Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-02-05

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than Tie former Nor must the mislctoe
be forgotten in this record Of Christmas
fesiivi les; for, whatever it may do in these
days, it used to play a Conspicuous part
in England less thar century ago. when
it was regularly suspended both in hall
and kitchen, that The young folks, Of
whatever rank, might duly Hiss and be
kissed beneath lis mystic branches.
In Yorkshire many of the Old customs
belonging to this Gay exis;ed /, few years
ago, and are S i'll to be found il some Of
he remo.er parts. One neverftiiing rem
nant OF the olden lime WAS the cheese,
which haI been csrcciAll, made anl pre-
servel f,r the occasion. THIS was proIuc-
cl Wi h much ce.emonv by every ras,ir
dame, who, btf,re she allowed TO be
iastcd. took sharp kni.e and scor, i upon
il rude tesrmbIances to tie cross To
this were added the mighty wassailbowl
brimming wi h ionJsuoot. and fuimi Y
made Of barley meal, which last was also
an essential OF the breakfast table. Al
Ripon. in the same county. the singing
b ,ys used on ihis day ''to come inlo the
church with baskeifuis Of red APPLES, with
a spri.s of rosemary stuck in each, which
they present to all the congregation, and
generally have return made them Of 81,
A., or 6I.. according TO the quality of the
lady or gen nleman."
There is much doubt rs to the origin of
Christmas Day. The earliest churchman
who makes any mention of it is Theopho-
lis Bishop. Of Antioch, about the year 10.
in bis pa5chal letter, and, for the four first
centuries, it was far from being uni
versally celebrated. 1t is even matter Of
great uncertainty when it should be kept.
and Cassian tells US that the Egyptians
observed the Epiphany, the Nativity, and
Baptism of Christ on the same day, vhile
modern chronologists, at the head of whom
is Scaliger, agree that Christ was born at
the end of September or the beginning of
October, about the time Of the Jewish Feast
of the Tabernacles. The doubt about the
date of the Savior s birth has been assign
ed as q reason for opposing the observance
Of Christmas Day. But il is as we'll to OBJ
serve the 25th of December as any other
day. and at all events, the custom is SO
general, that il probably Will never be dis
turbed
In the earli r ages his day was calel
in he Eas ern Caurch the Eliphohy. OF
-Na aJe. tot;cn If tie Lght. name which
WIS subsequently given 20 TmeJM -Nighk,
occasion ii was u-el alusiyely 10 the bi.th
of Calis. and hence al,o came "a custom
wi.ica prevailed in the ancient church, OF
ii ,hlilg up candles II the Ia Ing # tEc
Gospels cvea i, nj lay, partly /, tes iy
the general Y. an ptf.iy % symbolic
the new light lLa5 WIS shining OF man
Mad. Among the Anglo Sax ms this day
was tie be i nj Z of ihc year IN il the
shows of a lier, bat 5 i'll rcmp.e time
Clri5 mas was p'isoni.iei ia this plseaa
by IN "oli n1n hun, r.,un | with savory
dainties." No Sooler ha! mi lnisht pass
eI. AM tie Day of ihe Nj irijy commenc-
el. than tie people has:encd - welcome i
with carols an these were generally sung
vi h some others fom the III iyity Ia The
Twelf Day, the cantiauauoe If Chiis.
mus. In be pse,ea; day h pIa-e "f he
carols is suppial by tines played jisi b.
foe nj ini h hy tie so-ctlleI Wi 5,
whilst tie carols themselves are annully
published in the humblcs5 form and with
he coarsest woolcu for The amu5e-
mont Of the people On The Chris mus
Day these ca,oS used n one .ime to take
the place # Psalms in The clutches, ani
more particularly a, the If ernoon service
the whole congregation joining il them.-
AZ tie enl of tie carol the clerk would
declare in loud voice his wishes for a
merry Chiis mas and happy new year to
all the parishi ,ners