Northern mythology

O
NORTH GERMAN TRADITIONS.
there were great feastings.
The clergy had long declaimed
against it^ though without effect ; but one nighty before
St. Peter's day, the people of Kantum, having according
to custom called on Wede/ '
the fires being extinguished,
and all gone to rest, were awakened at midnight, and to
their astonishment saw an immense fire again burning on
the Biikenberg. On hurrying towards it for the purpose
of quenching it, they perceived a black monster resembling
a large poodle slinking down the hill. The dread was
now general that they would for ever have to harbour the
devil, or that at least he would be a frequent visitor anions:
them ;
they consequently made a vow from that day never
to repeat the beacon-burning. Nevertheless on Westerlandfohr
and Osterlandsilt the children still kindle bonfires
on the 22nd February.
On the island of Silt the Spring- or Petrithing (court) ^as anciently held
on the Thing-hill on the 22nd Fe])ruary. The Summer- or Petri-Paulithing
took ])lace on the 29th June, and the Autumn-thing on the 26th October.
In Ditmarschen, on Walpurgis eve (April 30th) they kindle great fires on
the hills aud crossways, wliich they call * liaken ' (Ijeacons). The boys and
young people bring straw and dry boughs from all parts, and the night is
])assed amid rejoicing and dancing about the flames. Some of the larger
youths take bundles of burning straw on a fork, and run about swinging
them imtil they are burnt out. On the island of Femern (which was
])eo])led from Ditmarschen) they in like manner celebrate the 30th April
with the lighting of beacons (bakenbrennen). In the ^Vilstermarsch the
boys and youths, on
Easter eve, carry large bundles of lighted straw about
the fields ; and in East Ilolstein, both on Easter eve and St. John's eve,
they light fires on the hills and roads.
NO SPINNING ON SATURDAY EVENING.
That there should be no spinning on a Saturday eveninii;
is a wide-spread belief, as it brings only detriment and
punishment. There were two old women, good friends,
and the most indefatigable spinners in the village ; so
that in fact their wheels, even on a Saturday eveninir,
never stood still. At length one of them died ; but on the