Yule-Tide in Many Lands

the heav

flashin

in the

lonely

ens

le-tide, it will be found that the people retain many traditions of the sun-worshipers, which shows that the season was once observed in honor of the renewal of the sun's power. With them,

remote past; their songs of the wheel, the log, the pig o

edom, and happiness. In fact, there are so many phases of life among its vast population that descriptions of Russian life result about as satisfactorily as did those of Saxe's "Three

he singing of their ancient Kolyada songs, composed centuries ago by writers who are unknown. They may h

the Sun, while her retinue of maidens sing the Kolyada, or carols. Here again appears the ancient custom of

ing how, when, or where it originated, but the singing of these songs has been a custom of the people from

People" gives the following transla

da! Ko

a has

e of the

Kol

e courts, in a

und K

ter's

Court there is

the Court there

room is the

ond room t

ird room, the

bout in the conception of these luminaries worthy of the Chinese, and possibly derived from some of Russia's Eas

ears, for m

e songs, which are sung throughout the Yule season by groups of young folks at social gat

is life from the cradle to the grave he is accompanied with song. Not modern compositions, for they are quite inferior as a rule, but

s, and other celestial beings, to all of whom Christian characteristi

r the church, where the service is, in most respects, the same as in the Roman Catholic Church. There are many denominations besides the established church of the country that hold services on C

customary to send extremely formal invitations in the name of the host to the guests who are expe

has been thus; with us it has not commenced, with us it will not end. Do not, therefore, disturb the festival; do not bring the good people to

s Bonfire

sually assemble at Christmas. The "fair maidens," each with her mother and retinue, arrive first on the scene, bringing cake and sweetmeats and gifts for the servants. They would sooner freeze in their sledges bef

imes proving satisfactory and sometimes not. They feast, play games, go snowballing, and guess riddles, always having a jolly good time.

ccompanied by boys bearing a vessel of holy water; the priest sprinkles each room with the water, each person present kissing the

among foreigners, the usual salutation on this day being "Greetings for

tuted by Peter the Great in 1700. The previous evening is known as St. Sylvester's Eve, and

ster's eve

e maiden

hrow behin

he snow

nd the wi

g wax

orn for c

hree tim

ter-fount

the gol

s, too,

hite must

e chanting

songs

idered complete without pork served in some form. The name of Ovsen, being so like the French word for oats, suggests the possibility of this ancient god's supposed influence over the harvests, and

est, in the

ood a pi

and

en! O

oyars

wn the

t into

a br

it wit

d it wi

en! O

who w

that b

will g

he Ne

n! O O

f between the known and the unknown, the Past and the Future Year; at the same time they scatt

ld, out in th

en plough go

t plough is th

helps Him

of God carrie

d corn, prays t

the strong w

eat and the v

here shall b

e (plentiful) as

l be (in number)

shall be

gathered together

es, should be the ones to implore the god of fruitfulness to bes

at midnight. The Czar formally receives the good wishes of his subjects, and the s

nearly every home in the city, for at this season, at least, hos

le the Czar and the high church officials in a grand and impressive manner perform the ceremony. In other places it is customary for the district priest to officiate. Clothed in vestments he leads a procession of clergy and villagers, who carry icons and banners and chant as they proceed to the river. They usually leave an open space in their ranks through which all the bad spirits l

ANCH FROM

palm from

f thy nat

ale, what s

tately grow

at dawn ca

rdan's wat

night-winds d

wept o'er

lym's sons,

ee for hum

yer they c

ong of an

dhood's fi

rent-tree s

l-leaved bra

n the bur

ou from it

ightway dro

esert dust

lowing lea

pilgrim's

thee in ho

o this no

fed with tea

e on some g

rt and calm

ed thy gar

for real

ed with rev

on's gild

tch thou ke

lm of P

amp burns f

n a myst

ross-the s

afety, sa

ourievich

by Mrs. Ro