Sayings/ Superstitions
In Ireland it is believed the gates of Heaven open at midnight on Christmas Eve. Those who die then go straight to Heaven.
If you refuse a mince pie at Christmas dinner, you will have bad luck for the coming day.
If you eat a raw egg before eating anything else on Christmas morning, you will be able to carry heavy weights.
"Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green."
"Good luck will come to the home where a fire is kept burning throughout the Christmas season.
"Place shoes by side on Christmas Eve to prevent a quarreling family."
"A clear star-filled sky on Christmas Eve will bring good crops in the summer."
"To have good health throughout the next year, eat an apple on Christmas Eve."
"Eat plum pudding on Christmas and avoid losing a friend before next Christmas."
"On Chrismas Eve all animals can speak. However, it is bad luck to test this superstition."
"The child born on Christmas Day will have a special fortune."
"Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck."
"A blowing wind on Christmas Day brings good luck."
In Greece, some people burn their old shoes during the Christmas season to prevent misfortunes in the coming year.
In the Swedish countryside, from cock crow to daybreak on Christmas morning the trolls (wicked elves) roam about.
In Devonshire, England, a girl raps at the henhouse door on Christmas Eve. If a rooster crows, she will marry within the year.
You will have as many happy months in the coming year, as the number of houses you eat mince pies in during Christmastime.
"Shout 'Christmas Gift' to the first person knocking on your door on Christmas Day and expect to receive a gift from the visitor.
A three year old once gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner:
"I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate."
Quotes
"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring-not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. - Clement C. Moore
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens.
"He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree." - Sunshine Magazine.
"Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year" - John Lennon and Yoko Ono (Christmas 1971).
"You might as well do your Christmas hinting early." - Anon.
A three-year-old gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner. "I don't like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate."
"No Santa Claus! Thank God, he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood." - Francis P. Church
Mother decided that 10-year-old Cathy shoud get something "practical" for Christmas. "Suppose we open a savings account for you?" mother suggested. Cathy was delighted. "It's your account, darling," mother said as they arrived at the bank, "so you fill out the application." Cathy was doing fine until she came to the space for "Name of your former bank." After a slight hesitation, she put down "Piggy."
For many of us, sadly, the spirit of Christmas is "hurry". And yet, eventually, the hour comes when the rushing ends and the race against the calendar mercifully comes to a close. It is only now perhaps that we truly recognize the spirit of Christmas. It is not a matter of days or weeks, but of centuries-nearly twenty of them now since that holy night in Bethlehem. Regarded in this manner, the pre-Christmas rush may do us greater service than we realize. With all its temporal confusion, it may just help us to see that by contrast, Christmas itself is eternal. - Burton Hills
There was the little boy who approached Santa in a department store with a long list of requests. He wanted a bicycle and a sled, a chemical set, a cowboy suit, a set of trains, a baseball glove and roller skates. "That's a pretty long list," Santa said sternly. "I'll have to check in my book and see if you were a good boy." "Oh no, no, no," the youngster said quickly. "Never Mind checking. I'll just take the roller skates."
"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men! -
Longfellow
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