Smyrna times., 1858-12-23
MIS- CELLAN OU S.
CHRISTMAS AND IT'S CUSTOMS.
BY CHARLEs ]. PErERsoN.

Christmas is the festival of the year. With
modern Christian nations it takes precedence of
all and every religious celebration. is bless
ings are for the old as well as for the young
The magnificent shows, which welcomed it, in
the old blrOnial times, have, indeed, long been
disused. We no longer see the boar's-head
borne in, Ia the sound of violin and harp, to
grace the overloaded table. We no longer be-
hold the page, with the wassail bowl, preceded
by the mimic trumpeter. We no longer hear
the shouting, the music, and the mirth of the
jester, crowds of servitors drag the yule log
into the great hall, where the baron and his
lady stand, in state, to welcome it. The mines,
the games, the buffoonery, the noisy reves have
passed away. But not the less hearty is our
modern observance of Christians. On the con-
trary, the festival is the more appropriately
kept, in whatever it is more scdate than for
merly. In thousands of happy homes, the
Christmas tree is raised in thousands Of
churches prayer and Thanksgiving 90 up
All over the land, the hosptable board, at the
old homestead, is spread for children and grand.
children. Once more the parental roof.iree
Overshadows the reunited family, and sheds
down upon them its calm and peaceful bless
ing. Alterations are forgotten, eaousies dis
appear, heart burnings cease to be. The ge-
NAL atmosphere of Christmas thaws out even
sel6shness itself. And the angels, who sang
"pe1ce and good will to men," on that STILL
calm morning, eighteen centuries ago, seem even
yet TO reyerent minds, to usher in this sacred
dawn. The last star is palng before the morn.
ing Ilark DO you not hear seraphic voices
ln England many of the old customs still
survive. On Christmas Eve, groups OF singers
rove about from house to house, singing
"Christmas Waits:" and are usually reward
ed, after the ancient fashion, with a dole. The
church bells are set merrIy ringing. Many OF
the wealthy landed proprietors still keep up the
habit OF dispensing Goals and blankets to the |
poor, at the door of the castle or the mansion.
Children go out into the woods to cut holly, or
look for misletoe; and their mirthful laughter
makes many a silent dell vocal 18th gladness.
The churches are all decked out with ever
green. AS in the United States, gifts are ex-
changed between husband and wife, parents |
and children, betrothed lovers, friends, sisters.
and old acquaintances. Hampers of game are
sent, from country relatives. to cousins in the
city. The poorest indulge, on Christmas day,
in a good dinner. Hilarity everywhere pre-
vails
On this side of the Atlantic, Christmas is
less universally observed indeed, until within |
few years, it was hardly kept at all in New
England, except by the members of the Episco-
pal church; aud even yet, over large portions
of that intelligent section, it is regarded as of
secondary importance to Thanksgiving Day
But in the middle states it has always been the !
chief festival Of the year. In Virginia, where
go much of the old cavalier spirit survives,
Christmas has been kept, from the era of the |
first settlement at jamestown, with more una !
nimity. perhaps, than anywhere else in the Uni !
ted States. As we go further south, VIC find
1t the national holiday. if we may use such
phrase, for the Anglo-African races In Charles
ton, II is welcomed, by the negroes. with the
discharge of Chinese crackers, and all the up
roar which distinguishes the Fourth of July at
the North. At Havana it becomes almost q
Saturnalia, or, to speak more strictly, an up
roarious negro carnival.
Oh! blessings on Christmas! How the little |
hearts ofchiIdren throb with delight, as it draws
near: and how, week after week, the dear ones
ask. Isn't Christmas most here?" Visions ofI
plum -puddngs, turkeys, and other delicacies,
aOat before their imagination: they linger
about the kitchen doors, all Christmas morn.
ing, IL not at church; and when the pudding is
triumphantly taken up, they follow it, shouting
and dancing. wild with glee. All our mouth
fairly waters at the thought: we are chill !