Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-12-25
Nj ISC Il l. l. A N Y.
CHRISTMAS IN THE oLDEN TINE.

The origin of Christmas, festival instituted to COM
memorate the of the nativity of our Savlour has nev
or been precisely fixed The earliest record we have Of It's
observance in the second century about the time of the
Emperor Commodus. The decreal epiS;les indeed carry
a little HIGHER and we learn from them that IN the reign
of Antonnus Plus divine service performed and evan
geca hymns were sung the night before the anniversary
of Chrss nativity We have melancholy proof that the
festival was celebrated before the time Of Constantine for
while the prosecutions of tie primitive Christians ragged
under the Emperor Docesan who then held his court at Nj
comeda-that prince, on discovering that muttudes Of
Christians assembled together TO celebrate the nativity o
their Lord comm anded the church dOUrs TO be closed and
barcaded aud to the cruelty got life OF perse-
cuon caused the church be set fire, and hundreds OF
martyrs were with the edfce reduced TO ashes. In those
primitive times the day of Ch:ss nativity was held to be
of too sacred nature to admit of easng and rejoicing and
appears to have been kept by prayer and thanksgiving
The time at which Christmas held appears 10 have
been different from our date and conflicting opinions arose
between the early churches in the East respecting the eX-
act time ofour Savios BIRTH Pope Tespharus. who lived
in the reign of the Antonnes, the first who ordered the
feast of the nativity 10 be held the 25h December. An
archbishop of Nce in Of his psles informs US that at
the Instance of ST. Cyril Of Jerusalem, Pope julius pocu-
red strc, inquiry to be made into the date Of our Savo
BIRTH which, being found be the 25th December, they
;hencerh celebrated the festival on that day. But to the
present time the precise day the month on which
Christ was born has been fixed with certainty There
are some circumstances which lead conclude that it
took place during the autumn this every respect is the
most proper Of the year for general assessment see
ST. Luke) which required personal attendance We are al
sofnormed that there shepherds watching their ocks
hy night and the middle of winter could hardly be conSd-
cred fit for pasturng sheep. DR.. Lardner, who is
borne out in his argument by many whorhy dlvnes, after
the most elaborate and patient investigation of all facts and
authorities bearing upon the subject has to the con-
cuson in his work Credbiliy that our Saviour must
have been born in September October, in the year OF
Rome 74S or 749 But in the earlier ages, what science
or search failed to accomplish, the expedent OF the lna-
by of the pope established beyond doubt or at least be-
yond dispute. The ponfca fiat decreed that Christ was
born in mid winter, and the world convinced. The
truth of the dicision evident mankind as that 9th
er celebrated by which Galeo proved to be her
etic-the Capernca system elaborate oy-and truth
itself wicked when it cashed with papal orthodoxy.
The first Christians observed the festival Of the nativity
by prayer and fasting Often, hunted down by fierce per-
temples of the Eternal as the exercise of their devoons be-
came tnoed with somewhat ofsevery from the actual dan
ger attendant upon their observance, Christmas was egar
ded by them as Sabbath of Sabbahs But as religion be-
came more popular, the ausere simplicity ofhe rst Chrs
tians relaxed and Christmas was converted to day oil re-
nicng from one of fasting and that not unweIcome lnnova
ton was confirmed by bulls and lndulgences from Rome 1t
will be interesting glance at the domestic sports and GER
emones our oelaers peculiar TO this season oi Inc year
"Chrismas eve" or night before Christmas day, was
spent in riutuus merment and the testlvy OF the laiy
was sanctioned and shared by the merry clergy OF taose
days nhe feast of Christmas" says Stowe in MS Sur
vey here was in the kings house lord ofmlsruleor mas
Ter Of merry dspos and the like had in the house otev
cry nobeman Of honor, or good worship "he'hef
spua The mayors of London and either OF their sher
ifs had IL Jir several lords omsrue, ever cohtehug "'
mt quarrel or offence who should make the rares paSme
10 delight the beholdegs." The most popular modes vi
,musenen, appear to have been masks, DISCUSSES, and
loaf, bearing rude resemblance to baoy
image made of paste, and called the ''iuIe Dough- was
presented by the bakers to their customers and they who
living remote from towns, were excluded from the benefit
pf the bakers generosity, provided themselves "Chrs
.nas boxesn of which we have heard So much, and by
which we now understand presents mace at Christmas
were thus originated The ROmish priests had masses said
for almost everything ia ship went out to the Indies the
priests had box in her. under the protection OF some saint
and for masses-as she cant was-o be said for them to-
that saint &C. the poor people must put something INTO the
priests box which be opened until the return OF
the ship The at tha! time was called Christmas,
the box Christmassbox money gathered against that
me that masses be made by the priests to the saints
to forgive the people the debaucheres Of that tme from
!
=,