FRENCH CHRISTMAS OMENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 62

FRENCH CHRISTMAS OMENS.

In France, particularly, superstition dies hard, and there is probablv no other country where the people still retain so many ancient and quaint beliefs in connection with Christmas Day. Several of these relate to miraculous cures of all the ills which flesh is heir to. For instance, the chilly proceeding of bathing on Christ mas Day is supposed to ensure one against both fever and toothache during the coming year : another preventive of feve v being the abstention from all meat on December 25, a great sacrifice for the average man; while a remedy for ulcers could be obtained by those who refrained from eating prunes on that day. A cure for everything, however, can oe found in the large loaf chiefly made in Provence, and called "Le' pain de calende." It is very large and very white, and from it is cut a small piece, marked with a knife with three or four crosses. This is carefully preserved as a remedy, and used when required, the remainder of the loaf being divided among the family on the Feast of Epiphany. With regard to bread, it is believed that loaves baked on Christmas Eve remain fresh for 10 years, and during the whole of the holidays a portion of bread was left out on the table night and day because the Madonna might come in to share it. But unless she wishes to bring misfortune on the entire family it behoves the French housewife not to bake any bread between December 25 and the Festival of Circumcision. Cattle can be kept in good health by giving them something to drink immediately after midnight mass on Christmas Eve before entering the house. And a good harvest 1 could be ensured if the

corn about to be sown is carried to its destination in the cloth used for the Christinas dinner. If you visit a fountain or a well on New Year's Day and place in it either an apple or a nosegay, the water will be rendered wholesome throughout the year. No Frenchman, however, will lend anything to anyone on January 1, for it is believed that by so doing he would bring ill-luck upon himself for the ensuing year.