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Show Superstitions Surround 'Poivers' of Christmas There is a Scottish belief that to be born on Christmas is to have the power to see spirits and even to command them. Sir Walter Scott says that the Spaniards attributed the haggard and downcast looks of Philip II to the terrible visions he was able to see because he was born on Christmas. French peasants believe that babies ba-bies born on Christmas have the gift of prophecy. In Silesia a baby born on Christmas Christ-mas will become either a lawyer or a thief. In middle Europe it is said that if a baby is born at sermon time Christmas eve, someone in the house will die within the year. English mothers used to take sick babies to the door Christmas eve midnight. Mary was expected to pass with the Christ Child. If the baby recovered, it was a sign that it had been touched by Christ, with healing fingers, and if it died, the Christ Child had called the baby to be His playmate in heaven. |