Peeps At Many Lands: Belgium

many, and other countries. There are special services in church, bu

ent Belgians had a festival at mid-winter, and when they were converted to Christianity they continued to use a good many of their old ri

corns-and think they can find out what is going to happen in the future by burning them. For instance, a young man and woman who are engaged to be married throw two nuts into the fire. If they burn peacefully, the marriage will be happy; if they crack and jump away from each other, it will be unhappy. If a candle or lamp goes out suddenly on Christma

es of Christian worship. One strange superstition, which a few old peasants still have, is that when the clock strikes twe

Christmas Eve, from house to house, singing, and asking for

den

ht! Messias

appy night! The Messiah is born." Another song begins: "Een Kindek

s called an engelskoek, or angel's cake, which the Archangel Gabriel is supposed to have brought during the night to reward them. Naughty childr

ild in it. But this late service was so often made an excuse for going to public-houses, and drinking too much, that the hour has been changed, in most p

y do in England; and many parents of the upper classes send their children, in charg

e, in the way of presents and me