The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-24
CHRISTMAS.

Festivals whether religious political have at all
times exered vast influence over the morals and the
destnes Of nations While we continue to celebrate
the birth day of our Independence the festival of
our Thanksgiving TO God for the bounties of His Pro
violence, we shall remain nation of ireemen, and of
Christians and freedom wherever il exists il but the
hand maid of Christianity
| We shall not dole out homily on this subject but
simply make the passing remark, that the two great
rival sects of Christians this country keep this es
tiva in different manner; while the one solemnizes
alone by religious services the other in addition,
celebrates II after the of the country from
which IT was derived in edible and potable ceremo-
mes, which seem (o borrow the language of an Eng
ish author to have survived all the Others or con
sue the sole portions that observed with any of
! the ancient zedlh - . ta#.
To the hilarty of this festival, disconnected from
religion, with which its revelry does not seem alto
gether consistent are far from raising any obec
ton, though the peculiar origin Of the custom should
not, it would seem, make very haering to those of
our own countrymen who engage nthis mode Of cele-
bration For, according to the author our old
Christmas gambols and tumutuous revelfies like the
| Sdturnaiia from which they were borrowed were
destined to reconcile the people 10 their habitudi
nretchednesS and degradation By a short season Of
riot, They derived their great attraction from the
poverty and prvation of the inferior classes who
merely tasted fresh meat in summer, while in winter
their best fare was sailed ling and other fish
| which even in soblemens families the ordinary
diet of the servants. The greater the hardshps and
oppression Of life the intense is the delight of
their transient forgctfulness whether proceed from
the drunkenness of the bowl or the intoxicaton of
the holiday mrth"
| One of the ancient rites of this festival this
viz on the vigil, or preceding of Christmas, it
was customary to light up candles of uncommon
size and lay log of wood upon the fire, called
"Yule-og to illuminate the house and as it were,
turn night into day"
This fashion thus sung by the old and favorite
poet Hcrrick
CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS,
! Come bring with noise, my merry, merry boys
A Christmas log to the firing,
! Formy good dame she-bds ye all 90 free,
And drink to your hearts desiring
With the last years brand-lght the block, and
For good success in his spending
Our psaltrics pay--that sweet luck may
Come while the log is tending.
Drink the strong beare, cut the white loaf here,
The while the meet is shreddng,
For the rare mnce pie and the plums stand by
To fill the paste that's kneeding
Another merry Christmas song tells us that
lis the season for courting for weddings, and cake
For turkics ioI buildings, and all the good things;
For eating and drinking for happiness sake,
And soaring with Poets on fancys bright wings"
Boz" in one of his sketches, has given us a very
pleasant chapter this subject and conmcnds ra-
onal observance OF 1t, doing to awaken our
sympathes for nelghbors and TO perpeuate their
good feeling during the ensuing year. than all the
homcs that have been written by all the dvines
that have ever lived"
=" Who can be insensible (says Charles Dckens) to
the oupourng of good feeling and the homes, inter-
change of allcctionate attachment, which abound at
this of the year Christmas family party
! We know nothing in nature more delightful There
seems magic in the very name of Christmas Petty
eaouses and discords forgotten social feelings
are awakened in bosoms to which they have long been
strangers father and son. brother and sister who
have met and passed with avertcd gaze, look of
cold recognition, for months before proier and return
the cordial embrace and bury their past anmosities
in their present happiness. Kindly hearts that have
yearned towards each other, but have been withheld
by false notions of pride and sell dignity, again
reunited and all is kindness and bcnevoc Would
that Christmas lasted the whole year through and
! that the prcjudices and passions which deiorm our
better nature were called into action among
those to whom they should ever he stranger"
! We shall conclude observance of the day by the
following spighty and popular eiluslon of Amc
rican poet
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
G, C. MOORE
Twas the night before Christmas, when all hro the
house
| Not creature was stirring not even mouse
! The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would he there
! The children were nestled all snug in their beds
! While visions of sugarplums danced through their
heads;
nd mama in kochicf, and in my cap,
| Had Just settled our brains for long winters nap
When out on the lawn there arose such chatter,
| sprang from my bed to see what the matter
! Away othc window flew like flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
! The moon, on the breast Of the new fallen snow,
Gave the ustre of midday to objects below.
! When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
But miniature sleigh and eight tiny roIn,decr,
With little old driver, SO lively and quick,
! knew in a moment il must be st Nick.
| More rapid than eagles his courscrs they came,
i And he whistlcd and shouted, and called them by
i name
49,