The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-25

The nights are Wholesome; then planets strike,
No fairy takes, wifoh has powcr 20 charm,
| So halow'd and 80 gracious is the time
It's, however, the genial Of all holidays and its
associations always pleasant and accompanied by
| festivities and Kindly charities
The custom Of decking the churches, pntc hnd.ng
and houses with Christmas greens Is IN old .po, ante
dating Christianity sels The titd OF esergteens used
the holly, ivy, cypress, bays, laurel and mstletoe.
The last named put up in ehnrehes, it
| deemed heaacnah and profane plant on Account OF
its being in sueh fayor with the Druds 10 thor lsored
iites. was, however hung up mixed with white her,
gies in Kitchens and Whatever young rhencsi to
! stand nudes it, the young present cihef mad
right, Or claimed one, OF auDe her, and of yoosing of
harry at each kiss What number u Jeigntful Gus
| toms have ALLEN into &isasc, T. be surcl
With holly ard ivy,
/ so green and gay.
We deeh up our hoa,es-
As freeh tue day
With bay and rosemary
And laurel eolnplete
l And every sre nov
Is king IN e@ne.it.
Or 81 another old writer has it,
10, now is come our ioysulst feast
Let every man be joAy;
l Each roonse with yae leaves is dsst
And every post with holly.
Now all our neighbours chiKlnees sInukt
And Christmas bio Ike are burning
Their ovens they with bak't mea. choke
And all their spits thinning.
Without the doore let sorrow lie
And ii for cold il hap to be-
Wee'le buryt 10 a Christmas pye
And ever more be merry
The origin of Christmas carols is somewhat doubtful
Certain old fashioned regonists say that the Gor1 ia
Ezcess was the Hrst, ard tina. was sung to the
Wise Men by the angels, when the STAR Of the Fast
was rising but won't vonch ,or the t,ry
In an old catalogue OF Presbyterian books occnrs
| the fclowiDg:-"A Cabinet Of Choice Jewels, o,
the Christian Joy and Gadncss, forth in SUM-
dry pleasant new Christmas carols, VIZ: A Carol
for Chtismsss Day, TO the tune Of over Hills
and High Mountains Christmas Day at igbs to the
tune Of Ny Life and my Death for ST. Stephens Day to
the tune Of Oh, Cruel Bloody Tais5 for New Years.
Day to the tune OF 'Capsr aud FiG ~ Tor Twelfth
Day, to the tune Of %, Mother RoJger.'srs
The custom Of giving Christmas boxes Is also an old
one and however pleasant 1t may be the recipient It
il certainly great bore to those who have contribute
to it, the poor always got The benefit Vi tie g, Il
would be very well; but
Some boys rich by birth beyond ali wants.
Beloved by unces and Kind, good old anpty;
When time round a Christnas box they asar,
And one Cay makes them rich for all the year.
But the eninenty suggestive Of Chrstmas
IL the creature comforts 1. brings with it,
Now thrice welcome Christmas
Which brings us gold cheer,
Mipce plea plum porrdge,
Good ale and strong beer
WI pig, goose and dapon,
The best that be-
So well doth the weather
All the associations Of this festival aYe of elty and
asting and the cid books full Of stories relative to
the COED time ancestors had 10 the way Of choice
eating
They served MP salmon, venison and wild ocars
By hundreds, aud hy dozens and h7 scores.
Hogsheads Of honey kilderkins Of mustard
Mnttons, and fatted beeves, and bacon swine
Herons and bitterns, reacccks swan and bustard
leai maiafd, pigeons, wgeons, and, 10 line,
Plum pudding, pancakes, apple pies and cnsasrd.
And wheresithal they drank good iescnn wne
With need, and ale and cider own:
For porter punch and negus not kpown.
Strange to say the Quakers, when they first be-
fore the public particularly Jealous against Christ
festivities, but especially agsin.t Christmas
pie. quaint cid writer sta.es that they invoighed
sgainst invention Of the scarlet whore Babylon
CHE heretic) hodge pocge Of superstition popery,
the devil and all lis wcrks.n
Buts truce TO tie past. Christmas even with u.s. Is
franght with plessan. associations To be yue
log does burn the hearth and the old supersti
tions have nearly died ont; yet 1t Is stil c4rnva-a
Of rejoicing, Ct friendly gifts which draw loving
hearts each other; and youth il gaddened while
old age is plcased by the tokens Of friendship and love
that are interehsnssd.
A walk through Broadway viii be sufficient to show
that in the midst Of the gay The windows
fairly fash and glsten with the splendid they
tain Here is eaelry the most coay es that have
taken cunning workmen months fashion nto their Gu
rus and beautiful shapes, tks and sa;ias q lndtous
texture and beauty besides u oe Of every iecrp.on
The toy shops worthy Of epecal mention. Here
dogs that bark dgs barked bere deer that
very cheap horses hist always trot,ing gaopng
lut never advancing but some Of which win 70 very
provided they licked wih the Whip b.. with
the tongue; babies that squaI and pretty girls
that can't scod elephants whoe backs u ouil be
impossible 70 get, and guns and pistols that were
nter d.d n of dolls that unafesssI IN the
latest fashion, OF which look artistic ana others
model artistic. besides others too numerous - nenon
course all this attracts the attention OF the little ons
and the pockets Of the dear pspss have suer some
n consequence
But not only do the stores give evidence az he advene
CT Christmas the markets, public buildings and
churches also have donned holiday ne-cnristas
evergreen everywhere to be seem The msrsets are
handsomely decorated with garands :ifa dsviccs
The rooihy with which the stalls overa wing.
bound vth ribbons and mixed with rosemary and sweet
herbs. We don't apologize for mentioning the turkeys
and geese; II may be 'oulv subject, but then IL Is
Christmas fair.
The thestres, the inside Of the Roman Cathols and
Episcoyasn churches and many private residences are
also appropriately decorated with evergrcens and flowers
There high said at daylight this mornirg 10
many of the Roman Catholic churches, and this morning
services win be performed 10 them and in the principal
Tyiscoyalian churches.
Al ~ stepben,s Church, Tventy eighth st-ost, High
Mas will be said ~ hspsst ten O'Clock, When sczarts
Grand Ms,, No IL WI performed With donhe choir
and chorus, with additional organ acsompanimssh