Smyrna times., 1856-01-02
ScIrtt 4flistellanp,
CHai8FMAs AND ITS CUSTOMS.
BY CAROLINE A. WHITE.

There is something so congenial to human
ma nre. so absolutely necessary to the health of
N nd and body, IN the relaxation which testI-
walls afford, that we do not wonder at the un-
willingness which Sir lsalc Newton tells US
tn. heathens felt to part with their holidays, on
the introduction of Christianity amongst them
50 that in order to facilitate their conversion,
by retaining their days of joy, Gregory, bishop
of Neo Ceesarea in Pontus, instituted annual
festivals to saints and martys, corresponding as
nearly as possible in date, if not in fOrn, with
those most popular among the Greeks and no
mans
The type of Christmas, the most honored,
inyous and beautiful of Christian holidays, ex-
.sted long before Christianity, in the Saturnalla
e the ancients. which took place about the
hyemll solstice.
Nearly a century had elapsed from the
birth of its founder, before the followers OF
Christianity introduced the observance OF this
cav in commemoration of that event; and upon
tag second anniversary, when great numbers Of
ihen were ASSEMBLED in the church, Dlocletian
Ia. Roman emperor, who at this time kept Ms
eourt At NIcomedia, ordered the door to be fas
tened. and the building to be set on fire anC
hus lit such yule blaze that the brightness
thereof spread throughout incipient Christen
dom. and the ashes of the faithful. thus scat
tered through the earth, seemed henceforth
have carried with the germs of the new cree'
for which they suffered.
Il c.
tred wears after, the Feast of Epiphany, Twelft
Day. or the alteration of the kings-f'r so hav
the 4 wise men" of st. Matthew, the slmpl
Shepherds of St. Luke, keeping watch owe
their Aocks by night" been denominated-wa
regarded as the one and the same festival; an
ate very name, which amongst the Pagans slt
ni6ed the appearance of the gods upon eartl
vas singularly appropriate in reference 10 nj
whom The church regarded as Dlvlnity-mac
man: at present the calendar links both oy
succession of holidays extending from Il
25th Of December to the 9th Of January.
1t requires but little imagination to constr'
she beautiful fable of the golden age, whl'
the old Roman Saturnalia commemorated' IN
prophetic myth of the universal peace al
good will which the divine teaching OF Z
Nlzarite was calculated to effect upon earl
aud which doubtless it will effect when !
spirit Of His precepts guides, in its simPilci
and truth, the actions of His people.
During the continuance of this antique tea
e.ery one interchaBged presents with his neil
bnr; their houses we're decorated with ev
greens and laurel no criminal was punishf
40 arms taken up: the very slaves were ?
mittel to sit at the table with their masters
allusOn to the happy equality which was
posed to have existed during the reign oil
nrn; nay, banquets were sometimes MADE
which their masters .seryed--a custom wn
] shadow still fingers with US IN the yuis =
once common in the baronial halls OF Engia
and not yet quite exploded from them.
We know of hospitsble hearths, whose
men-proprietcrs annually preside Of a aut
given to their Iaborers, or. If this part OF
business be depused To their bailif or loren