CHRISTMAS CHEER.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 4 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS CHEER.

That bathing on Christmas Day ensures freedom from both fevers and toothaehe during the coming year is one of the old-time superstions which etill exist in France, A cure for the various maladies that flesh is heir to was the large loaf, made chiefly in Provence, and called “le pain de calende.” It was very large and very white, and from it was cut a small piece marked with a knife with three or four crosses. This was carefully preserved as a. remedy to Ibe used when required, and the remainder of the loaf was divided among the family on the Feast of the Epiphany.

If you wish to keep your cattle in good health, the best method of accomplishing this end was to give them spmething to drink before entering your house immediately after midnight mass on Christmas Eve; and unless you desired to .bring misfortune on your entire family, it was considered advisable not to bake any bread between December 25 and the Festival of the Circumcision.

With regard to bread, it was also believed that those loaves which were baked on Christmas Eve, remained fresh for ten years, and during the whole of the holidays a portion of bread was left out on a table night and day because it was thought that the Madonna might some in to share it.