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Quaint Customs of Many Lands Once a 3'ear, as Christmas comes round, from wreaths of mistletoe and many other characteristics there looks forth the face of an old man, with - snow-white 'beard nd locksi still whiter, with cheeks aglow with the cheeriest of red color and eyts that glisten with the sunshine ot a merry heart. To every child this face is famil- iar and welcome, because they re- cognize it as that of the mysterious visitor whose Christmas coming is always attended by the bringing of many presents and the eating of candy and many other good things. Don a tin* Chimney. Of course he is a mystery to them. His coming in the night: long after that a Christmas bride wUl never want for home, children and hus- band. In Servin. In Servian Christinas celebra- tions a cake is provided in which a silver coin is hid. When the cake is cut the one getting the Christmas coin is assured of a prosperous year. | In Germany, it is believed that by watching the shadows thrown by the candles on the Christmas tree, it may be known which member of the family will be first to die. A Peace Token. Scandinavians have a pretty cus- tom. In a row before the Christmas fire, Christmas night, all of the the sandman has closed their eyes L hoes af the familv are pl . ace d as a with his magic gram, is never quite token that pe aee ' w iil re i gn in the understood, although explained by the chimney theory, and in many other ways accounting for his pre- sence in the house, when doors and windows are securely locked. And on Christmas day the mysrte-ry is deepened still further when he ap- pears suddenly from some closet or hallway, and while greeting them in rough but hearty voice, leaves these treasured remembrances of his visit. At times all of us have worried house during the year. In Prussia the 'b 'lief exists that all clotheslines must be left unhung on Christmas Day, to insure good luck. Sweden has a tradition that it is unlucky to allow the candles of Christmas fire to go out. and that it is equally unlucky -to have any <>f the dishes unwashed on C'lu-i !"ts eve. The practice of kisiinj under the mistletoe arose from the belief that about the history of Santa Clans '. whatever was done under the' en- and some have even gone so far j chanted shru'b, would never become as to trace it way back through many countries, into centuries so old that time seems hardly to have made record of them. In fact. Santa Clans has been a great rover, and he has travelled known, as the plant would seal the lips of all who went under it. To bring good luelc to a house on Christmas Eve, every on? entering is expected to strike the Yule log with a piece of iron. This custom The Empty Stocking ! farther and !on<r?r than any known still prevails in rural Europe, character in the world's history, j In the Azores, wheat, maize and and always Santa Claus has been j loaves are put in water on Chrisit- the same. Long before he came nlas e ve. and the way thev germin- with gifts 10 the little babe at Bth- lelunn. he had been doing the same kind of thing for babes through Ion- ages of paganism. Is it any Wiindpr. then, that children love him for. old man as he has alwavs ate will indicate what crops may be expected the following year. A Christmas spell is given as fol- lows in parts of northern Gernviny : Steep mistletoe berries to the num- - . i ber of nine, in a mixture of ale, 'been he has naturally understood vinegar and wine -. t h?n dip them in the child heart, for tne heart of old , ho and eat on retiring what age r-i the heart of child, even you dream you may rest sure O f -^ ^ti^% ^-^*v ^%^ * ^. %.-><** {HOME-MADE CANDIES J though it beat under the scarlet fur- trirnmed coat of old Santa. \n Ancient .Saiul. Krks Kring'.e. as Santa Clans is popularly knnwn, comes from the middle of the fourth century, hav- ing- his origin in Home. Erom tlier,? he travelled info Germany, where lit- iiMi.hfied certain old tradi:i"ii- underwent modification him- self. From the woods of Germany he vivss.-'d the channel to Kngland. In those days he was a rath?r gaunt looking individual, tall, wriuk' <!. thin 't waist, and he wore a high ;v ';(.! li.nr with a white tassel. His <v-tnme likewise was medieval. The coat was lung, coming to th? t< )< 't 1: - 1 its and was rarely bj'ld in by a b.-it. Afi.-r his arrival in Kng- land h" atM'cars to have improved s in- -A hat in per.-omil appearance. but it was nut until he had emigrat- ed to America, where he had a chance to become ac'iunimed with hnn-t-'if in his v.'ii'ioti- aspects, that IK developed into the fa<mi!iar fig nre now sc-?n all 01 er the world :u Chri- Unas time. Many quaint 'traditions have fol- lowed in his footsteps and many su- perstitions have grown up about the Christmastide. Mii!;lisli Legends. In Kngland it is still generally be- lieved that those who quarrel on Christmas Day or night will have no luck inr friendship, love or pock- et. This tradition followed Santa Claus from Germany, and is trace- able through the Frankland of the mid'.ile ages. It is als > considered very unlucky to allow carol singers to leave the front of the house without being Compensated. It has also been pro- verbial that all undertakings start ed on Christmas Day wiH prove successful, and in many countries peasants and farmers sow samples of grain and wheat in their snow- covered fields Christmas morning. A Superstition. Among the superstitions is one of peculiar interest to women. It is said that to launder a Christmas pres.-nt will destroy its good luck. Coupled with it. is the advice that to secure good luck we must save a piece of wood from the Christmas fire, to start the Christmas fire next year. Since time immcMnorial a belief has existed all through Europe that a stick charred in the Christmas -ike _ and-fry y t-.iuyle r t KB bed will pro'.vt the house from being struck by lightning, ^and the custom is largely followed. In Albania, food from the Christ- mas supper is thrown on the fire and a branch of cherry is left there finding. The Boar's Head. fur-trimmed coat and ca.p with its ta- -.-I of red and the clattering reijadeers and wonderful sleigh, less distinctlv a feature of old-time In medieval England Chrisirmias memories than the peculiarities of commenced with a great feast, in j hundreds of people we remember which the boar's head first appear-] &s children J ed. In many 'of her educational in- 1 Of all the characters about whom sututions the boar's head is sail j history has so many strange and in- to be seen at Christmas dinners, j terestiug tales to tell, can one be Queen Victoria had this cust< ;n re- named wh<;se perennial activities rival those of St. Nicholas .' tained at her last Christmas dinner. The custom is a relic of the pre- j + ChrUtmas Druidica! times, wlu-ii a'u M-irJ^ Pnrloinr oc- borfr Mas killed at the festival of nOmC=[Vl<KlC lUrUlDS US the winter solstice and sacriii ''d t" Frey or the goddess of peace and plenty. As this period is coinci- d"iil uit.h Yuletid*. the custom was retained. T" Coleridge is given the distinc- tion uf introducing th ( a Token for the Yuletide If you are aware of the size of friend's windows, buy net by the yard, During fin- on thia aperaticsi tin- mea ORIGIN OF PLUM PUDDING. and pistols, and the a - n^ i-\-".u the I iv t-i Queen Anne l)'">r "barnfuls" bagfuls, and sack- Gave .a Recipe. Prize for ths ... me exact origin ot tne bJnglisu plum U used to be, and perhaps still is, ; pudding , s so obscure lt is | Ifflc ull (o a ciir'tom in Clies,!me l..r farm er- obtain any informaticn oth.-r than an vantis to engage themselves to their occasional note in records . . iug iiie ma t-rs fr. in N"r-\v Year's Ev.- to i-arly part of the elghteeutb "'cntury. ("iristtnas l)ny. This left them the ! It is supposed to ha\v IJH^U ii; usr d:iys between for jollity befitting "'any years beior" this, but (!:, :ir,i the season, though it nni^t often have been somewhat inconvenient for the farmer and his family. A belief .::'! lingers <>n in parts of Co rii w. -i i i that at midnight on Chri-tii.u-i Eve th ^ ran!.- in their ' -, fall down on their knees. I' - are also s:iid to sing in their - ' t < hour, and it is be- lieved that bread baked tht*n will never pro in aiidy ! - I/ ndn;i An >v. ers . - > tree in England. At least it was he decorate it with darned borders in who first c.i'f!-".! public attention to mercerized coltons used for Hurdanger ,_ A *- T n . ir . c ,r lr *. its beauty in a '.ettcr from Ratz- 1 work, and give curtains for a Christ- dAI\ I A LLAuS KIDDIE3 buror. North Germany. It \va- ad Inas apted at once bv some of the lead- o - . , ' sure the windows and allow tor hem in- families and at once became and casil)g at U)o {up Use tapes , popular, spreading in a upgle year j nee dles as their blunt point will not throughout the length and breadth ! catch. Long skeiiu-d, heavy cottons of the land, and instantly crossing , can be had in white or ecru as required a firm - square-meBhed net. to America. lhi % Cliristinas with the- apostolic labors of St. Materials, it being supposed h.e sle.pt under a fir tree and that a miracle occurred on that occasion. But the Christmas tree is really by tone ot net. Conventional patterns for darning may be bought separately or can be In C.erii'any the tree is id?nt;lied : picked out from books on this popular form of needlework. Choose those whose lines are not too intricate and call for many cuttings of the thread. When ends must be jointed, run them together for a halt-inch and with a fine thread overcast on the wrong of Roman origin, being traceable to side and hide fastening under a stitch. the Roman .Saturnalia. The difficulty in darning is to make With all of these traditions and al ev en pattern. Where there is a for luck. Every one is familiar with the Christmas saying . that a green makes a fat graveyard. Possibly it was inspired by a de- sire for a holiday, but in England there exists the saving that nothing whioh runs round, may be set in (nation between Christmas and New Year. Aa it comes down from the day of the spinning wheel its appli- cation will be understood. Ckristonas wed<'in the world fa regaixie^ . . insuring fu- superstitions, Santa Olaus is close- ly connected, and how this came mav be told briefly by tracing the amiable old gentleman border on both sides and across the ! bottom lay the front and bottom hem I and leave the other until the darning is done, that the hems may be an equal ; some of his pas't rambles. through distance from the design] It is often easier to start the pattern in the In Italian folklore there is an old) corner and work in two directions. Do not finish one line entirely and woman whose name is Befana. She ! is u sort of wandering Jew und I then beg111 on the cross " Iles - Use i 1 i two or three needles at the same time, i Santa Clans combined. She was : A mistake ls thell eas . Uy detected . lt ; the good fairv. who tilled children shrill be impossible to count meshes ac- atockings with presents. If the curately, but do have a general idea 1 children had been naughty, she left ! of distance aud how many times the onlv ashes, although sometime* she j design must be repeated to come out , returned to e m,f ,,t the little peni- ' ^f'"- v h at ' he corners. Where there is i f . T I-,- *u_> i on b a border across the bottom count- tents with gifts. Tradition is that , jng Js sirilpllfied t>u re she was too busy sweeping, to see the three wise men when they pass- ed on their wav to Jerusalem, but agreed to see them when they came back. Of all the beautiful legends, those connected v. ith Christmas are the most beautiful, and of all charac- ters fami'iarly known throughout Christendom. Santa Claus is the best loved of any. From the days when a tiny little wo r sited sock is hung up at the foot of the crib, to be reached for Christmas morning and found filled with sugar plums or perchance holding a brilliantly colored cornucopia, filled wit.h su- gar-coated caraway seed's and sna.pper-jac.ks, to the unfortunate day of emancipation from child- hood's fancies, no greater reality than this beloved Icelandic visitor who conies once a year ever existed. And, after all, is he not a reality t Ask any 5-year-olo! what he thinks about it, and depend upon it he will be a whole lot nearer the truth than he will ver be later in life. And, after all. in later life is he not just as much of a reality as many friends who are gone? Are the cherry red lips and the jelly -like I the belief is belly, and the jolly laugth, and th Sometimes the nets are darned in I colored cottons, but as the effect ', against the light Is poor, use a heavier tone than if the work were to be done < on an opaque surface. Those who like cross-stitch embroid- ' ery will ngoice in u rather new mater- ial called mosaic canvas. It is divided ' icto blocks by a heavy thread which, when worked gives a peculiar mosaic | ellect. The canvas Is 68 inches wide, ! so it cuts economically. Besides being adapted to cross- stitching, this canvas makes an effec- tive background for bull! m stitch, the ! iazy daisy stitch, tapestry and even i satin stitch. Its soft neutral tone makes it an admirable background for colored embroideries. Qt VIM ( HK1STM AS (TSTOMS. A pretty custom is still observed ii> parts of Devonshire at Christ- mas-time. The farmer, with his family and friends, partake of a meal of 'hot cakes and cider-rlhe ca.kes being dipped in the cider be- fore being eaten. The whole parly then repair to the orchard, led by the farmer bearing hot cakes and ckfer as an offering to the principal apple-tree. The cake is ceremoniously deposited in a fork of the tree, while cider is thrown over it. l>o Your Duty Now. These are some of the unfortunate little ones whom St. Nicholas may have to pass over iui!e--=; you do your part fo< -n. Saved Her Ihe Trouble. Tramp Your dog je'St bit a piece of flesh outer me 1-eg, m.um. Woman CSiad you mentioned it I was just going to feed him mention of "pudding made from flow-l- and rai.-ins" i< ;".;iiu,l mi'l r ll .hi of 1711. Cii(i>r the . late -i- tir.'i an old book or ivi.p -.. nui-ii by :!:.. ilv;' who '.;...! riiarj;.- ::( (in- kitchen for King Charles i!.. Jaws II.. ;i : { Anne. Ilcwriu--;: 'i j ii(ii|i;:s i:. :i !i ; ,|; very ilifliciilt to be- ,] si'i-iln-.! of tho :-<'Vr!-ai Sorts ther- a Klow-r, Milk. KL-I:S. BUIUT. Sugar, SiU't. Marrow. R.i ;.-:MH. etc., eti the most co!:inn"! Ingred - a Pudiii. -K. Til' y ba in :;n OVH:I. tliey boil them '.virli ji-at. ihr-y make tli-m t!fty several \\'a-. . r.:. i e hi' that invi'ti: 'd Pud . r i' is a .Marni'i linn hit-: ail Sorts of !' .'!>1-: a Mii:::::i IHM:-;- ihair thai of th,- Wii'K:- nis< bi '.-an- ihc I'-'npl.- ,iri. -. woar> of ii. Ah. what an .'\i--l!i'i:t ThiiU, is aa Kr.glish Piuidinji." In ill- latter parr of ilii- saiiu- year a Aiine cilfi-rtl a pri:-::- of "p.vo guineas for the bi>st plum pndiiliig ri-c!;-..' and out of i!0 an.,v ,-;- sii- av,-a;-i!i il the prix. 1 to the oa" s.-aiiiiig tlu> following: One pound of raisins, u:;.' pound of suet i'h, ;.]> il fla-. tlirfi'-iuav "r.-. I pound of stale bread irur.ibs. one- quarter pninid of brown :-\IK:I". on 'quarter pound of flour, one pound nf [currants, one-half of nutmeg Rratcil, HVP epp:s. one-half pint of brandy, one- : half pound of minced candi.-d ora:i);e peel. Clean, wash, and dry the cur- rants. stone t!n> raisins, mix all dry iii):'-"ilionis well together. Hear the . eggs, add to tliPin the bra;'.dy. then 'pour them over the dry ingredients 'and thoroughly mix. Pad. into gr a , ed small kettles or molds ithis will inako about six pounds) and boil six hours at the lime of making and six flours when wanted I'cr use. Serve with hard or brandy satire. The number of answers the <|iieon 1 rpci'ived proves that such a dish was fairly well known thrriiphoui K'l^iaiid at that time. As such m-ws did not travel as fast then as with the uioderu system, it is safe to estimate that th- p'uin pudding was served in Etigland at least 150 years pevunis. Hut even with a :>o y-ar old recipe before us we Miul it ;>.- a whole much the pane ;;s those in use to-da; . The liKht changes found in t!;p siMnieni recip"-- ar" chi- in som- rospeci ; t.i tile liigh i-cs! of the in:;i-eij ; ,--]!s. Til - changes wore made in < pi r that all 3 t:''i.v ''iijoy thoir Kiiglish plum liiuldiiiK which t'lir'sni'as h;>s assign- ed to the Christmas dinner, and i' is appropriate as the decorations and gifts themselves. v.-ith the coming of the holly and m'stleie,' conies the thought o!' the plum pudding, which i must be prepared ahead of lime and; allowed to "mellow." The pudding is usually prepared and baked from a week to two weeks be- fore Christmas and this is out of the; way before the real preparations for the Christmas dinner begin, hi Eng- 'and in many instances the pudding is baked a year ahead and hung from the ceiling along with the hajii, bacon and popcorn, where it is kept dry and out nf the way. There is no danger of it spoiling if the top is covered with a clean paper moistened with brandy. If you would be lucky the comiiiR year you and all your family must stir the mixture in the process of milking. This is an old custom and is observed even to-day among certain classes. Cream Nut Fudge. -Place in a saucepan two cnps of granulated sugar, two-thirds cup of good mi.b, and one tablespoon of butter. Boil until it will form a soft ball between the linger when dropped into cold water. Remove from the nre and add one teaspoon of vanilla and one cup of chopped nut meats. Beat up until creamy, then pour into buttered tins and when slightly cool mark off into squares. Maple Fudge Place in a sauce- pan 'two cups of maple sugar, one- half cup of cream and one-half cup of milk. Boil until a soft ball is formed when dropped into cold wa- ter. Ueniuve from lire and add one cup of chopped nut meats ; stir until !'. amy ui<d P'.ur into buu.'ivd tins and murk oft into squares. The nut meats ;i--ed no', be added unk'ss de- si re .!. A very good substitute for mapie sugar is mad? by using browu i ; <i a few drops of maple ( hiii'date Fudse.- Make the saino .. nut fudge only adding in n '' tr ounces of grated'choa* ther ingredients, and the . om-tttd if y-.u wish a i .i;e fudse. 1 mil Ciii'iimeta. Moisten twi br - n -i-.^ar with a iiti !' i r leni 'ii jui<?8. and a heap inir . of butt?r, and cook . it rnak.-s a firm ball when 'di-upi>'d ..,- d water; add one- cup each of chopped dates, QS, lias, citron and candied peel. Boat weM and roll out int. j a sheet, an inch thick, then cut i'U<: i squares ur.d wrap in paraff'.c pap;'i- Vanilla ( aramels Place in a saucepan one cup of goldeji corn syrup, one cup of light brown su- gar am! a cu.p ' u> d miik. Stir | until mixed. Boil until when drop- ped into i'old -va.-.er it will form a &oft hal: c.fi .v.'fii ;iio fingers. Re- in- \ i'i-"ai iii-- 1 and .'ii<l a t.-iolc- spoon "f vanilla. a".d one cup ol Kn-' ~]\ w.-iln-.it meats, although il T go< -I without the nu-ts. I 1 ":: 1 ' ."! i bui'i'red pan about aa . :i :-i v. lion slightly cool in:irk off i'i' -m.-il! squares. When nearly : u-. 1 1. ( ln.'co ale ( .inimels. Put in a i.'in two L] _: i :; ; i sll- pinf ;' rre-iin a !<i 'ip f milk :'\<l "lie-fourth of ' ' " ' . stii 1 >nstai ::.' %ii:re i'..rni- ( - ; -i pi d into . A--KI"- I'. :i r --.'as'-'d pa;is. ! . a vanilla : cut ; .mil \:.'u.-it. - P'.aoe in .-i n-in n ha . . ...ii- and i n 1 ''' ' . ; ! 1 un- - 'i ; .' ;: i or i -,-. . l.-n <lr )) i - I 1 >ur this ovei ; i m u iii.-li thr! 1 :i!'.il llulv- ' ' >| !!'( ii '-id mark in to Si il.i I'f *. IL-i/i I Nut T.ilVc". Melt n -M Clip of lr;t'"i- i,i -i . .; i c .pan I one mil of M: ' ; --. .. one cup ot In ow -i sugar ,ii!'i .iii!> tab oon ol tnti i; era k- brit- : '.-. :i"n !; ', i into c H w.-i: -r :ii- in a half cup if cli <pne<l haze its and a I i of Ta ; p ur into a butf.'rd pi:: :i" I cut iiit ^iiiarcs wh ''i n^a"!\ ' |'^ l : . . two cup <>f era il ! sugar in ;i saiicepar .i;::i .!' I <i'ie-hajf cup 'f g'i'<l 'n c.irn *\ run. .'! li.i ,' v, a; ,-r. .IIH.! ,me f iur:ii taspi 1-1 , f crcnm-.-if-tar: . r l'"i' until i! i!!-i!<e< a iirni IIM'! <i! -'i ; ed in! i .-n'd w :.->r. In the tne:iii!:in<' whin m> tii? whites of t\v. v:>ry stiff. Just before r?mi)\'- inir tin- syrup from the fir" add on? ;*p "f English walnut meals and a ! asp MIII uf X-ITK la. Pour over t'i u whiles aiv! !):- up un:i >&m\ aivl liu'lii Dr i. from epooi n Ki',"i--:l p''i; < ,r tia -per. SlvtVi'il Prnirs. Proci:'-, gome larse rn'ii a;\d ; f >f. stri-ii! in C u r over ni dit- f>ra : i '.:! vvipr <lrv. th^n reni' res and Sll l l if eavitv t'hi's f. ni-. -I with d:-M-; an<- n; ?'!!'. i: ; fh.'ppi'd (),:. (' il t!, with p.i,vd'r."<i sugar, A CHRISTMAS SONG. i ' . I! ,; . ,-' .. I p ou r r, !' ie ,<1. " ; , end. \Vh-.i ;' lit! le cliild !!- .ni I.i IX>\ : :> i - : ;;l .:. . ' : ''. re ac aim th? ra \ : i burn. VHJIP! Ii "iil he p-i v'aiii. \nd aiiinm-Hv Thj ;.! n uiie sli.-piu-ids in t'u- fi-!..| Brood over your troubles it you waut to hatch more. . wat.'h ihrii- l! : '; - to : -i<l : , Ana. 1 ! ("iioirs sail r in t'ic >KI <i!nr\ be ( ( I u .11 high. M-n Thv n- ri'ins -.tar did (. As it lir-ckon: d them to IV Hr.mbly folKiwed tliey its . lignt Till, beheld tin 1 M'I 'idn.i.i.s^T:pr. l!.-d in mortal fleish H~-,)!i\.'.| And in k-.v!y manger laid. Haii : Thou helper .if i !>. wc.ik. Come lost, crriuic man to ,>e<-k. Joyful voices now we raise In a song of ho-,.- praise ; fl-aii again (.he haopy :n-irn When Thou. ' 'hrist. ou- i-ope wa*t born. 'i