Show christmas caroling C g by swiss brethren one of the most impressive christmas customs in switzerland Is the singing at the fountain by the sebastiani brotherhood in the picturesque spa town of rhem rhein telden felden according to the swiss writer gottheb gottlieb wyss the custom had its origin in 1540 when a plague sweeping through many lands visited Rhem felden erl twelve men termed formed a brotherhood in honor of st sebas tian promising to pray to him to safeguard their town from further distress they also undertook to nurse those afflicted by the plague and to bury its victims pestilence in medieval days was ascribed to evil spirits in the wa ter and when the sebastiani breth ren make their rounds of seven fountains on christmas eve they start at the fountain in the frosch weide welde where the plague started in the sixteenth century their song dates back to the middle ages for their christmas eve singing the 12 brethren are dressed in dark clothes and black silk sa As the name of christ is mentioned in their song they uncover their heads 14 i chicago museum of 0 science and industry senor ralph perec melts like wax in senorita corlna corina valades admiring gaze A minute ago he was proud and strong for or he ac complis hed the difficult feat of breaking open the traditional mexican christmas the Is a large container filled with sweets and toys |