Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-25


White shirts supplied the masquerade,
And smutted cheeks the visors made;
But d. what masquers richly Digit
Can boast Of bosoms hall SO light.
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again,
yrwas Christmas bros ched the mightiest ale
yTwas Christmas told the merriest tale;
Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor mans heart thro' half the year.
Tn parts of the country remote from the me-
tropolis in England, the singing OF Christmas
carols yet ushers in the mornings After break
ias, the busy housewife prepares her plum Pud'
dings, minneapolis. and confectionery, which she
decorates with the emblems Of the time:-a
scratch in the dough in the shape Of hay-rack,
denotins the manser Of the infant Saviour. Is
one of those emblems most commonly IN USE
The younger part OF the household hunt the gar
den for esergreens to decorate the interior Of
the apartments; and the woods are sought to
ring home the miseltoe, which is to be suspend
cd in the room where the pleasures OF the even
ing are to take place. and beneath which the
~ sishiny lips," as Moore calls them, ct many
lovely girl still continue to be pressed, despite
of that GOV resistance and those bushes that so
much heighten the charms of beauty. They also
paint candle. Of different colors to be lighted up
in the evening, custom perhaps borrowed from
ancient Romish practice; though some imagine
that lighting up houses formed part OF the wor-
ship of the reutonic god Thor. being one OF the
ceremonies observed at ul,tlle. or the feast oil
Thor, from which it was introduced into the
Christian feast of Christmas. Thus. IT some
mar. of our Christmas ceremonies was derived
from the Saturnalia. another was evidently OF
northern origin. The miseltoe was plant held
sacred by the Druids The Christmas carols al
., were, it is probable, JUL or Ule-songs first
sung in honor Of the heather deity; and the use
of evergreens may be ascribed to the same origin.
In the evening the Ule-log. or Christmas stock,
as at present denomnated is placed on the fire
in the principal apartment Of the house. The
company seat themselves round it, and the cheer.
full cup is yet handed about. which often contains
nothing more than ale in the cottages of the pea.
santry.
What remains to modern times Of Christmas
gambols then commences, and ancient Christmas
piays are even still plainly to be traced among
them. Blindnan's buff. hunt the slipper, the
game Of goose, snap dragon, or push pm, and
dancing, form the aTausc'nents OF the Younger
part Of the assembage, and cards of the elder;
though among the more substantial people, as
they are denominated in the language OF the
country folks. the simpler amusements begin to
lose their value. But their very simplicity re.
Gals the memory of past times: they have GER
tain charm about them worth all that is artificial,
and they would not be bereft of attraction TO
minds of sensibili,y, if they were wholly aban.
doned to the lowly; for they have that in them
which is far more endearing than the sordld
heartlessness of fashionable enter alnments, and
the fornal,ty Of high life. Bereft Of supersti-
ton, Christmas is thus season If innocent
mirlh-a pleasing inter'ude to tighten and be-
guile the horrors vi our Indictment winters. 1t
affords period for the exhibition OF hospitable
greetings, aud the pleasing interchange Of good
offices, Of which, in the country. opportunities
are not rare. How many innocent hearts rejoice
there at anticipating the season and ITS festivi.
ties, whose feelings have never been chilled by
the Artificial and calculating civiities of metro
poitan intercourse. But the humber ranks
have been accused Of superstition, because the
stocking Is still thrown, the pod with nine peas
hid over the door, and all the little ceremonies
so admirably depicted by Burns IN his Halloween
still practised These, however, are now gene
rally looked upon as diversion, and few have
faith in their efficacy; for in our da,. the poor
have as good common sense a, their suPer,ors.-
These diversions cUme them but once year,
aud It is to be hoped they may long continue to
praclise them.
-" let the rich derde, the proud dis lain,
The simple pleasures Of The lowry tram;
To me more dear, congrnal to nv heart, .
One native charm Khan ali the gloss Of ar, "
WhitesM.iih aAA beAA NaMSing
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