The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A CUSTOM PERFORMED BY MY GRANDPARENTS WAS THIS:
ON CHRISTMAS EVE THEY WOULD COVER THE DINNER TABLE WITH HAY.
THEY WOULD HAVE 7 OR 9 DISHES OF FOOD TO EAT. THERE COULD NEVER BE
AN EVEN NUMBER OF DISHES OF FOOD. AFTER THEY ATE THEY
WOULD LEAVE EVERTHING ON THE TABLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THEN
THEY WOULD PICK UP THE HAY AND FEED IT TO THE CATTLE IN
THE BARN. NEXT THEY WOULD LOOK FOR ANY GRAIN THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN LEFT ON THE TABLE. THESE SEEDS SOMETIMES BECOME MIXED WITH
THE HAY. IF THERE WERE SOME GRAIN SEEDS FOUND ON THE TABLE THE
GRAIN CROP FOR THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE GOOD.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): FOOD

Date learned: 11-15-1969