Quaint Christmas Customs.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXVI, 29 December 1900, Page 1231

Quaint Christmas Customs.

WIDE-SPREAD SUPERSTITION ABOUT ANIMALS. ODD WAYS OF CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAY. Throughout the world there is * superstition which gives to domestio animals an instinctive knowledge of, and reverence for, Christmas. From time immemorial unwonted sagacity ban been attributed to the cock at that season. In the rural districts of England, if a cock should crow during the stillness of a December night one might hear a peasant soy, “He is scaring away the evil spirits from the Christmas holy day." Bees in southern countries are believed to sing in honour of Christ’s coming. Reverence for the manger is shown by the cattle, which kneel on Christmas Eve, while sheep In pastoral regions, according to the shepherds’ tales, march in procession to commemorate the visit of the angel to the shepherds. Howison says that on one moonlight Christmas Eve. in Upper Canada, he saw an Indian creeping with care through the woods. “W hat are you doing?” said Howison. “We watch to see deer kneel. Christmas night all deer kneel and look up to Great Spirit," was the brave’s reply. WHEN HORSES SPEAK. Horses and cattle In the German Alps are believed to possess the gift of speech upon Christmas Eve, but to play evesdropper upon them means death before the New Year. According to an Alpine legend a doubting servant onee hid in his master's loft upon a Christmas Eve to prove to his neighbours that they were fools to believe such trash. Upon the stroke of twelve he heard a farm horse say, “We shall have hard work to do this day week.” “Yes,” replied his mate, “the farmer’s servant is heavy and the way to the churchyard is long and steep,”

Upon New Year’s Day the servant was

buried. Rural Itusaia h« set apart the ev« before Christmas for a public pageant. At sunset, young and old. forming in procession, man-h to tbe homes of local dignitaries and serenade them In return for this honour they expect money. Then follows a masquerade, in which the men imitate cows, pigs, and goats. Upon the appearance of the evening star a supper is spread. Tt is a sacred feast. The blessed wafer is divided, and a small portion is given to each person present, beginning with the patriarchs and ending with the children. None dares retuse this rite. At the conclusion of the supper the nobleman of the neighbourhood invites his peasants to behold a gigantic tree, prepared In their honour, and decked with trivial gifts, which at the end of the evening's gaieties are distributed among those present. CHRISTMAS IN PERU. Christmas celebrations In Peru possess peculiar features. Lima is the centre of the merrymaking. Gala day costumes are donned, and during the day before Christmas the streets present the appearance of one gigantic fair. Donkeys laden with fruits, evergreen boughs and liquors swarm the streets. Ice stalls are prepared, where the perspiring merrymakers sit. after too lively exercises, for it is often very warm in Peru on December 25. Jests and practical jokes reign supreme. Masked parties, with guitars and mandolins, parade the streets. For the time being all restraint and order are thrown aside. The scene changes at midnight. Chimes from the Cathedral bell summon all citizens to mass. Houses are deserted, while the churches are crowded with kneeling worshippers. Priests and monks appear, and holy mass is observed. A second mass is celebrated at nine o’clock on Christmas morning. This over, feasts and sport become the order of the day. Bull fighting holds a prominent place

iu this part of the day's entertainment. Night witnesses a faataarie proeessHMi. needed to; the clrrjc. Soldiers and citizens masked and gayly dressed follow. .Midway in tbe line is borne aloft tbe image of the Madonna, carrying in Ker arms tbe infant Christ.

In Norway and Sweden every member of a household must bathe on the day before Christmas. I'pon the eve tbe Bible is read in every Christian home and prayers are saM. There is little publie celeb rat wm. Tn many villages a candle is placed in the window of each house to guide Kristine, the Northern Santa tlaus, upon his way. A pan of meal and a shea! of wheat upon a pole are placed before each door as offerings to the birds. There are games and dances In many of the Scandinavian homesteads upon Christmas night. These parties are often interrupted by masqueraders. who sing or act a pantomime. They are generally rewarded, with food or money. Small boys clad in white pass from house to house, one of them carrying a star shaped lantern representing tbe Star of Bethlehem. and another a box containing two images to represent the Virgin and the Child. LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE. In Suabia a maiden who wishes to know the appearance of her prospective husband draws a stick at haphazard from a heap of wood on Christmas Eve. As the stick proves to be long or short, straight or erooked, so shall the husband be. His occupation can be foretold by dropping hot lead into cold water. As the lead forms an imaginary plane, or last, or pair of scissors, so shall the husbaud be a carpenter. a eobbler or a tailor. In Pfullingen brides are foretold upon Christmas Eve by placing a blindfolded gander within a circle. The girl toward whom the gander first runs is destined to be rhe first to wed. Countrymen in Poland assert that upon Christmas night the heavens open and the scene of Jacob's ladder is re-enacted. To the saints alone.

however, is it visible. In Austria and parl« <»f Northeim Germany Taxi Is prepared with greatest delicacy on Christmas Eve and placed upon tables, iu order that tha ' irgin Mary and tbe Ange! in passing during the night may not l»e compelled to fast. A light is placed in a window in order that the Christ Child, in traversing the -t rvets. may not lalL Austrian peasants also think that wicked men, transformed Into wolves, are permitted to prowl the streets aad commit depredations on Christmas night without molestation