“SHOEING THE ROOSTER”

On Christmas Eve, people stayed up late, up until the rooster’s morning call, if possible. Staying up that late was called “shoeing the rooster”. The Eve was spent in all kinds of games, such as “roasting”, “spaying a crab”, “poking at the shoemaker”, “shooting the magpie”, “black bench”, “catching the mouse”, and “dividing fishes”. People also cast spells for good harvest and prosperous cattle, for instance by using the first hay put into the barn. Destructive spells against weeds and pests were also cast. Melting salt grains and burning shakes foretold death omens, health, or a successful year. A rooster was brought indoors to foretell the chances for marriage: the one whose bread crumb it picked up first would marry first. In dreams, people might see their future spouses or receive knowledge of an unmarried life.

Yuletide started on 21st December, and the men no longer did hard labour. Instead, they started the tasting of Christmas ale and hard liquor.

Christmas Day was spent quietly at home. The games continued among the family and it was considered a sin to go to the village.