UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 47 



their own exertions without applying to the 

 parish for support. Many have large families, 

 some of which are taught, even while very young, 

 to help their parents ; and it is to these people 

 that my aunt distributes the largest portions of 

 her Christmas bounty. 



In speaking of Christmas, my uncle told me 

 that in the heathen times of these countries, and 

 of the northern parts of Europe, a festival took 

 place exactly at this season, which was dedicated 

 to the sun, the chief deity of our heathen an- 

 cestors ; and when they were converted to 

 Christianity, it was thought prudent that they 

 should continue to have their festival, although 

 the object of it was of course changed. It was 

 called Jol or Yule a Gothic word, signifying a 

 feast, and particularly applied to a religious one. 

 Christmas is even still called Yule in many 

 places in the north of England ; and it is said 

 that the custom of making a large fire on Christ- 

 mas eve, on which great logs of wood are piled, 

 jis still kept up. These are called Yule cloys, 

 and, before they are quite consumed, a frag- 

 ment of them is taken out, and preserved safely 

 for the next year. 



This is probably one of the remnants, my 

 uncle says, of the feasts of fire instituted by the 

 worshippers of Bali, from whom there appears 

 reason to think the Druids were directly de- 

 scended j as a coincidence of customs, words, 



