Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1909 — Russian Christmas Customs. [ARTICLE]

Russian Christmas Customs.

At Christmas time in the Russian provinces, as at Halloween in other countries, popular superstition holds that it is very easy to read the future. The girls read the future by breaking an egg In a glass of water and deducing their fate from the shape it takes, first leaving it before the shrine of some saint, or by pouring melted wax into cold water. The final test of fate is to put a ring of each guest into a large pan, covered with a cloth, being careful to place three bits of charcoal and small pieces of bread and salt at the psychic angle of the pan. The rings are all turned with a spoon, while the girls sing songs. At the end of each song, says the Travel Magazine, a ring is pulled out and the song that has been sung is known to foretell the future of the owner of the ring.

Turkeys In Olden Times.

In the early days of our country wild turkeys were caught in turkey pens. These were inclosures made of poles twenty feet long, laid one above the other, forming a solid wall ten feet high. This was covered with a close roof of poles and brush. A ditch was dug beginning fifty feet distant from the pen, sloping down, carried under one side of the pen and opening up into it througb a board with a hole just large enough to let a turkey pass. Corn was strewn the whole, length of the ditch. The turkeys followed the ditch and the corn up through the hole into the pen, holding their beads too high ever to find their way out again. Often fifty captives would be found in the morning.

Christmas In Poland. A pretty custom in the Polish provinces is to spread straw under the table at the Christmas feast, so that no one shall forget In the midst of their merriment that the Lord of all was born tn a manger.

Christmas Riddles. Gifts we brought, so rich and rare. Placed them as an offering there. Answer.—Wise men. I carried the mother and Baby dear Awaj’ from the king, whom all did fear. Answer.—Donkey. In your homes I sometimes stand. Trimmed with lights and fairies grand. Answer.—Christmas tree. Made of sugar, colored bright. Children beg for “just a bite.” Answer.—Candy.

An Old Christmas Carol. Oh, wake ye. little children. And bo of goodlie cheer! Ton sun so high along the sky Hath shone two thousand year, And onoe it saw a little child In manger lying, undefiled. And all about the cattle mild Did lovingly draw near. 00 wake ye. little children. And be of goodlie cheer. Ob, wake ye, little children. And let each heart be gay. Good will to mon they caroled then. And why should ye delayT Awake, wake and rise and sing And greet ye every living thing. For man and boast did greet your Kina On that first Christmas day.