The Rural Voice, 1990-12, Page 40Best Wishes
for the
9-1oliday Season
Ford New Holland
Nardi Sprayers
Walco
Dovtec Cornstoves
Watson
Farin Enterprises
Hwy. 6 N.
Mount Forest
519-323-2755
This brings a prayer at Christmas time
That God will always bless
Your home, and you, and those you love
With lasting happiness.
Holiday Greetings
to all our
customers
from
Darnell Nuhn
and
1V N
810 - TECH
Corporation
Stratford, Ont. N5A 6S6
519-393-5770 }
36 THE RURAL VOICE
for "wheel" which referred to the sun. This mid -winter "yuletide" season was when
people prayed to their gods for the sun and warmth to return to earth.
The yule log is an ancient Scandinavian tradition that was adopted mainly by the
English. "Bringing in the Yule log" meant finding and cutting down a large tree on
Christmas Eve.
The log had to be
very large, as it
was supposed to
burn throughout
the twelve days of
Christmas. Giant
oak trees with
large twisted
roots wcre often
good choiccs.
Getting the log
home was a group activity. The log was tied and everyone who had a hand in pulling
it home was thought to have good luck in the coming year. The log was lit with some
of the kindling from the previous year's log. Scraps of the Yule log were put away
after the holiday to be used to light the next holiday log. In the meantime, people
believed that the wood pieces would protect their home from fire and lightning during
the year ahead.
JULBOCK
In Sweden, a Julbock or "Yule goat" is a popular symbol. In pagan times, Thor,
the god of thunder, was supposed to ride on a goat. That story has been adapted for
the festive season. It is now Jultomten, the elf, who lives in the hayloft and is guardian
of the household, and who rides in a sleigh pulled by the julbock to deliver presents
on Christmas Eve.
BIRDS
There is a general tendency to share the Christmas season with both animal and
plant life to ensure a prosperous new year. In Scandinavian countries, a sheaf of
wheat or some other grain is placed on a pole and set up outside where the birds are
known to congregate. This is done on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The
custom is catching on today in North
America with popular children's
magazines inviting youngsters to
have a holiday treat tree for the birds.
Pine cones filled with peanut butter
and rolled in seeds are easily made
and mightily enjoyed.
The Hunting of the Wren was a
violent custom that has been banned
in rural areas of England and Ireland.
It originated with the ancient custom
of sacrificing an animal as a symbol of
the death of the old year. The wren is
widely known as the King of the
Birds. It is normally illegal to kill one,
which may be what makes it appropriate for this sacrifice the day after Christmas.
After the bird was killed by the village boys on the morning of St. Stephen's Day, it
would be placed on a pole or on a bundle of evergreens and carried from house to
house. Traditional carols were sung and after being serenaded, the home owner
would give a treat to the carollers and would receive a feather in return for good luck.
Today, happily for the wrens, a stuffed or straw version is used.