Part 5 (1/2)

The Swedes have four legal holidays at Yule, beginning the day previous to Christmas, and they make merry while they last. Besides having the _Jul-gran_ or Christmas tree, each family places in the yard a pole with a sheaf of grain on top for the birds' Christmas dinner, a pretty custom common to many countries.

Business is very generally suspended during Christmas, the day following, Twelfth Day, and the twentieth day.

”Do as your forefathers have done, and you can't do wrong,” is said to be the motto of the Swedes. So the customs of their forefathers are strictly observed at Yule-tide.

_Svea_, the feminine name of Sweden, the ”Queen of the North,”

contains what is popularly believed to be the burial-places of Wodin, Thor, and Freya. The mounds are about one mile from Upsala and are visited by travelers from all parts of the world. Antiquarian researchers, however, have recently had a word to say in doubt whether these mounds contain the remains of the renowned beings, those ancient travelers. The Swedes, however, still cling to the belief that the bones of Wodin, the Alexander of the North, rest beneath the sod at Upsala. In these mounds have been found the bones of a woman and of a dog, a bracelet of filigree work, and a curious pin shaped like a bird, but no sign of Wodin's presence. Yet peasants believe that Wodin pa.s.ses by on dark nights, and his horse's shoe, with eight nail-holes, is exhibited in the museum at Utwagustorp.

New Year's Day is of comparatively little importance; the Christmas trees are usually relighted for the enjoyment of the poorer children and gifts are made to the needy. The Yule festivities are prolonged for two weeks in many places, during which the people visit from home to home and enjoy many social pleasures. The devout attend church services each day, abandon all work so far as possible, and on January thirteenth generally finish up the joyous season with a ball.

The Swedes do not trim their churches with evergreen at Yule-tide as that is an emblem of mourning with them, and is used instead of c.r.a.pe on the door and often strewn before the hea.r.s.e and also upon the floor in the saddened homes, so of course at Christmas they would not think of using it for decorations. But where they can afford it or can procure them, they use flowers to decorate their homes.

In Denmark, Christmas is a time of unusual merriment and rejoicing. No one who can possibly avoid it works at all from the day before Christmas until after New Year, but spends the time in visiting, eating, and drinking. ”May G.o.d bless your Christmas; may it last till Easter,” is the usual salutation of the season.

With the people of Denmark the favorite dish for Christmas dinner is a goose; every one, even the cattle, the dog, and the birds, receive the best the larder affords on this occasion. There is a peculiar kind of cake that is made for each member of every family, and, for some reason not explained, the saltcellar remains on the table throughout Yule-tide.

Those who own fruit-trees feel it inc.u.mbent upon them to go at midnight on Christmas Eve and with a stick in hand strike each tree three times saying as they do so, ”Rejoice, O Tree,--rejoice and be fruitful.”

In Denmark it is believed by many that the cattle rise on their knees at midnight on Christmas Eve, but no one ever seems to have proved this saying to be true.

In this country also the children delight in listening to stories of trolls who have been driven to the island of Bornhern by the parsons although they once ran riot through Zealand, and the little folks sing pretty songs of Balder, the sun G.o.d, which are a special feature of the season.

It is customary to usher in the New Year with a noise of firearms of every description.

THE CHRISTMAS SHEAF

Far over in Norway's distant realm, That land of ice and snow, Where the winter nights are long and drear, And the north winds fiercely blow, From many a low-thatched cottage roof, On Christmas eve, 'tis said, A sheaf of grain is hung on high, To feed the birds o'erhead.

In years gone by, on Christmas eve, When the day was nearly o'er, Two desolate, starving birds flew past A humble peasant's door.

”Look! Look!” cried one, with joyful voice And a piping tone of glee: ”In that sheaf there is plenteous food and cheer, And the peasant had but three.

One he hath given to us for food, And he hath but two for bread, But he gave it with smiles and blessings, 'For the Christ-child's sake,' he said.”

”Come, come,” cried the s.h.i.+vering little mate, ”For the light is growing dim; 'Tis time, ere we rest in that cosy nest, To sing our evening hymn.”

And this was the anthem they sweetly sang, Over and over again: ”The Christ-child came on earth to bless The birds as well as men.”

Then safe in the safe, snug, warm sheaf they dwelt, Till the long, cold night was gone, And softly and clear the sweet church bells Rang out on the Christmas dawn, When down from their covert, with fluttering wings, They flew to a resting-place, As the humble peasant pa.s.sed slowly by, With a sorrowful, downcast face.

”Homeless and friendless, alas! am I,”

They heard him sadly say, ”For the sheriff,” (he wept and wrung his hands) ”Will come on New Year's day.”

The birdlings listened with mute surprise.

”'Tis hard,” they gently said; ”He gave us a sheaf of grain for food, When he had but three for bread.

We will pray to G.o.d, He will surely help This good man in distress;”

And they lifted their voices on high, to crave His mercy and tenderness.

Then again to the Christmas sheaf they flew, In the sunlight, clear and cold: ”Joy! joy! each grain of wheat,” they sang, ”Is a s.h.i.+ning coin of gold.”

”A thousand ducats of yellow gold, A thousand, if there be one; O master! the wonderful sight behold In the radiant light of the sun.”