CURIOUS CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2026, 22 December 1892, Page 13

CURIOUS CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.

A resident in the little island of Bornholm in the Baltic, writes to a Danish journal that a curious Christmas custom is observed in that island. - When the so-called " Christmas table " has been spread on Christmas Eve, a large, long loaf of rye bread is laid at, the upper end of it. In this loaf, before it is baked two transverse grooves Ere made about 3in from .each end. On the top of tho loaf a large cheese and various, articles of food are laid. This is tho so : oalled " Yu legal t." Io remains , untouched throughout Christmas, and, when the table is not in use the cloth is gathered from tho other end and laid over the "yulegalb.",.

This curious custom is believed to have been banded down from pagan times, the gait (pig) having reference to Frey's " gait " or pig " gyldenborste " (gold-bristle). Frey was the 'god of rain, sunshine, harvest, and general felicity. Although this custom is unquestionably of northern origin, it connects itself easily with an Italian uss>ge which is still kept up. The author of " Wanderings Through Italy " says that at Christmas there is the earn a exchange of presents as with .us, and they have a large cake, to whioh they have given tbe name of San Martino, because thej implore the aid of this saint when they pray for abundance. The civic guard «o about singing, and demand a present.' They alio make paste " frit'te " in oil and honey, sucb as the Romans used to offer to Janus.

We shall never be able to get at the original of these customs ; but if we could do so, it seems probable that we should rind that they started in the idea of offering sacii' fice to some divinity! Quite natnrally, and yet with a feeling of surprise, we meet with a similar custom in so out-of-the-way quarter of the world as Venezuela. It is easy to see how it wna carried there from Spain, having previously been borrowed from Rome. The author of " Recollections of Venezuela " describes tbe usage: " Christma3 Eve wakea are quite an institution here, and to those who can admirH the quick and pungent wit of the 'waits in their rhythmic address to the inmates, n few hours waiting with them would not bo ill-repaid. " They come, a company of about 12, and chant a Christmas carol ; then in the S2m« strain they ask for tbe ' alguinaldo ' or gift. If you are friendly to the custom, acd aro prepared to reward them for their singing, although perhaps you have been aroused from pleasant dream?, you send them some hot c ft=e. or better yet, you invite them in. After pattakmg of your Hospitality they go out into the stiestacd sing your praiseß.

" But should yon be stingy from parsimony or principle, and heed not their call for ' a'gninaldo,' look out, and see that you are not thin-skinned. The burden of their re.quost will descend to something I'ko tho following: — (Jive us tbe alguinaldo, Give iw the alguinaldo, Let it be but a good-night." Thus we trace through locg centuries and from one distant country to auother customs from which may naturally Lave grown our universal moce of contributing to the realisation of our good wishes for a " Merry Christmas."