258 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



After holding it successively on each of these places, it is finally- 

 put hack into the cradle, while the guests prepare to enjoy the Tauf 

 ScJunaus, or christening banquet. 



Each person is expected to bring a small contribution in the shape 

 of eggs, bacon, fruit, or cakes ; and the god-parents do not fail to 

 come each laden with a bottle of good wine, besides some other small 

 gift for the child. 



The banquet is a noisy and merry one, and many are the games 

 and jokes practiced on these occasions. One of these, called the Had- 

 springen (jumping the bath), consists in putting a lighted candle on a 

 washing-trough, which is placed upside-down on the ground. All the 

 young women present are invited to jump over without upsetting or 

 putting out the light. Those who are successful in this evolution will 

 be mothers of healthy boys. If they are bashful, and refuse to jump, 

 or should they be awkward enough to upset the candle, they will be 

 childless, or have only girls. 



The Spiesstanz, or spit-dance, is also usual on these occasions. Two 

 roasting-spits are laid on the ground crosswise, as in the sword-dance 

 and the movements executed much in the same manner. 



Sometimes it is the grandfather of the new-born infant who opens 

 the performance, proud of displaying his agility as he sings : 



" Purple plum so sweet, 

 See my nimble feet ; 

 How I jump and slide, 

 How I hop and glide ; 

 See how well I dance, 

 See how well I prauce. 

 Purple plum so sweet, 

 See my nimble feet." 



But if the grandfather be old and feeble, and if the godfathers can 

 not be induced to exert themselves, then it is usually the midwife who, 

 for a small consideration, undertakes the dancing. 



It is hardly ever customary for the young mother to be seated at 

 the table along with the guests ; and even if she be well and hearty 

 enough to have baked the cakes and milked the cows on that same 

 day, etiquette demands that she should play the interesting invalid and 

 lie in bed till the feasting be over. 



For full four weeks after the birth of her child must she stay at 

 home, and durst not step over the threshold of her court-yard, even 

 though she has resumed all her daily occupations within the first week 

 of her recovery. " I may not go outside till my time is out ; the Ilerr 

 Vater would be sorely angered if he saw me," is the answer I have 

 often heard from a woman who declined to come out on to the road. 

 Neither may she spin during these four weeks, lest her child should 

 suffer from dizziness. 



When the time of this enforced retirement has elapsed, the young 



