Christmas Readings.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 327, 22 December 1888, Page 4

Christmas Readings.

In 1582 there was issued an Act of the Scottish Parliament against ' singing of caralles ' (Christmas carols), within and without kirks, at certain seasons of the year, • and observing 3ik uthers - superstituous and papisticall rites ' The word ' No well,' which occurs co frequently in old carols, is the French for Christmas, and also for a Christmas carol. As it has occasionally been used as a cry of joy, without any reference?, to Christmas, some witers have attempted to trace it to a source unconnected with Christmas. It was to guard against the machinations of foul fiends that houses were first decorated with evergreens at Christmas time. So strong was the belief in their ill-will that when during a storm in the winter of 1444 the holly was torn down at Leadenball and, some damage done, it was all ascribed to the evil spirits. Among many superstitious observances of Christmas season in the Isle of Man, .when the church bells rang at midnight — the holy bells, which had power to endue the very stones with movement — a poor wren was hunted, killed, laid on a bier, and brought into the parish church with whimsical solemnity, while dirges were sung in the Manx tongue. , To the.mistletoe many legends and superstitions are attached. maiden who receives no kiss beneath it^must not hope to be married within the year. In early times many curative powers were ascribed to it. It was , considered a sovereign remedy for, epilepsy -and an antidote to poisons*- A WelBH fwriter? a century ago it to^sbe* I 'the -forbidden 1 tree 1 of <Ed«n. - , ','-'* * _ S-fi',', ,- ■•.%/'" ; "' ■>