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Show Yule Time Sees Birth of Legends December derives its name from the fact that it was the tenth month :n the old Roman calendar. The Saxons called it "winter-month," but after their conversion to Christianity Chris-tianity this was changed to Halig-monath Halig-monath or Holy Month, in honor of the nativity of Christ. Many queer customs are observed all over the world at the beginning ol the month, one of the oddest being that at Craig-madden, Stirlingshire, where there is a triangular hole beneath be-neath a number of Druidical stones. Women who can't crawl through this believe that they will avoid dying childless. Curiously enough, a similar custom prevails in the Temple Tem-ple of Malabar Point, Bombay, where there is a narrow opening in the rocks. Men who squeeze through are supposed to leave their sins behind, be-hind, while women believe that they will conceive children. Married men must be careful when choosing holly for the home decoration. If smooth leaves predominate, predom-inate, the wife will be mistress for the next 12 months; if prickly, she must play "second fiddle" to her spouse. Whatever you do, allow no oew leather in any form to enter your house during Christmas week; if you do it is sure to bring ill-luck with it. The first thing brought home on Christmas Day must be something some-thing green; and the first person to enter must be a male. Even a tomcat, tom-cat, it is said, can be relied on to bring luck with him! Anyone who draws water from a well on Christmas Christ-mas morning draws' a good fortune for his family. If a cricket chirrups on your hearth on the fateful day, you may look forward to the coming year without a fear, for of all luck-bringers luck-bringers at Yuletide the cricket is king. Many people keep open their ears on Christmas night for the crowing of the cock. |
