the leading feature of the Christmas festivities. + +It is hard to realize that the stolid, fur-clad Russian is a child of +song, for such seem to belong to sunny climes, but throughout his life +from the cradle to the grave he is accompanied with song. Not modern +compositions, for they are quite inferior as a rule, but those +melodies composed ages ago and sung repeatedly through generation +after generation, usually accompanied with dancing in circles. + +The _Kolyadki_ cover a variety of themes relating to the gods, +goddesses, and other celestial beings, to all of whom Christian +characteristics have been given until they now form the sacred songs +of Yule-tide. + +On Christmas Eve it is customary for the people to fast until after +the first service in church. They pray before their respective icons, +or sacred pictures, recite psalms, and then all start for the church, +where the service is, in most respects, the same as in the Roman +Catholic Church. There are many denominations besides the established +church of the country that hold services on Christmas Eve; but to +whichever one goes, it is wise to hasten home and to get to bed in +season to have a pleasant Christmas Eve dream, as such is sure to come +true, according to Russian authority. + +On _Welikikdenj_--Christmas--the people partake of an early meal. In +some parts of the country it is customary to send extremely formal +invitations in the name of the host to the guests who are expected to +arrive that day. These are delivered by a special messenger and read +somewhat as follows: + +"My master and mistress beg you to consider, Father Artanon +Triphonowitsch, and you, Mother Agaphia Nelidowna, that for thousands +of years it has been thus; with us it has not commenced, with us it +will not end. Do not, therefore, disturb the festival; do not bring +the good people to despair. Without you there will be no pleasure at +Philimon Spicidonowitsch's, without you there will be no maiden +festival at Anna Karpowna's." + +[Illustration: A CHRISTMAS BONFIRE IN RUSSIA.] + +Who could absent himself after such an invitation as this? The place +of meeting has been decided upon weeks earlier, for it must be with a +well-to-do family possessing a large home to accommodate the guests +that usually assemble at Christmas. The "fair maidens," each with her +mother and retinue, arrive first on the scene, bringing cake and +sweetmeats and gifts for the servants. They would sooner freeze in +their sledges before the gate than be guilty of alighting without +first receiving the greeting of their host and hostess. Having been +welcomed, they next pray before the icon, and then are ready for the +pleasures arranged for them. + +One peculiar phase of these house-parties is the selecting of partners +for the maidens, which is done by the hostess, the "elected" sometimes +proving satisfactory and sometimes not. They feast, play games, go +snowballing, and guess riddles, always having a jolly good time. +Reciters of _builinas_ (poems) are often present to sing and recite +the whole night through, for of song and poetry the Russian never +tires. + +A pretty custom very generally observed is the blessing of the house +and household. The priest visits each home in his district, +accompanied by boys bearing a vessel of holy water; the priest +sprinkles each room with the water, each person present kissing the +cross he carries and receiving his benediction as he proceeds from +room to room. Thus each home is sanctified for the ensuing year. + +The familiar greeting of "Merry Christmas" is not heard in Russia +unless among foreigners, the usual salutation on this day being +"Greetings for the Lord's birth," to which the one addressed replies, +"God be with you." + +The observance of New Year on January first, according to the +Gregorian Calendar, was instituted by Peter the Great in 1700. The +previous evening is known as St. Sylvester's Eve, and is the time of +great fun and enjoyment. According to the poet, Vasili Andreivich +Zhukivski: + + "St. Sylvester's evening hour, + Calls the maidens round; + Shoes to throw behind the door, + Delve the snowy ground. + Peep behind the window there, + Burning wax to pour; + And the corn for chanticleer, + Reckon three times o'er. + In the water-fountain fling + Solemnly the golden ring + Earrings, too, of gold; + Kerchief white must cover them + While we're chanting over them + Magic songs of old." + +Ovsen, a mythological being peculiar to the season, is supposed to +make his entry about this time, riding a boar (another indication of +Aryan descent), and no Christmas or New Year's dinner is considered +complete without pork served in some form. The name of Ovsen, being so +like the French word for oats, suggests the possibility of this +ancient god's supposed influence over the harvests, and the honor paid +him at the ingathering feasts in Roman times. He is the god of +fruitfulness, and on New Year's Eve Russian boys go from house to +house scattering oats and other grain while they sing: + + "In the forest, in the pine forest, + There stood a pine tree, + Green and shaggy. + O Ovsen! Ovsen! + The Boyars came, + Cut down the pine, + Sawed it into planks, + Built a bridge, + Covered it with cloth, + Fastened it with nails, + O Ovsen! O Ovsen! + Who, who will go + Along that bridge? + Ovsen will go there, + And the New Year, + O Ovsen! O Ovsen!" + +With this song the young folks endeavor to encourage the people who +are about to cross the gulf between the known and the unknown, the +Past and the Future Year; at the same time they scatter good seed for +them to reap a bountiful harvest. Often the boys sing the following +Kolyadki: + + "Afield, afield, out in the open field! + There a golden plough goes ploughing, + And behind that plough is the Lord Himself. + Holy Peter helps Him to drive, + And the Mother of God carries the seed corn, + Carries the seed corn, prays to the Lord God, + Make, O Lord, the strong wheat to grow, + The strong wheat and the vigorous corn! + The stalks there shall be like reeds! + The ears shall be (plentiful) as blades of grass! + The sheaves shall be (in number) like the stars! + The stacks shall be like hills, + The loads shall be gathered together like black clouds." + +How singularly appropriate it seems that boys, hungry at all times, +should be the ones to implore the god of fruitfulness to bestow upon +their people an abundant harvest during the coming year! + +In Petrograd the New Year is ushered in with a cannonade of one +hundred shots fired at midnight. The Czar formally receives the good +wishes of his subjects, and the streets, which are prettily decorated +with flags and lanterns, are alive with people. + +On New Year's Day the Winter Palace is opened to society, as is nearly +every home in the city, for at this season, at least, hospitality and +charity are freely dispensed from palace and cottage. + +On Sotjelnik, the last of the holidays, the solemn service of Blessing +the Water of the Neva is observed. At two o'clock in the afternoon the +people who have gathered in crowds at various points along the river +witness the ceremony which closes the festivities of Yule-tide. At +Petrograd a dome is erected in front of the Winter Palace, where in +the presence of a vast concourse of people the Czar and the high +church officials in a grand and impressive manner perform the +ceremony. In other places it is customary for the district priest to +officiate. Clothed in vestments he leads a procession of clergy and +villagers, who carry icons and banners and chant as they proceed to +the river. They usually leave an open space in their ranks through +which all the bad spirits likely to feel antagonistic to the ruler of +Winter--the Frost King--may flee. For water sprites, fairies, gnomes, +and other invisibilities, who delight in sunshine and warmth, are +forced, through the power of the priest's prayers, and the showering +of holy water, to take refuge in a hole that is cut in the ice beside +a tall cross, and disappear beneath the cold water of the blessed +river. + +A PALM BRANCH FROM PALESTINE + + Branch of palm from Palestine, + Tell me of thy native place: + What fair vale, what steep incline, + First thy stately growth did grace? + + Has the sun at dawn caressed thee, + That on Jordan's waters shone, + Have the rough night-winds distressed thee + As they swept o'er Lebanon? + + And while Solym's sons, brought low, + Plaited thee for humble wages, + Was it prayer they chanted slow, + Or some song of ancient ages? + + As in childhood's first awaking + Does thy parent-tree still stand, + With its full-leaved branches making + Shadows on the burning sand? + + Or when thou from it wert riven, + Did it straightway droop and die, + Till the desert dust was driven + On its yellowing leaves to die? + + Say, what pilgrim's pious hand + Cherished thee in hours of pain, + When he to this northern land + Brought thee, fed with tears like rain? + + Or perchance on some good knight, + Pure in heart and calm of vision, + Men bestowed thy garland bright-- + Fit as he for realms Elysian! + + Now preserved with reverent care, + At the _Ikon's_ gilded shrine, + Faithful watch thou keepest there, + Holy Palm of Palestine. + + Where the lamp burns faint and dim, + Folded in a mystic calm, + Near the Cross--the sign of Him-- + Rest in safety, sacred Palm. + +--_Michael Yourievich Lermontov._ + +(_Translated by Mrs. Rosa Newmarch._) + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN FRANCE + + "I hear along our street + Pass the minstrel throngs; + Hark! they play so sweet, + On their hautboys, Christmas songs!" + +--_Carol._ + + +One would naturally imagine that such a pleasure-loving people as the +French would make much of Christmas, but instead of this we find that +with them, excepting in a few provinces and places remote from +cities, it is the least observed of all the holidays. + +It was once a very gay season, but now Paris scarcely recognizes the +day excepting in churches. The shops, as in most large cities, display +elegant goods, pretty toys, a great variety of sweetmeats, and +tastefully trimmed Christmas trees, for that wonderful tree is fast +spreading over Europe, especially wherever the Anglo-Saxon and +Teutonic races have settled. + +Confectioners offer a tempting supply of _naulets_--little delicate +cakes--with a sugar figure of Christ on top, pretty boxes made of +chocolate containing candy in the form of fruits, vegetables, musical +instruments, and even boots and shoes, and all manner of quaint, +artistic sugared devices, to be used as gifts or table decorations. + +Early in December, wooden booths and open-air stands are erected +throughout the shopping districts for the sale of Christmas goods. At +night they are lighted, and through the day and evening they are gay +with shoppers. Many of the booths contain evergreens and fresh green +boughs for making the _arbre de Nau._ This is a hoop tied with bunches +of green, interspersed with rosy apples, nuts, and highly colored, +gaily ornamented eggshells that have been carefully blown for the +purpose. The hoops are hung in sitting-rooms or kitchens, but are used +more in the country than in the cities. + +Although the cities are filled with Yule-tide shoppers and lovely +wares, in order to enjoy a veritable Merry Christmas one must seek +some retired town and if possible gain access to a home of ancient +date, where the family keep the customs of their ancestors. There he +will find the day devoutly and solemnly observed, and legend and +superstitions concerning every observance of the day. He will find +that great anxiety is evinced regarding the weather during the twelve +days preceding Christmas, as that portends the state of the weather +for the ensuing twelve months. + +He will notice that unlike the Yule-logs of other countries, those of +France are _not to be sat on_, for if by any chance a person sits on a +Yule-log he will experience such pain as will prevent his partaking of +the Christmas dinner. He will also find that the log has benevolent +powers, and if his shoe is left beside it during the night it will be +filled with peppermints or candy. The ashes of the log are believed to +be a protection against lightning and bad luck, so some will be stored +away beneath the bed of the master of the house as a means of +procuring good-fortune and other blessings during the coming year, and +if he chance to fall sick, some of the ashes will probably be infused +into his medicine and given to him. + +If the log, the _cosse de Nau_, is of oak and felled at midnight, it +is supposed to be much more efficacious, therefore all who can do so +procure an oaken log, at least. In some families where the Yule-log is +lighted, it is the custom to have it brought into the room by the +oldest and youngest members of the family. The oldest member is +expected to pour three libations of wine upon the log while voicing an +invocation in behalf of wealth, health, and general good-fortune for +the household, after which the youngest member, be he a few days or a +few months old, drinks to the newly lighted fire,--the emblem of the +new light of another year. Each member present follows the example +set by the youngest, and drinks to the new light. + +Yule-tide in France begins on St. Barbar's Day, December fourth, when +it is customary to plant grain in little dishes of earth for this +saint's use as a means of informing her devotees what manner of crops +to expect during the forthcoming year. If the grain comes up and is +flourishing at Christmas, the crops will be abundant. Each dish of +fresh, green grain is used for a centerpiece on the dinner-table. + +For several days previous to Christmas, children go into the woods and +fields to gather laurel, holly, bright berries, and pretty lichens +with which to build the _creche_, their tribute in commemoration of +the birth of Christ. It is a representation of the Holy Manger, which +the little folks build on a table in the corner of the living-room. +With bits of stones they form a hill, partly covering the rocky +surface with green and sometimes sprinkling it with flour to produce +the effect of snow. On and about the hill they arrange tiny figures of +men and beasts, and above the summit they suspend a bright star, a +white dove, or a gilded figure of Jehovah. + +[Illustration: A CHRISTMAS TREE IN PARIS.] + +After the ceremony of lighting the Yule-log on Christmas Eve, the +children light up the _creche_ with small candles, often tri-colored +in honor of the Trinity. Throughout the work of gathering the material +and making and lighting the _creche_, they sing carols in praise of +the Little Jesus. In fact young and old accompany their Yule-tide +labors with carols, such as their parents and grandparents sang before +them,--the famous Noels of the country. + +The children continue to light their _creche_ each night until +Epiphany, the family gathering around and joining in singing one or +more of the well-known Noels, for + + "Shepherds at the grange, + Where the Babe was born, + Sang, with many a change, + Christmas carols until morn. + Let us by the fire + Ever higher + Sing them till the night expires." + +On the eve of Epiphany the children all march forth to meet the Magi, +who are yearly expected, but who yearly disappoint the waiting ones. + +The custom of hanging sheaves of wheat to the eaves of the houses for +the birds' Christmas, so commonly observed throughout the cooler +countries, is also observed by the children of France, and the animals +are given especial care and attention at this joyous season. Each +house-cat is given all it can eat on Christmas Eve for if, by any +chance, it mews, bad luck is sure to follow. Of course a great deal is +done for the poorer class at Christmas; food, clothing, and useful +gifts are liberally bestowed, and so far as it is possible, the season +is one of good will and good cheer for all. + +If the French still hold to many of the Christmas customs bequeathed +them by their Aryan ancestors, New Year's Day shows the influence of +their Roman conquerors, for a combination of Northern and Southern +customs is noticeable on that occasion. Each public official takes his +seat of office on that day, after the manner of the Romans. Family +feasting, exchanging of gifts among friends, and merrymaking are +features of New Year's Day rather than of Christmas in France, +although children delight in placing their _sabots_, or shoes, on the +hearth for the Christ-child to fill with gifts on Christmas Eve. + +In early times New Year's Day was the occasion of the Festival of +Fools, when the wildest hilarity prevailed, and for upward of two +hundred and forty years that custom continued in favor. Now Christmas +is essentially the church festival; New Year's Day is the social +festival, and Epiphany is the oldest festival observed during +Yule-tide in France. + +The latter festival is derived from the Roman Saturnalia, the main +feature of the celebration being lawlessness and wild fun. Many of the +features of former times are no longer in vogue, but the Twelfth-Night +supper still continues in favor, when songs, toasts, and a general +good time finishes the holiday season. + +December is really the month of song in France. From the first to the +last every one who can utter a sound is singing, singing, singing. +Strolling musicians go from house to house playing and singing Noels, +and old and young of all classes in society, at home and abroad, on +their way to church or to market, at work or at play, may be heard +singing these fascinating carols. + +Noel signifies "good news," and it has been the greeting of the season +since the earliest observance of Christmas. The word is on every +tongue; salutations, invocations, and songs begin and end with it. +Carols peculiarly adapted to the day or season in time came to be +known as Noels, and these songs are to be heard everywhere in France +during the holidays of Yule-tide. + +CHRISTMAS SONG + + "Our Psalm of joy to God ascending + Filleth our souls with Holy fame. + This day the Saviour Child was born, + Dark was the night that now is ending, + But on the dawn were angels tending. + Hail! Christmas, Hail! Christmas morn. + + "In faith we see thee, Virgin Mother, + Still clasp thy Son, and in His eyes + Seek Heaven's own light that in them lies. + Though narrow shed His might confineth, + Though low in manger He reclineth, + Bright on His brow a glory shineth. + + "Oh, Saviour King! Hear when we call Thee, + Oh, Lord of Angels, glorious the song, + The song Thy ransom'd people raise, + Would that our hearts from sin and sorrow + And earthly bondage now might sever. + With Thee, Lord, reign forever and + ever." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN ITALY + + "O'er mournful lands and bare, without a sound, + Gently, in broadening flakes, descends the snow + In velvet layers. Beneath its pallid glow, + Silent, immaculate, all earth is bound." + +-_Edmondo de Amicis._ + + +Italy! the land of Dante, Petrarch, Bocaccio, Raphael, Michelangelo, +and a host of other shining lights in literature and art! + +Can we imagine any one of them as a boy watching eagerly for Christmas +to arrive; saving up money for weeks to purchase some coveted dainty +of the season; rushing through crowded streets on Christmas Eve to +view the Bambino, and possibly have an opportunity to kiss its pretty +bare toe? How strange it all seems! Yet boys to-day probably do many +of the same things they did in the long ago during the observance of +this holy season in historic, artistic Italy. + +In November, while flowers are yet in bloom, preparations are begun +for the coming festivities. City streets and shops are crowded with +Christmas shoppers, for beside all the gifts that are purchased by the +Italians, there are those bought by travelers and foreign residents to +be sent to loved ones at home, or to be used in their own observance +of the day, which is usually after the manner of their respective +countries. So shopping is lively from about the first of November +until after the New Year. + +The principal streets are full of carriages, the shops are full of the +choicest wares, and it is to be hoped that the pocketbooks are full of +money wherewith to purchase the beautiful articles displayed. + +During the _Novena_, or eight days preceding Christmas, in some +provinces shepherds go from house to house inquiring if Christmas is +to be kept there. If it is, they leave a wooden spoon to mark the +place, and later bring their bagpipes or other musical instruments and +play before it, singing one of the sweet Nativity songs, of which the +following is a favorite. + + "For ever hallow'd be + The night when Christ was born, + For then the saints did see + The holy star of morn. + So Anastasius and St. Joseph old + They did that blessed sight behold." + + _Chorus_: (in which all present join) + + "When Father, Son and Holy Ghost unite + That man may saved be." + +It is expected that those who have a _presepio_ are ready by this time +to receive guests to pray before it and strolling musicians to sing +before it, for the _presepio_ is the principal feature of an Italian +Christmas. It is made as expensive as its owner can afford, and +sometimes much more so. It is a miniature representation of the +birthplace of Christ, showing the Holy Family--Joseph, Mary, and the +infant Jesus in the manger--or, more frequently, the manger awaiting +the infant. This is a doll that is brought in later, around that each +person in the room may pray before it, and is then solemnly deposited +in the manger. There are angels, and other figures several inches +high, carved in wood--usually sycamore,--prettily colored and +introduced to please the owner's taste; the whole is artistically +arranged to represent the scene at Bethlehem which the season +commemorates. When the festivities cease the _presepio_ is taken apart +and carefully stored away for use another year. + +During the Novena, children go about reciting Christmas pieces, +receiving money from those who gather around them to listen, and later +they spend their earnings in buying eels or some other substantial +delicacy of the season. + +The _Ceppo_, or Yule-log, is lighted at two o'clock the day previous +to Christmas, on the kitchen hearth in provinces where it is +sufficiently cold to have a hearth, and fires are lighted in other +rooms, for here as elsewhere fire and light are necessary adjuncts of +Christmas. During the twenty-four hours preceding Christmas Eve a +rigid fast is observed, and there is an absence of Christmas cheer in +the atmosphere, for the season is strictly a religious one rather than +of a social nature like that of Northern countries. At early twilight +candles are lighted around the _presepio_, and the little folks recite +before it some poem suitable for the occasion. Then follows the +banquet, made as elaborate as possible. The menu varies in different +parts of the country, but in every part fish forms an important item +of food. In many places a capon stuffed with chestnuts is considered +indispensable, and the family purse is often stretched to its utmost +to provide this luxury, yet rich and poor deem this one article of +food absolutely necessary on this occasion. Macaroni is of course the +ever-present dish on all occasions throughout the country, and various +sweetmeats are abundantly provided. + +Then comes the drawing of presents from the _Urn of Fate_, a custom +common to many countries. As the parcels are interspersed with blanks, +the drawing from the urn creates much excitement and no little +disappointment among the children, who do not always understand that +there will be a gift for each one notwithstanding the blanks. + +There is no evergreen used in either church or home trimmings, but +flowers, natural or artificial, are used instead. Soon after nine +o'clock the people, young and old, leave their homes for some +church in which the Christmas Eve services begin by ten o'clock. + +[Illustration: A GAME OF LOTO ON CHRISTMAS EVENING IN NAPLES.] + +Bright holly-berries, sweet violets, stately chrysanthemums, and +pretty olive-trees bedecked with oranges,--such as are bought by those +accustomed to having a Christmas tree,--are displayed in shops and +along the streets, nearly all of which are hung with bright lanterns. +The people carry flaming torches to add to the general brightness of +the evening, and in some cities fireworks are set off. From their +sun-worshiping Aryan ancestors Italy derives the custom of burning the +_ceppo_, the love of light and fire, and many other customs. A few of +these may be traced to Roman influence. Unfortunately many, very many, +of the old customs, once so generally observed throughout Italy, are +now passing out of use. + +During the past few years several benevolent societies have +distributed presents among the poor and needy at Christmas time, an +event that is known as the _Albero di Natale_--The Tree of +Nativity,--but little boys and girls of Italy do not yet know the +delight of having a real Christmas tree hung with lovely gifts, such +as we have in America. + +At sunset on Christmas Eve the booming of cannon from the Castle of +St. Angelo announces the beginning of the Holy Season. Papal banners +are displayed from the castle, and crowds wend their way toward St. +Peter's, the object of every one's desire who is so fortunate as to be +in Rome at this season, for there the service is the most magnificent +in the world. Every Roman Catholic Church is crowded on Holy Night +with men, women, and children, anxious to see the procession of +church officials in their beautiful robes, who carry the _Bambino_ +about the church for the worshipers to behold and kiss its robes or +its toe. The larger the church the more beautiful the sight generally, +although to a Protestant beholder the smaller churches with their +enforced simplicity often prove more satisfactory to the spirit of +worship. + +But whether the officials are clothed in scarlet robes, ermine capes, +and purple cassocks, and the walls covered with silken hangings of +gold and crimson, with thousands of wax tapers lighted, and real +flowers adorning the altar and organ pipes; whether the Madonna on the +left of the altar is attired in satin and gleaming with precious +jewels, and the _presepio_ on the right is a marvel of elegance, with +the Bambino wrapped in gold and silver tissue studded with jewels; or +whether all is of an humble, simple character; the devout watch +eagerly for the appearance of the Babe to be laid in the manger when +the midnight bells peal forth the glad tidings of its birth. In each +church the organ sounds its joyous accompaniment to the sweet voices +of the choir which sings the Magnificat. The music is in itself a rare +treat to listeners as it is always the best, the very best that can be +procured. At two o'clock on Christmas morning the Shepherds' Hymn is +chanted, and at five o'clock the first High Mass is held. In some of +the larger churches solemn vespers are held Christmas afternoon, when +the Holy Cradle is carried around among the audience. + +At St. Peter's it is required that all the men present shall wear +dress-suits and that the women be clothed in black, which offsets the +brilliancy of the robes worn by the church officials, for even the +guards on duty are in elegant red and white uniforms. About ten +o'clock in the evening a procession of monks, priests, bishops, and +cardinals, walking two and two, enters the vast building just as the +great choir of male voices with organ accompaniment sounds forth the +Magnificat. The procession is long, glowing in color, and very +attractive to the eye, but the object of each Romanist's desire is to +see the Pope, who, in magnificent robes, and seated in his crimson +chair, is borne aloft on the shoulders of four men clothed in violet. +On the Pope's head gleams his richly gemmed tiara and his heavy robes +sparkle with costly jewels. Waving in front of His Eminence are two +huge fans of white ostrich feathers set with eyes of peacock feathers, +to signify the purity and watchfulness of this highest of church +functionaries. Before His Holiness march the sixty Roman noblemen, his +Guard of Honor, who form his escort at all church festivals, while +Cardinals, Bishops, and others, according to their rank, march beside +him, or near at hand. + +With his thumb and two fingers extended in recognition of the Trinity, +and at the same time showing the ring of St. Peter which he always +wears, the Pope, followed by the ecclesiastic procession, passes down +the nave between the files of soldiers, blessing the people as he +goes. + +Upon reaching the altar the Pope is escorted to an elevated seat while +the choir sings the Psalm of Entrance. Later, at the elevation of the +Host, the cannon of St. Angelo (the citadel of Rome, which was built +in the time of the Emperor Hadrian) booms forth and every Roman +Catholic bows his head in prayer, wheresoever he may be. At the close +of the service the gorgeous procession is again formed and the Pope is +carried out of the church, blessing the multitude as he passes. + +New Year is the great Social feature of Yule-tide in Italy. Visits and +some presents are exchanged among friends, dinner parties, receptions, +and fetes of all kinds are in order, but all interest centers in the +church observances until Epiphany, or _Bafana_, as Italians term it, +when children hang up their stockings, _ceppo_ boxes are exchanged, +and people indulge in home pleasures to some extent. The wild hilarity +of the Saturnalian festivities of former times is fast dying out, for +the growth of cities and towns has not proved conducive to such +observances, and only in the smaller places is anything of the sort +observed. + +Yule-tide in Italy at the present day is principally a church +festival. + +THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS + +(1901) + + Cometh the yearly Feast, the wonderous Holy Night, + Worthy of sacred hymn and solemn rite. + + No harbingers of joy the olden message sing, + Nor gifts of Peace to waiting mortals bring. + + Alone the thronging hosts of evil men I hear, + And see the anxious brow and falling tear. + + The Age will bear no yoke; forgets the God above, + Nor duteous payment yields to parents' love. + + Suspicious Discord rends the peaceful State in twain, + And busy Murder follows in her train. + + Gone are the loyal faith, the rights revered of old-- + Reigns but a blind and cruel lust of Gold! + + O come, Thou holy Child! Pity the fallen world, + Lest it should perish, into darkness hurled. + + Out of the laboring Night grant it a newer birth, + And a New Age to bloom o'er all the earth. + + Circle with splendors old the brow of Faith divine; + Let her full glory on the nations shine. + + Nerve her to battlings new; palsy her foes with dread; + Place the victorious laurel on her head. + + Be Error's mist dissolved, and ancient feuds repressed, + Till Earth at last find quietude and rest. + + O gentle Peace, return nor evermore depart; + And link us hand in hand and heart to heart! + +--_Pope Leo XIII._ + +_(Translated by H. T. Henry.)_ + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN SPAIN + + "With antics and with fooleries, with shouting and with laughter, + They fill the streets of Burgos--and the Devil he comes after." + + +In Spain, the land of romance and song, of frost and flowers, where at +Yule-tide the mountains wear a mantle of pure white snow while flowers +bloom gaily in field and garden, the season's observance approaches +more nearly than in any other country to the old Roman Saturnalia. + +The Celts who taught the Spaniards the love of ballads and song left +some traces of the sun-worshipers' traditions, but they are few in +comparison with those of other European countries. Spain is a land +apparently out of the line of Wodin's travel and influence, where one +looks in vain for the mysterious mistletoe, the pretty holly, and the +joyful Christmas tree. + +The season is rigidly observed in churches, but otherwise it loses its +spirit of devotion in that of wild revelry. Music, mirth, and hilarity +are the leading features of the occasion, and home and family +pleasures are secondary affairs. + +Of course the customs vary in different provinces, some of which still +cling to primitive forms of observance while others are fast adopting +those of foreign residents and becoming Continental in style. But +everywhere throughout the land Christmas is the day of days,--the +great church festival observed by all. + +The _Noche-buena_ or Good Night, preceding Christmas, finds the shops +gay with sweets and fancy goods suitable for holiday wear, but not +with the pretty gifts such as circulate from home to home in northern +countries, for here gifts are not generally exchanged. + +Doctors, ministers, and landlords receive their yearly gifts of +turkeys, cakes, and produce from their dependents, but the love of +presenting dainty Christmas gifts has not reached the land of the +three C's--the Cid, Cervantes, and Columbus. + +[Illustration: CHRISTMAS FESTIVITY IN SEVILLE.] + +Do you know what you would probably do if you were a dark-cheeked +Spanish lad named Miguel, or a bright-eyed, light-hearted Spanish +maiden named Dolores? + +If you were Miguel you would don your black jacket and brown trousers, +knot your gayest kerchief around your neck, and with your guitar in +hand you would hasten forth to enjoy the fun that prevails in every +street of every town in Spain on Christmas Eve, or, as it is known +there, the _Noche-buena._ + +If you were pretty Dolores you would surely wear your red or yellow +skirt, or else of striped red and yellow, your best embroidered velvet +jacket,--handed down from mother to daughter, and a wonderful sample +of the handiwork that once made the country famous,--your numerous +necklaces and other ornaments. You would carefully braid your heavy +dark tresses and bedeck your shapely head with bright flowers, then +with your _panderetta_ or tambourine in hand, you too would join the +merry throng that fill the air with mirthful songs and music on +_Noche-buena_; for remember, + + "This is the eve of Christmas, + No sleep from now till morn." + +The air is full of the spirit of unrest, castanets click joyously, +tambourines jingle their silvery strains, while guitars and other +musical instruments help to swell the babel of sound preceding the +hour of the midnight mass: + + "At twelve will the child be born," + +and if you have not already done some especially good deed to some +fellow mortal, you will hasten to clear your conscience by such an act +before the bells announce the hour of its birth. As the stars appear +in the heavens, tiny oil lamps are lighted in every house, and among +all devout Roman Catholics the image of the Virgin is illuminated +with a taper. + +The streets, which in many cities are brilliantly lighted with +electricity, are crowded with turkeys awaiting purchasers. They are +great fat birds that have been brought in from the country and +together with quacking ducks and cooing pigeons help to swell the +sounds that fill the clear, balmy air. Streets and market-places are +crowded with live stock, while every other available spot is piled +high with delicious fruit;--golden oranges, sober-hued dates, and +indispensable olives; and scattered among these are cheeses of all +shapes and kinds, sweetmeats of all sorts, the choice candies that are +brought from various provinces, and quaint pigskins of wine. No wonder +every one who can do so hurries forth into the street on +_Noche-buena._ + +If you are not tempted to stop and gaze at these appetizing exhibits, +you will pass quickly on to the brightly lighted booths devoted to +toys. Oh, what a feast for young eyes! Here yours will surely light on +some coveted treasure. It may be an ordinary toy, a drum, a horn, or +it may be a Holy Manger, Shepherds, The Wise Men, or even a Star of +the East. + +It is hard to keep one's purse closed among such a surfeit of tempting +articles, and everywhere money flows freely from hand to hand, +although the Spanish are usually very frugal. + +As the bells clang out the hour of midnight, you will hurry to join +the throng wending its way to the nearest church, where priests in +their gorgeous robes,--some of them worn only on this occasion and +precious with rare embroidery and valuable jewels,--perform the +midnight or cock-crow mass, and where the choir and the priests chant +a sweet Christmas hymn together. What if it is late when the service +ends? Christmas Eve without dancing is not to be thought of in Spain. +So you go forth to find a group of Gipsy dancers who are always on +hand to participate in this great festival; or you watch the graceful +Spanish maiden in her fluffy skirts of lace, with her deep pointed +bodice, a bright flower in her coal-black hair beside the tall comb, +and her exquisitely shaped arms adorned with heavy bracelets. "Oh, +what magnificent eyes! What exquisite long lashes!" you exclaim to +yourself. See her poise an instant with the grace of a sylph, one +slippered foot just touching the floor, then click, click, sound the +castanets, as they have sounded for upwards of two thousand years and +are likely to do for two thousand more, for their inspiriting click +seems necessary to move Spanish feet and give grace to the uplifted +arms. At first she may favor you with the energetic _fandango_, or the +butterfly-like _bolero_, but on Christmas Eve the _Jota_ is the +universal favorite. It is danced and sung to music which has been +brought down to the present time unwritten, and which was passed from +mouth to mouth through many generations. Translated the words read: + + "Of Jesus the Nativity is celebrated everywhere, + Everywhere reigns contentment, everywhere reigns pleasure," + +the audience joining in the refrain: + + "Long live merrymaking, for this is a day of rejoicing, + And may the perfume of pleasure sweeten our existence." + +It will probably be late into the morning before the singing, +dancing, thought-less crowd turns homeward to rest, and although it is +certainly a crowd intoxicated with pleasure, it is never in that +condition from liquor. + +There are three masses on Christmas Day, and all devout Catholics +attend one of them at least, if not all. In some places Nativity plays +are given on Christmas Eve or else on Christmas Day. They are long +performances, but never tedious to the audiences, because the scenes +appeal to them with the force of absolute realism. On Christmas +morning the postmen, telegraph boys, and employees of various +vocations, present to their employers and others little leaflets +containing a verse appropriate to the day, or the single sentence "A +Happy Christmas," expecting to receive in return a Christmas box +filled with goodies of some kind. + +While Spanish children do not have the Christmas tree to gather +around they do have the pretty _Nacimiento_, made of plaster and +representing the place of Christ's nativity, with the manger, tiny men +and women, trees, and animals, such as are supposed to have existed at +the time and place of the Nativity. + +The _Nacimiento_ (meaning being born) is lighted with candles, and +little folks dance gayly around it to the music of tambourines and +their own sweet voices, joyously singing one of the pretty Nativity +songs. Groups of children go about the streets singing these songs of +which there are many. + +In this pleasing custom of the _Nacimiento_ one sees a vestige of the +Saturnalia, for during that festival small earthenware figures used to +be for sale for the pleasure of children. Although the Spanish race is +a mixed one and various peoples have been in power from time to time, +at one period the country was, with the exception of Basque, entirely +Romanized. It is interesting to note the lingering influence of this +mighty Roman nation and find in this century that some of the main +features of the great Roman feast are retained in the great Christian +feast at Yule-tide. + +Southern races were always firm believers in Fate. The Mohammedans +reverenced the Tree of Fate, but the Romans held sacred the _urn_ +containing the messages of Fate. So the Spaniards cling to the urn, +from which at Christmas gatherings of friends it is the custom to draw +the names of the men and women whom Fate ordains shall be devoted +friends during the year,--the men performing all the duties of lovers. +This drawing of one's Fate for the coming year creates great +merriment and often no little disappointment. But Fate is inexorable +and what is to be must be, so the Spanish maiden accepts graciously +the one Fate thus assigns her. + +After the midday breakfast on Christmas morning the people usually +seek out-of-door pleasures. Among many of the old families only blood +relations are expected to eat and drink together on this holy day. + +Ordinarily the Spaniard "may find perfect entertainment in a crust of +bread and a bit of garlic" as the proverb claims, but at Yule-tide his +stomach demands many delicacies peculiar to the season. The _Puchero +Olla_, the national dish for dinner, must have a few extra ingredients +added on this occasion. The usual compound of chickens, capons, bacon, +mutton, beef, pig's feet, lard, garlic, and everything else the +larder affords, is quite insufficient to be boiled together on this +occasion. However, if one has no relatives to invite him to a feast, +it is an easy matter to secure a Christmas dinner on the streets, +where men are ready to cook for him over their _braseros_ of charcoal +and venders are near at hand to offer preserved fruits, the famous +almond rock, almond soup, truffled turkey, or the most desirable of +the season's delicacies,--sea-bream, which is brought from Cadiz +especially for Christmas use, and which is eaten at Christmas in +accordance with the old-time custom. Nuts of all kinds are abundant. +By the side of the streets, venders of chestnuts--the finest in the +world--lean against their clumsy two-wheeled carts, picturesque in +costumes that are ragged and soiled from long service. Rich +layer-cakes of preserves, having almond icing with fruits and +liquor-filled ornaments of sugar on top, are frequently sent from +friend to friend for dinner. + +In Seville, and possibly in other places, the people hurry to the +cathedral early in the afternoon in order to secure good places before +the high altar from which to view the _Siexes_, or dances. Yes, +dances! This ceremony takes place about five o'clock just as the +daylight fades and night draws near. Ten choristers and dancers, +indiscriminately termed _Siexes_, appear before the altar clad in the +costume of Seventeenth-Century pages, and reverently and with great +earnestness sing and dance an old-time minuet, with castanet +accompaniment, of course. The opening song is in honor of the Virgin, +beginning: + + "Hail, O Virgin, most pure and beautiful." + +Among the ancients dancing was a part of religious services, but it is +now seldom seen in churches. This Christmas dance, given in a +beautiful cathedral just at the close of day, is a very impressive +ceremony and forms a fitting close to the Spanish Christmas, which is +so largely made up of customs peculiar to ancient and modern races. + +In every part of Spain song and dance form an important part of the +festivities of Yule-tide, which lasts two weeks, although the laboring +class observe but two days of pleasure. At the palace the King holds a +reception on New Year's, not for the public generally, but for the +diplomats and grandees. + +The higher circles of society observe New Year as a time of exchanging +calls and visiting, feasting and merrymaking. At the banquets of the +wealthy every possible delicacy in the way of food is temptingly +displayed, and great elegance in dress indulged in by the ladies, who +wear their finest gowns and adorn themselves in priceless jewels and +rare laces. But there is so much etiquette to be observed among this +class of Spaniards that one looks for the real enjoyment of the season +among the common classes. + +In some parts of Spain bull-fights are given as late as December, but +cold weather has a softening effect on the poor bulls and makes them +less ferocious, so unless the season proves unusually warm that +favorite entertainment has to be abandoned for a time. Meanwhile in +the streets and homes one may often see a father on all fours enacting +the infuriated bull for his little sons to attack; in this way he +teaches them the envied art of bull-fighting. The Yule-tide +festivities end at Twelfth Day,--Epiphany,--when crowds of young +folks go from gate to gate in the cities to meet the Magi, and after +much merriment they come to the conclusion that the Magi will not +appear until the following year. + +NIGHT OF MARVELS + + In such a marvelous night; so fair + And full of wonder, strange and new, + Ye shepherds of the vale, declare-- + Who saw the greatest wonder? + Who? + + (_First Shepherd_) + + I saw the trembling fire look wan; + + (_Second Shepherd_) + + I saw the sun shed tears of blood; + + (_Third Shepherd_) + + I saw a God become a man; + + + (_Fourth Shepherd_) + + I saw a man become a God. + + O, wondrous marvels! at the thought, + The bosom's awe and reverence move; + But who such prodigies hath wrought? + What gave such wondrous birth? + 'Twas love! + + What called from heaven the flame divine, + Which streams in glory far above, + And bid it o'er earth's bosom shine, + And bless us with its brightness? + Love! + + Who bid the glorious sun arrest + His course, and o'er heaven's concave move + In tears,--the saddest, loneliest, + Of the celestial orbs? + 'Twas love! + + Who raised the human race so high, + E'en to the starry seats above, + That, for our mortal progeny, + A man became a God? + 'Twas love! + + Who humbled from the seats of light + Their Lord, all human woes to prove, + Led the great Source of day to night, + And made of God a man? + 'Twas love! + + Yes! love has wrought, and love alone, + The victories all,--beneath, above: + And heaven and earth shall shout as one, + The all-triumphant song + Of love. + + The song through all heaven's arches ran, + And told the wondrous tales aloud, + The trembling fire that looked so wan, + The weeping sun behind the cloud, + A God, a God become a man! + A mortal man become a God. + +--_Violante Do Ceo._ + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +[Illustration] + +YULE-TIDE IN AMERICA + + "And they who do their souls no wrong, + But keep, at eve, the faith of morn. + Shall daily hear the angel-song, + 'To-day the Prince of Peace is born.'" + +--_James Russell Lowell._ + + +To people who go into a new country to live, Christmas, which is so +generally a family day, must of necessity be a lonely, homesick one. +They carry with them the memory of happy customs, of loved ones far +away, and of observances which can never be held again. So many of the +earliest Christmasses in America were peculiarly sad ones to the +various groups of settlers; most especially was this the case with the +first Christmas ever spent by Europeans in the New World. + +The intrepid mariner, Christopher Columbus, entered the port of Bohio, +in the Island of Hayti, on St. Nicholas Day, December 6, 1492, and in +honor of the day named that port Saint Nicholas. The _Pinta_ with her +crew had parted from the others and gone her own way, so the _Santa +Maria_ and the _Nina_ sailed on together, occasionally stopping where +the port seemed inviting. While in one of these, Columbus heard of +rich mines not far distant and started for them. The Admiral and his +men were tired from continued watching, and as the sea was smooth and +the wind favorable, they went to sleep leaving the ship in care of a +boy. Who he was no one knows, but he was evidently the first Christian +boy to pass a Christmas Eve on this continent,--and a sad one it was +for him. The ship struck a sand-bank and settled, a complete wreck, in +the waters of the New World. Fortunately no lives were lost, and the +wreckage furnished material for the building of a fortress which +occupied the men's time during the remainder of the Yule-tide. + +The _Nina_ was too small to accommodate two crews, therefore on +Christmas Day many of the men were wondering who were to stay on that +far-away island among the strange looking natives of whom they knew +nothing. + +The Chief of Guarico (Petit Anse), whom Columbus was on his way to +visit at the time of the disaster, sent a fleet of canoes to the +assistance of the strangers, and did what he could to make them happy +during the day. The Spaniards and the natives worked until dawn on +Christmas morning, bringing ashore what they could secure from the +wreck, and storing it away on the island for future use. Strange to +relate, they succeeded in saving all of their provisions, the spars, +and even many of the nails of the wrecked _Santa Maria._ But what a +Christmas morning for Columbus and his men, stranded on an island far, +far from home, among a strange people! There were no festivities to be +observed by that sad, care-worn company of three hundred men on that +day, but the following morning Chief Guacanagari visited the _Nina_ +and took Columbus ashore, where a banquet was prepared in his honor, +the first public function attended by Columbus in America. It can be +pictured only in imagination. There on that beautiful island which +seemed to them a paradise on earth, with tall trees waving their long +fronds in the warm breeze, with myriads of birds such as they had +never seen filling the air with song, Columbus stood, attired in his +gorgeous uniform and dignified, as it befitted him to be, beside his +host who was elegantly dressed in a _shirt_ and _a pair of gloves_ +which Columbus had given him, with a coronet of gold on his head. The +visiting chieftains with gold coronets moved about in nature's garb, +among the "thousand,"--more or less,--who were present as guests. The +feast consisted of shrimps, cassavi,--the same as the native bread of +to-day,--and some of their nutritive roots. + +It was not a sumptuous repast although it may have been a bountiful +one, yet they probably enjoyed it. + +The work of building a fortress began at once. Within ten days the +Fortress of Navidad was completed. It stood on a hill and was +surrounded with a broad, deep ditch for protection against natives and +animals, and was to be the home of those of the company who remained +in the New World, for the _Nina_ was too small to convey all hands +across the ocean to Spain, and nothing had been heard of the _Pinta._ +Leaving biscuits sufficient for a year's supply, wine, and such +provisions as could be spared, Columbus bade farewell to the forty men +whom he was never to see again, and sailed for the Old World on +January 4, 1493. + +So far as recorded, Columbus was the only one among the Spaniards who +received gifts during this first Yule-tide in America. But what seemed +a cruel fate to him was the means of bestowing a valuable gift upon +the world. Had the _Santa Maria_ continued her course in safety that +Christmas Eve there might never have been a fortress or any European +settlement founded. So, although it was a sad, troubled Yule-tide to +the Spanish adventurers, it proved a memorable one in the annals of +America. + +Four hundred years later the anchor of the _Santa Maria_ was +discovered and brought to the United States to be one of its treasured +exhibits at the great Columbian Exposition, where a descendant of +Columbus was the honored guest of the Government. + +One hundred and fifty years after the building of the Fortress of +Navidad, after many ineffectual attempts, a settlement was effected in +the New World by a colony from England. They sailed from Blackwell, on +the Thames, on December 19, 1606, and for six weeks were "knocking +about in sight of England." Their first Christmas was spent within +sight of their old homes. According to Captain John Smith's account, +"It was, indeed, but a sorry Christmas that we spent on board," as +many of them were very sick, yet Smith adds, "We made the best cheer +we could." The colonists landed and solemnly founded Jamestown on May +13, 1607. That year Yule-tide was spent by Captain Smith among the +Powhatan Indians, by whom he was taken captive. This colony consisted +of men only; no genuine Christmas observance could take place without +women and children, and no women arrived until 1609, and then only +twenty came. But after the ninety young women arrived in 1619, +supplied to planters for one hundred pounds of tobacco each, and a +cargo of twenty negroes had landed to help with the work, there may +have been an attempt at keeping Christmas although there is no record +of the fact. + +At this season there was usually a raid made upon the Indians. Smith's +last expedition against them was at Christmastime, when, as he records +in his journal, "The extreme winde, rayne, frost, and snow caused us +to keep Christmas among the salvages where we weere never more merry, +nor fed on more plenty of good Oysters, Fish, Flesh, Wild Fowl and +good bread, nor never had better fires in England." + +In after years prosperity smiled on the land of the Jamestown +settlers. Amidst the peace and plenty that followed the earlier years +of strife and poverty, the Virginians became noted for their +hospitality and lavish observance of Yule-tide. It was the happy +home-coming for daughters, sons, uncles, aunts, and cousins of the +first, second, and even the third degree. For whosoever was of the +name and lineage, whether rich or poor, was welcomed at this annual +ingathering of the family. Every house was filled to overflowing; +great hickory fires were lighted on the open hearths; the rooms were +brilliantly lighted with candles, and profusely trimmed with greens. +From doors and ceilings were hung sprigs of the mysterious mistletoe, +for + + "O'er the lover + I'll shake the berry'd mistletoe; that he + May long remember Christmas," + +was the thought of merry maidens as they decorated their homes. + +Christmas brought carriage-loads of guests to these old-time homes, to +partake of the good cheer and enjoy weeks of fun and frolic, indoors +and out. For many days before Christmas arrived, colored cooks, the +regular, and extra ones, were busy cooking from morning till evening, +preparing for the occasion. The storerooms were replete with every +variety of tempting food the ingenious minds of the cooks could +devise, for Christmas dinner was the one great test of their ability +and woe to Auntie whose fire was too hot, or whose judgment was at +fault on this occasion. + +[Illustration: LIGHTING THE YULE-LOG IN COLONIAL DAYS.] + +To the whites and blacks Christmas was a season of peace, plenty, and +merriment. In the "Great House" and in the cabin there were music, +dancing, and games until New Year. This was "Hiring Day," and among +the blacks joy was turned to sadness as husbands, fathers, brothers, +and lovers were taken away to work on distant plantations, for those +who hired extra help through the year were often extremely cruel in +their treatment of the slaves. + +The gladsome Virginia Christmas in time became the typical one of the +South, where it was the red-letter day of the year, the most joyous of +all holidays. The churches were lovingly and tastefully decorated with +boughs of green and flowers by the ladies themselves and +conscientiously attended by both old and young. In the South there was +never any of the somberness that attended church services in the North +among descendants of the Plymouth Colony who came to America later. + +The Puritans of England early discountenanced the observance of +Christmas. But among the Pilgrims who reached the American coast in +December, 1620, were mothers who had lived so long in Holland they +loved the old-time custom of making merry on that day. To these dear +women, and to the kind-hearted, child-loving Elder Brewster, we are +indebted for the first observance of the day held by the Plymouth +Colony. + +According to the Journal of William Bradford, kept for so many years, +the Pilgrims went ashore, "and ye 25 day (Dec.) begane to erecte ye +first house for comone use to receive them and their goods." Bradford +conscientiously refrains from alluding to the day as Christmas, but +descendants of these godly Puritans are glad to learn that home-making +in New England was begun on Christmas Day. + +Many very interesting stories have been written about this first +Christmas. One writer even pictures the more lenient Elder Brewster as +going ashore that morning and inviting the Indian Chief Massasoit to +go aboard the _Mayflower_ with him. According to the story, the good +man endeavored to impress the chief with the solemnity and +significance of the occasion, and then with Massasoit, two squaws, and +six boys and girls, becomingly attired in paint and feathers, he +returned to the ship. + +The women and children from over the sea met their new neighbors and +guests, received from them little baskets of nuts and wintergreen +berries, and in exchange gave their guests beads, toys, raisins, and +such simple gifts, to which Elder Brewster added a blessing bestowed +upon each child. + +The story reads well. But the truth, according to history, makes the +first visit of Massasoit occur some three months later, on March +twenty-second. The Puritans had a happy Christmas dinner together on +board the ship which was the only home they possessed as yet, and it +is to be presumed that the exceedingly conscientious non-observers of +the day partook quite as freely of the salt fish, bacon, Brussels +sprouts, gooseberry tarts, and English plum pudding, as did those +homesick, tear-choked women who prepared the dinner. + +It is certainly to be regretted that vessels are no longer built with +the wonderful storage capacity of the _Mayflower_! Beside bringing +over the innumerable _family relics_ that are treasured throughout +this country, it is stated that this ship brought a barrel full of +ivy, holly, laurel, and immortelles, with which the table was +decorated, and wreaths woven for the children to wear. Bless those +dear, brave women who dared to bring "green stuff" for "heathenish +decorations" way across the ocean! Let us add a few extra sprays of +green each Christmas in memory of them. The greens, plum puddings, and +other good things had such a happy effect that, according to Bradford, +"at night the master caused us to have some Beere." This was an event +worthy of a capital B, as the men had worked all day in the biting +cold at house-building, with only a scanty supply of water to drink. + +Alas! That Christmas on the _Mayflower_ was the last the Pilgrims were +to enjoy for many a long year. Other ship-loads of people arrived +during the year and in 1621, "One ye day called Christmas Day, ye Gov. +called them out to worke (as was used), but ye most of this new +company excused themselves and said it wente against their consciences +to work on yt day. So ye Gov. tould them that if they made it mater of +conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed. So he +led away ye rest and left them, but when they came home at noone from +their worke, he found them in ye streete at play, openly, some +pitching ye bair, and some at stoole-ball, and shuch-like sports. So +he went to them and tooke away their implements, and tould them that +was against his conscience, that they should play and others worke. If +they made ye keeping of it mater of devotion, let them kepe their +houses, but ther should be no gameing or revelling in ye streets. +Since which time nothing had been attempted that way, at least +openly." And thus ended the last attempt at Christmas observance +during Governor Bradford's many terms of office. + +The Massachusetts Colony that arrived in 1630, and settled in and +around Boston, believed that Christ's mission on earth as the Saviour +of man was too serious a one to be celebrated by the fallen race. He +came to save; they considered it absolutely wicked for any one to be +lively and joyous when he could not know whether or no he was doomed +to everlasting punishment. Beside that, jollity often led to serious +results. Were not the jails of Old England full to repletion the day +after Christmas? It was wisest, they thought, to let the day pass +unnoticed. And so only occasionally did any one venture to remember +the fact of its occurrence. Among the men and women who came across +the ocean during succeeding years there must have been many who +differed from the first colony in regard to Christmas, for in May, +1659, the General Court of Massachusetts deemed it necessary to enact +a law: "That whosoever shall be found observing any such day as +Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labour, feasting, or +any other way, upon any such accounts as aforesaid, shall be subjected +to a fine of five shillings." + +For upward of twenty-two years it remained unlawful in Massachusetts +to have a merry Christmas. There were no pretty gifts on that day to +make happy little God-be-thanked, Search-the-scriptures, Seek-wisdom, +Prudence, Hope, or Charity. However, Santa Claus had emissaries abroad +in the land. In December, 1686, Governor Andros, an Episcopalian, and +a representative of the King, brought about the first concession in +favor of the day. He believed in celebrating Christmas and intended +to hold appropriate services. The law enacted by Parliament in June, +1647, abolishing the observance of the day, had been repealed in 1659, +and Gov. Andros knew he had the law in his favor. But every +meeting-house was conscientiously (or stubbornly) closed to him. So he +was forced to hold service in the Town House, going with an armed +soldier on each side to protect him from the "good will" exhibited by +his fellow townsmen. He held services that day, and it is believed to +be the first observance of Christmas held under legal sanction in +Boston. + +The great concession was made by the Old South Congregation in 1753 +when it offered its sanctuary to the worshipers in King's Chapel, +after that edifice was burned, for them to hold their Christmas +services. It was with the implicit understanding that there was to be +no spruce, holly, or other greens used on that occasion to desecrate +their meeting-house. + +Little by little the day was brought into favor as a holiday, but it +was as late as the year 1856, while Nathaniel P. Banks was Governor, +that the day was made a legal holiday in Massachusetts. + +The good Dutch Fathers, true to the teachings of their forefathers, +sailed for the New World with the image of St. Nicholas for a +figurehead on their vessel. They named the first church they built for +the much-loved St. Nicholas and made him patron saint of the new city +on Manhattan Island. Thanks, many many thanks, to these sturdy old +Dutchmen with unpronounceable names who preserved to posterity so many +delightful customs of Christmas observance. What should we have done +without them? They were quite a worthy people notwithstanding they +believed in enjoying life and meeting together for gossip and +merrymaking. Christmas was a joyful season with them. The churches and +quaint gabled houses were trimmed with evergreens, great preparations +were made for the family feasts, and business was generally suspended. +The jolly old City Fathers took a prolonged rest from cares of office, +even ordering on December 14, 1654, that, "As the winter and the +holidays are at hand, there shall be no more ordinary meetings of this +board (the City Corporation) between this date and three weeks after +Christmas. The Court messenger is ordered not to summon any one in the +meantime." + +Sensible old souls! They were not going to allow business to usurp +their time and thought during this joyful season! The children must +have their trees, hung with gifts; the needy must be especially cared +for, and visits must be exchanged; so the City was left to take care +of itself, while each household was busy making ready for the day of +days, the season of seasons. + +What a time those _hausfraus_ had polishing up their silver, pewter, +brass, and copper treasures, in opening up best rooms, and newly +sanding the floors in devious intricate designs! What a pile of wood +was burned to bake the huge turkeys, pies, and puddings! What pains +the fathers took to select the rosiest apples and the choicest nuts to +put in each child's stocking on Christmas Eve. Fortunately, children +obeyed the injunction of Scripture in those days, and despised not the +day of small things. + +How fortunate it was that there were no trains or other rapid modes +of conveyance to bring visitors from the Puritan Colonies at this +season. There was no possibility of any of their strict neighbors +dropping in unexpectedly to furnish a free lecture, while the Dutch +families were merrily dancing. The Puritans were located less than two +hundred and eighty-five miles distant, yet they were more distantly +separated by ideas than by space. But a little leaven was eventually +to penetrate the entire country, and the customs that are now observed +each Christmas throughout the Eastern, Middle, and Western States, are +mainly such as were brought to this country by the Dutch. Americans +have none of their own. In fact, they possess but little that is +distinctively their own because they are a conglomerate nation, +speaking a conglomerate language. + +According to the late Lawrence Hutton, "Our Christmas carols appear to +have come from the Holy Land itself; our Christmas trees from the East +by way of Germany; our Santa Claus from Holland; our stockings hung in +the chimney, from France or Belgium; and our Christmas cards and +verbal Christmas greetings, our Yule-logs, our boars' heads, our plum +puddings and our mince pies from England. Our turkey is, seemingly, +our only contribution." Let us add the squash-pie! + +[Illustration: CHILDREN OF MANY NATIONALITIES AT CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION +IN A NEW YORK SCHOOL. + +Chinese, Italians, Swedes, Irish, English, German, French, Russian, +Austrian.] + +These customs which have become general throughout the United States, +varying of course in different localities, are being rapidly +introduced into the new possessions where they are engrafted on some +of the prettiest customs observed by the people in former years. In +Porto Rico on Christmas Day they have a church procession of +children in beautiful costumes, which is a very attractive feature. +The people feast, dance, attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve, then +dance and feast until Christmas morning. In fact they dance and feast +most of the time from December twenty-fourth until January seventh, +when not at church services. On Twelfth Night gifts are exchanged, for +as yet Santa Claus has not ventured to visit such a warm climate, so +the children continue to receive their gifts from the Holy Kings. +However, under the shelter of the American Flag, the Christmas tree is +growing in favor. In Hawaii, so far as possible, the so-called New +England customs prevail. + +In the Philippines even beggars in the streets expect a "Christmas +present," which they solicit in good English. + +So from Alaska to the Island of Tutuila, the smallest of America's +possessions, Yule-tide is observed in a similar manner. + +Yule-tide has been singularly connected with important events in the +history of the United States. + +In the year 1776 Washington crossed the Delaware on Christmas night to +capture nearly one thousand Hessians after their Christmas revelries. +A few days later, December 30th, Congress resolved to send +Commissioners to the courts of Vienna, Spain, France, and Tuscany; and +as victory followed the American leader, the achievements of this +Yule-tide were declared by Frederick the Great of Prussia to be "the +most brilliant of any recorded in the annals of military action." The +year following, 1777, was probably one of the gloomiest Yule-tides in +the experience of the American forces. They lay encamped at Valley +Forge, sick and discouraged, destitute of food, clothing, and most of +the necessities of life. + +It was on Christmas Eve, 1783, that Washington laid aside forever his +military clothes and assumed those of a civilian, feeling, as he +expressed it, "relieved of a load of public care." After Congress +removed to Philadelphia, Martha Washington held her first public +reception in the Executive Mansion on Christmas Eve, when, it is +stated, there was gathered "the most brilliant assemblage ever seen in +America." + +At Yule-tide a few years later, 1799, the country was mourning the +death of the beloved Father of his Country. + +In later years, the season continued prominent in the history of great +events. The most notable of these were the two Proclamations of +President Lincoln, the one freeing the slaves, January 1, 1863, and +the other proclaiming the "unconditional pardon and amnesty to all +concerned in the late insurrection," on December 25, 1868. And may the +peace then declared remain with this people forevermore! + +THE VOICE OF THE CHRIST-CHILD + + The earth has grown cold with its burden of care, + But at Christmas it always is young, + The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, + And its soul full of music breaks forth on the air, + When the song of the Angels is sung. + + It is coming, old earth, it is coming to-night! + On snowflakes which covered thy sod, + The feet of the Christ-child fall gently and white, + And the voice of the Christ-child tells out with delight + That mankind are the children of God. + + On the sad and the lonely, the wretched and poor, + The voice of the Christ-child shall fall; + And to every blind wanderer opens the door + Of a hope which he dared not to dream of before, + With a sunshine of welcome for all. + + The feet of the humblest may walk in the field + Where the feet of the holiest have trod, + This, this is the marvel to mortals revealed, + When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed, + That mankind are the children of God. + +--_Phillips Brooks._ + + + + +INDEX + + +Alaska, 193 + +Alexander the Great, 55 + +Alexander, King of the Scots, 42 + +Alfred, King, 35 + +American Flag, The, 193 + +Andros, Governor, 187 + +Archbishop of York, 42 + +Aryans, 13, 57, 104 + +Asia, 15 + + +Baal, 22 + +Bambino, The, 133, 141 + +Balder, 15, 16, 17, 22, 99 + +Banks, N. P., 188 + +Berserks, The, 26, 27, 29 + +Bethlehem, 63 + +Boar's Head, The, 39, 40 + +Bocaccio, 132 + +_Bolero_, The, 156 + +Bornhern, Island of, 99 + +Boston, 185 + +Boxing-day, 61 + +Bradford, William, 180,183,185 + +Bragi, 19 + +Brewster, Elder, 180, 181 + +Brooks, Phillips, 197 + +Bull-fights, 164 + + +Cadiz, 161 + +Caesar, Julius, 23 + +_Ceppo_, 136, 139 + +Cervantes, 150 + +Christ, 13, 17, 21, 28, 63, 135, 185 + +Christ-child, 100, 101, 102, 129, 196 + +Christian Fathers, The, 21 + +Cid, The, 150 + +Cole, Sir Henry, 46 + +Columbus, 150, 169, 171, 172 + +Congress, 194, 195 + +"Cream of the Year," The, 50, 51 + +Czar, The, 116 + + +Dante, 132 + +Druids, 17, 22, 31 + + +Easter, 89, 97 + +Edda, The Younger, 14, 15, 17 + +Elizabeth (Daughter of Henri VII), 44 + +Epiphany, 127, 129, 145, 165 + +Executive Mansion, The, 195 + + +_Fandango_, 156 + +Father of His Country, 195 + +Feast of Tabernacles, The, 21 + +Festival of Fools, 129 + +Fool's Dance, The, 44 + +Frankland, 15 + +Frederick the Great, 194 + +Frey (Freya), 18, 45, 75, 95 + +Frost King, The, 117 + + +Gregorian calendar, The, 24, 112 + + +_Hackin_, The, 47 + +Hadrian, Emperor, 145 + +Hakon the Good, 27 + +Hampton Court, 44 + +Hawaii, 193 + +Hayti, 169 + +Hel, 17 + +Henry III, 42 + +Henry VII, 43, 44 + +Henry VIII, 43 + +"Hiring Day," 179 + +Hoeder, 16 + +Holy Family, The, 135 + +Holy Kings, The, 193 + +Holy Land, The, 192 + +Holy Manger, The, 125, 154 + +Holy Night, 63, 65, 71, 140 + +Holy Season, The, 140 + +_Hweolor-tid_, 14 + + +Icons, 109 + +Indo-European ancestors, 14 + + +Jamestown, 175, 177 + +Janus, 23 + +Jehovah, 126 + +Jesus, The Little, 126 + +_Jota_, 156 + +Julian calendar, The, 25 + +Jutland, 15 + + +King's Chapel, 187 + +Knight Rupert, 60 + +_Kolyada_, 105, 106, 107 + +_Kolyadki_, 108, 115 + +Kriss Kringle, 60 + + +_Lamb's-wool_, 49 + +Lapps, The, 76, 77, 79, 80, 81 + +Lincoln, President, 195 + +Litchfield, 42 + +Loki, 15, 16 + +Lorraine, 69 + +Luther, Martin, 58 + +Lycia, 59 + + +Magi, The, 127, 165 + +Magnificat, The, 142 + +Margaret, Princess, 42 + +Massachusetts Colony, 185 + +Massasoit, 181, 182 + +_Mayflower_, The, 181, 182, 183 + +"Merry Christmas," 112 + +Michelangelo, 132 + +Miracle Plays, 66, 67 + +Mistletoe, 31, 177 + +Mohammedans, The, 159 + +Morris Dance, The, 43 + +Myra, Bishop of, 59 + + +Nativity, The, 156, 157, 158 + +_Naulets_, 121 + +Navidad, Fortress of, 173, 175 + +_Nina_, The, 169, 170, 171, 173 + +_Noche-buena_, 151, 152, 153 + +Noel, 130 + +North Pole, The, 76 + +Norway, 15 + +_Novena_, The, 134, 136 + +Numa, 23, 24 + + +Odin, 13, 14, 76 + +Olaf, King, 26, 28 + +Ovsen, 113, 114 + + +Palara, 59 + +Paradise Play, 66 + +Parliament, 47, 187 + +Passover, The Jewish, 21 + +Petit Anse, 171 + +Petrarch, 132 + +Petrograd, 115, 116 + +_Pfeffer Kuchen_, 63, 69 + +Philadelphia, 195 + +Philippines, The, 193 + +Pilgrims, The, 180 + +_Pinta_, The, 169, 173 + +Plymouth Colony, 179, 180 + +Pope, 143, 144, 145 + +Pope Julius, 21 + +Pope Leo XIII, 146 + +Porto Rico, 192 + +_Presepio_, The, 136, 137 + +Prince of Peace, The, 168 + +_Puchero Olla_, The, 160 + +Puritans, The, 47, 180, 191 + +Pytheas, 55, 56 + + +"Queen of the North" (Sweden), 95 + + +Raphael, 132 + +Reformation, The, 46 + +Richard II, 42 + +Ring of St. Peter, The, 144 + +Rome, 23 + +Rowena, 44 + + +Saehrimnir, 19 + +Sagas, 76 + +St. Angelo, Castle of, 140, 144 + +St. Barbar's Day, 125 + +St. Nicholas, 59, 60, 188 + +St. Peter's, 140, 142 + +St. Sylvester's Eve, 112 + +Santa Claus, 70, 79, 87, 88, 89, 192, 193 + +_Santa Maria_, The, 169, 171, 174 + +Saturn, 15 + +Saturnalia, Roman, 17, 129, 149, 158 + +Saul, 22 + +Saxons, The, 31, 33, 34, 35 + +Seville, 162 + +Shepherds' Hymn, The, 142 + +Smith, Captain John, 175, 176 + +Sotjelnik, 116 + +Star of the East, The, 154 + +_Svea_, 95 + +Sweden, 15 + +Sylvester, 71 + + +Tacitus, 23 + +Thames, The, 175 + +Thor, 13, 26, 28, 38, 95 + +Tree of Fate, The, 159 + +Tree of Nativity, The, 140 + +Trinity, The, 126, 144 + +Twelfth Night, 193 + +Twelfth-Night Ball, The, 94 + +Twelfth-Night Supper, The, 129 + +Tyrolese Alps, 66 + +Tyrolese peasants, 67 + + +Upsala, 95, 96 + +_Urn of Fate_, The, 138, 159 + +Utwagustorp, 96 + + +Valhalla, 16, 19 + +Valley Forge, 195 + +Vienna, 194 + +Vikings, 76 + +Virgin Mary, The, 71, 83, 107, 162 + +Vortigern, 44 + + +Warwick, Earl of, 41 + +Washington, 194, 195 + +Washington, Martha, 195 + +Wassail bowl, The, 44 + +Westminster Hall, 42 + +Whitehall, 48 + +Winter Palace, The, 116 + +Wise Men, The, 154 + +Wodin, 13, 14, 95, 96, 149 + + +Yggdrasil, 58 + +Yule-log, The, 37, 123, 124, 136, 192 + + +Zealand, 99 + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Yule-Tide in Many Lands, by +Mary P. 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