Show Some O of the Customs and Le Legends Leg Associated with Chri rm mac l z rT TIIE original halcyon halcon days were at ChristI Christ Christ- TIlE A I I mas and were so called so-called called because tho the halcyon halcon on an ancient ancien t name for foi tho the kingfisher was said to lo build its ils nest upon the thc waters at this time of oC 5 year ear It was was' generally supposed that this bird through the tho influence of or tho the hol holy season had the tho power to 10 still the waves and winds so that the weather was peaceful and calm and enabled the tho halcyon halcon to lay hen lien eggs in her floating nest had and brood upon them with perfect safety In olden times it was believed that all nature testified In various ways to a recognition of tho the great event commemorated In tn the tho celebration of Christmas The Tho winds and seas as well as as' as the animals and plants and all other living things gave evidence of knowledge of ot the approaching rl r I T or tf lee lH 1918 1915 I. I glorious anniversary and became Imbued with thy this prevalent pre spirit of adoration joy and peace Tradition tells us that at the moment o oC of the tho Saviours Saviour's birth a n universal l peace reigned h. ough out the earth that a deep silence rested upon the tho world the birds stopped In their flight the cattle ceased to feed foed men became motionless with sudden sudden sudden sud sud- den awe in the tho midst of their labors labois and the tho stars glittered with added lustre lustie From this tradition came camo the superstitions of the mi middle dlo ages relating g to the miraculous phenomena supposed lo to annually annually annually an an- at Christmas many of which still survive Bells too have their many l legends ends In Iu a YUla village e near Raleigh In Nottinghamshire England there is now a valley where here once there was n a and prosperous but an 5 1 t 0 be beof b bor bel belof lowed It up yet jet every even Christmas since sinco the tho of or the buried church arc aie hear heard chiming l Similar ales are aie told lold o of Preston in I Lan Ian I shire and Been Deen In the Iho Netherlands This tat lat city cily was ling famed for its ils b beauty r and in and also for foi the tho sins and avarice of or its inhabitant tg On the anniversary of his bIrth the Saviour r c can and went from door to dot do disguised as a be beggar gar doj festivities t were be Dot be but although Christmas kept J up UI nobody would give him alms Sin VH tib abundant on all si sides es but there were no DO Chri mas inns go goodwill d and ch and he called tosea w to to tosea covered the sea and It came CaIle and completely hol holy city of Been But at Christmas time ey m eV 1 tb pealing of or bells from i un now weir comes coiner tho the joyous J it t tho to o water r |