Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1852-12-23
Merry Christmas.


The observance of the anniversary of the
Saviour's nativity is the oldest festival of the
Christian Church-more ancient than Eas.
ter. We read of it during the reign of the
Emperor Commodious in the second century;
and even earlier in the times of Constantine
and Dioclesian, the latter of whom has left
terrible record of persecution by the burn.
ing alive whole congregation, gathered to-
gether for worship, and fastened within their
church, which was then fired. The Decretal
Epistles carry it back to date remoter still.
In those primitive times it was strictly
religious festival, but in the course of CEN
turtles it became, according to country and
the customs of each age, q season of social
hilarity and conviviality. Inlater years We
are happy to believe it is resuming some
thing of its original solemnity and impress
iveness, or at least, that Swine and was
sail " no longer make it season Of wanton-
ness and depravity.
The merriness of Christmas is retain
ed in the traditionary sports, which in Ger
many and England are peculiar to the day,
and kept up with scrupulous fidelity, and
which are also revived occasionally in many
parts of our own country. To be sure, the
g holly bough," the "misseltoe," and the
"yule-log," with their jocund games and
associations are legendary in this region,
yet the {" Christmas tree "-an evergreen in
our memory-still gladdens many home,
while the .tireside is enlivened with Christ
mas tales, gifts, and reunions, and Christ
mas cheer is essential to the comm emoration
of the fete.
The world has grown nearly year older,
since we last wished our readers merry
Christmas; and we trust it has been warmed
by the sunshine of happiness to one and ALL
We do not mean uninterrupted sunshine
that is not happiness, but the radiance of
Joy and hope that has ever burst through
| the dark and threatening clouds of care and
sorrow, that have beset our pathway.
Just now that our country is prosperous,
powerful and at peace with all the world,
we have cause to rejsice as christian peo-
pie; while plenty, the unexampled bles-
sings that surround us, and exemption from
pestilence and scourge, shed around us
every element of happiness to the individual.
We would therefore encourage all to dismiss
| the cares of the hour. and on Christmas
day cordially to indulge the social senti-
ments and affections, to exchange friendly
gratulations, to forgive and forget what has
gone amiss, and around the family hearth
stone, to renew and strengthen the ties of
kindred and sympathy, which, after all the
weary care, and toll, and vain desires that
torture and preplex us poor mortals, make
up most of our sum of happiness here, and
aid in preparing us for what is to come
hereafter There is one duty that all
| should remember, because it is incumbent
on all as an opportune duty-charity! To
comfort, help. and spare from our album
dance to those, to whom present comforts
are denied-the sick-the aged-the poor
and needy. So shall our hearts be lighter
with the sweet aud secret satisfaction of
doing good unto others; and so shall our
enjoyments be two-fold, and pledge given
for future store of happiness.
Fred. Exam.