Message from kivinen@taulu.ssh.fi at Mon Jul 21 21:04:55 1997: http://www.cyberspace.com/santa/related.html Christmas straw In Finland straw was customarily spread on the floor for Christmas day. This symbolized the stable and manger where Jesus lay after being born. But it was also a pagan custom to ensure the crop of next summer, known also in Slavic countries. Thus here we see the Christian rationalizing again when accepting the old and difficult-to-remove folk customs. Many Christmas decorations were (and are) made from straw, too. Most notably the so-called himmeli (an intricate straw mobile hung from the ceiling) and straw goats big and small. Straw sheafs were prepared for cattle and birds. http://virtual.finland.fi/finfo/english/joulueng.html On the last Sunday before Christmas it is time to start looking for a Christmas tree, ready to be carried in the day before Christmas Eve, turned to show its finest branches, and decorated. The Finns like to include rows of national flags, a reminder of friendship among peoples. Another item is geometric mobile made of straw called a "himmeli" - very difficult and timeconsuming to make. The straw which must be straight and of good quality, is first softened in the warmth of the sauna, then cut into sections of equal length. The straws are then threaded to make triangels, squares and eightsided figures. Finally these figures are combined to make bigger and bigger shapes. Wood shavings may also be cleverly moulded to make stars with which to dec