Northern mythology

NORTH GERMAN CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS. 14-5
If any one wishes to know whether he (or she) will die
in the following year, let him (or her) on St. Andrew's
eve, before going to bed, make on the table a little pointed
heap of flour.
If on the following morning the heap has
fallen asunder, the party will die.
On St. Andrew's eve it may also be learned which of
the persons present love one another, or will one day be
united. For this purpose a vessel with pure water is
placed on a table, and on the water are laid little cups of
silver foil inscribed with the names of the persons whose
future is to be ascertained. These little cups are called
' nappelpfang ' (cup-pennies) . If a young man's cup comes
so near to that of a girl, that they both seem to cleave together,
they will make a match. By the nappelpfiings it
may also be seen, whether a loving pair will one day be
legally united ; in which experiment one of the cups represents
the bride, one the bridegroom, and a third the
priest.
If the three come together so that the priest stands
before the other two, the lovers may cherish the hope of
being wedded.
On St. Andl'ew's eve young girls may ascertain what
coloured hair their future husbands have. For this object
there formerly prevailed, and probably still prevails, the
so-called hair-snatching. If a girl wishes to know the
colour of her future husband's hair, she must take hold of
the latch of the door and thrice call out :
''
Gentle love, if
thou lovest me, show thyself." She must then quickly
open the door a little way, and make a rapid grasp out in
the dark, and she will find in her hand a lock of her future
mate's hair. But she must be quite alone in the house,
and make the trial at night between the hours of eleven
and twelve, and unknown to any one.
CHRISTMAS.
The custom is wide-spread among the country people