The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-25

these o holidays made one Of their own which
vas wihcu, any precedent namely, The lst Of August
which hey observed with great rejoicing because
the anniversary Of the death Of Queen Anne, who
thus prevented from signing the "schsm Blp' against
dsenters which had just passed tho Parliament and
that day 10 70 into effect There be doub, that the
festival much abuscd by hcentousness but that
why should be totally abolished, not except
ing the religious obsrvancss and the good cheer
peculiar TO the time. They auareed not only with the
dissipation, but with their bes, friends pics and
plum puddinss, and with the poor rosemary and
bays. And when find John Milton, the Puritan, tho
republican, The conorlas celebrate Christmas with
Of the most beautiful enusons OF his muse may form
some estimate Of the exuavagsnt fanatcsm o the sect 70
winch he belonged
This bitterness against Christmas and other holidays
was imported by the Pilgrims into New England but
was unnatural and In tncsc latter days has ceased 70
exist The festival Is observed very great exten
h the Eastern States, not only by Catholics and Epsco
palans but by other sects almost universally oh
served in the So hern and Middle states and is regarded
tho most genial day Of the yeAFne Fourth Of July
the only universal holiday held the day through
out the United States being regarded more Of pnblc
patriotic national day Of DOORS than Of social and
domestic mirth within.
In the ancient church Christmas regarded as re-
lgious jubilee which, at the midnight hour Of the
nversary Of Chrsts birth, the very beasts said 70
kncel they did when tho angels announced tho natl
vy In rapturous song-a superstition which prevails TO
this day in England The golden msuthed (eoquent
Chrysosom called 1t "the metropolis and mother Of all
festivals" In Rome the ceremonies are not what might
be expected, there being only the high and pro-
ceason the at Easter On Christmas eve In the
day time, mass is said but there ceremonies
and no music This vigil was formerly held at night II
began before midnight and lasted TIL four O'Clock In the
morning; but ndecorous scenes and ntrigucs were
carried in the church ITSELF and the hours were
altered. At the Santa Maria Maggiorc grand vigil is
still held at four O'Clock in the morning. where the image
Of the born Christ dressed in swaddng cothcs is
carried about for the devotion and delight Of the people,
While in Rome Easter the great festival Of the year. in
England Christmas has still the supremacy The old
Mortimer called sMother-day.n was time Of great
oyhe feast the anthem the suspension Of the ordinary
avocaons OF life, the crowded churches, the decoration
with boughs and evergrecns-al proclaimed il
Christmas, the Joyous period Of the yeari
Now bright with holly, all the temples strewn
With laurel green and vcrdant mistctoe
To these was added ivy, which sacred to Bacchus
and indicates the heather origin of the custom. The
msetoe of the oak held great vencration by tho
Druds and used in their religious worship as Illus
rated in the opera Of Norma Not only the churches
Of the Christians, in imitation Of the Pagan temples but
their entire houses and almost every object in them,
decorated Councils Of the Catholic church issued DEGREES
against the CUSTOM yet was continued, and to this
day, even, N the Episcopal churches Of New York DR..
Chandler tells his "Travels Greece that 1t is relat
ed where drudm prevailed the houses were decked with
evergrecns in December that the sylvan spirits might
pair to them, and remain unnipped by frosts and
cold winds until milder had renewed the foliage
Of their darling abodes. In Britain this the
~A-IIo - ~ Y-.i
name by which Christmas has ever since been known.
On this occasion the priests carried about the msctoe
which they cut from the trees with their bright brass
hatches, calling it "al hazel" The custom long prevailed
among Christians York Cathedral carrying the m,se
to the high altar, and proclang universal pardon
and freedom all Of wicked persons at the gates Of
the city.
Tho burning Of the Yule log Christmas Eve is also
remnant of Druidsm. It consisted Of the birch tree
stripped Of its bark, and dried for the occasion The
largest that could be found selected The size or
them may be estimated from the fact that sometimes they
burned the houses They werc fact, whole trees and
were expected TO burn from Christmas till New Years
Day. During the time the Christmas block lasted the SER
wants entitled to ale. The Yule log in its first use
only counterpart of the Midsummer fires, and was
knded within doors because of the cold weather at the
winter solsce those in the solsce are knded
in the open air. These fires honor Of the SUM-
and continue TO the present time the Of St. John
the Baptist June M The other festival of st. John the
Evangelist (Dec 27) is in the Christmas holidays, or at
Yuletde, when the log burned the hearth Both
in Ireland and in the county Of Cornwall, in England,
where there is kindred race Of Ces, the people at the
midsummer bonres carry torches about tarred at the
end, which is undoubtedly Druidcal custom "The
st. John Fires" says Gebelin, +" those sacred fires,
were kindled at midnight the very moment Of the
sosce by the creates. part well Of ancient of mo-
dern natons Over these fires the Christians leaped in
sport, which was regarded imitation of the idoa-
custom denounced in the Bible of passng through
the hre' Of Bael But the Christians, of course at
tached such meaning to the act and was therefore
harmless in their There was peculiar fitness in
celebrating st. Johns day with hres for he is described
the witness to the Light chat Christi, and him
self ga burning and shining light" being the morning
star or harbnger Of the approaching SUM-
is worthy Of remark that both the days Of st.
John sacred TO Free Masonry which shows the con-
ncction Of these seasons with ancient mysteries In the
old Runc Fast wheel used to denote the festival Of
Christmas and the learned derive the word Yule from
root, signiying wheel revolution. 1t 80 called
says Bede because Of the return Of the suns
after the winter solsice This wheel is common to both
festivities. Durand speaking of the rites Of the feast
Of St. John, the Baptist informs us that
IN pAceS Wncei from the Top OF
tain to signify that the is beginning descend from
tho highest point in the zodiac Having previously been
covered with straw set fire, and distance II
had the appearance as the descending from the
sky.
Christmas called the Feast Of Lights in the Latin or
Western church, because they used many lights the
FEAST the large Christmas candle having succeeded to the
log which at first accompanied In old chronicle we
learn that in Yorkshire Christmas Eve the chambers
sent presents to their customers large mould candles
and the coopers yuclogs, just as the bakers used to
send presents Of the "yule-dough," which plum
cake formed into the shape Of baby in aIuson to the
infant Christ. 1t also called Baby cake" Among
the customs Christmas Eve the eating Of dish
consisting of wheat boiled in milk, and spiced. It was
called urmeny fumenty This eaten at the fcasts Of
the Roman saturnaua. The sheris Of York. INFORM
ed by Leland used issue proclamation Yule that cali
Of wanons and thieves dice players carders and
all other unthrifty folk be welcome to the hcer