Dec. 24. 1853.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES, 



615 



PENNSTLTATaAN POLK LORE : CHRISTMAS. 



This anniversary holds the same rank in the mid- 

 dle, southern, and western states as Thanksgiving 

 Day in the eastern states or New England, where, 

 owing to the Puritan origin of the bulk of the in- 

 habitants, Christmas is not much celebrated. In 

 Pennsylvania many of the usages connected with 

 it are of German origin, and derived from the 

 early settlers of the Teutonic race, whose de- 

 scendants are now a very numerous portion of the 

 population. The Christmas Tree is thus devised : 

 It is planted in a flower-pot filled with earth, and 

 its branches are covered with presents, chiefly of 

 confectionary, for the younger members of the 

 family. 



When bed-time arrives on Christmas Eve, the 

 children hang up their stockings at the foot of 

 their beds, to receive presents brought them by a 

 fabulous personage called Krishhinkle, who is be- 

 lieved to descend the chimney with them for all the 

 children who have been good during the previous 

 year. The word KrisJikinhle is a corruption of 

 Christ-kindlein, literally Christ-infant, and is un- 

 derstood to be derived from tlie fact that a repre- 

 sentation of the Infant Saviour in the manger 

 formed part of the decorations prepared for the 

 children at Christmas. 



If the children have not been good during the 

 year previous, Instead of finding sugar-plums and 

 other presents in their stockings on Christmas 

 morning, they discover therein a birch-rod. This 

 is said to have been placed there by Pelsnichol, or 

 Nicholas with the fur, alluding to the dress of 

 skins in which he is said to be clad. Some make 

 Pelsnichol identical with Krishhinkle, but the more 

 general opinion is that they are two personages, one 

 the rewarder of the good, the other the punlsher 

 of the bad. 



Tlie functions ascribed to Krishkinkle in Penn- 

 sylvania are attributed to Saint Nicholas, or 

 Santa Claus in the State of New York, first 

 settled by the Hollanders. The following poem, 

 written by Clement C. Moore, LL.D., of New 

 York, describes the performances of St. Nicholas 

 on Christmas Eve, and is equally applicable to 

 our Krishkinkle : 



"A Visit from St. Nicholas. 

 '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 liopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. 

 The children were nestled all snug in their beds. 

 While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; 

 And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap 

 Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. 

 When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, 

 I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter. 

 Away to the window I flew like a flash. 

 Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash ; 



The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow 

 Gave the lustre of day to the objects below ; 

 When what to my wondering eyes should appear 

 But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. 

 With a little old driver so lively and quick, 

 I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. 

 More rapid than eagles his coursers they came. 

 And he whistled and shouted and call'd them by name. 

 ' Now, Dasher ! now, Dancer I now, Prancer ! now,, 



Vixen 1 

 On, Comet ! on, Cupid ! on, Dunder and Blixen I 

 To the top of the stoop *, to the top of the wall I , 

 Now dash away ! dash away ! dash away all !' 

 As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, 

 When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. 

 So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, 

 With the sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too ; ' 



And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof 

 The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. 

 As I drew in my head and was turning around, 

 Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. 

 He was dress'd all in fur from his head to his foot. 

 And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes and soot. 

 A bundle of toys he had flung on his back ; 

 And he look'd like a pedlar just opening his pack. 

 His eyes, how they twinkled ! his dimples, how merry ! 

 His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry j 

 His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow. 

 And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow : 

 The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth. 

 And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. 

 He had a broad face and a little round belly, 

 That shook, when he laugh'd, like a bowl full of jelly. 

 He was cliubby and plump, a right jolly old elf. 

 And I laugh'd when I saw him, in spite of myself.. 

 A wink of his eye and a twist of his head 

 Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. 

 He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work. 

 And fill'd all the stockings, then turn'd with a jerk j 

 And laying his finger aside of his nose. 

 And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. 

 He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, '" 

 And away they all flew like the down of a thistle : 

 But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, 

 ' Happy Ciiristmas to all, and to all a good night.' " 



Uneda>- 



Philadelphia. 



COUNTY RHYMES. 



Kent. 



" He that will not live long, 

 Let him dwell at Murston, Teuham, or Tong."^ 



" Dover, Sandwich, and Winchelsea, 

 Rumney and Rye, the five ports be." 



Cheshire. 



" Chester of Castria took the name, 

 As if that Castria were the same." 



* Stoop means, in the language of the New Yorkers, 

 a portico. 



