The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-25
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
ANTIQUITY OF ITS CELEBR iT,os.
Pagan Origin OF Some Of LII.
Observ
Manner Of Its Celebration in Different
Countries.
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK,
6c., Sc, SC.

4
very ancient, No doubt in the earliest times tho birth
Of the Saviour was celebrated by annual festival and
the great such the simple pety and faith of
| tho pristine ages would delight 20 keep perpetualy n
| mind Many however, Of it's obscryanccs must Do
traced % Of joy OF much higher antiquity; and
those who have paid proper attention 10 the subject Join
In tho belief that she ancient ceremonies observed
| at Christmas were, fact, hut the purified rites II
paganls for wel known that the early teachers 81
the faith lnding il impossible eradicate the deep
rooted love of the people for many Of their ancin,
monies cndcavorod-ani often with snccoss-to cleanse
th.m from idolatros pollution sud - render them sab
| seryert 70 the purposes Of the new religion.
The Christmas From Tho latin carhti MESA
or The mass of Christ ond ohservancc The church
was general before A. +. 600. The festival Of con.
siderable length extending from December = tho fest,
val Of ST. Thomas February 2 the feast Of the purn
cation Of tn blessed Virgin MARY ncudes of course,
the Of the oly Inuocents ,hildcrmas Day as
Of the Circumci ion Now Years pay and :.at u tho
Epiphany or Twelfth Day. Christina nay AMI the ,wr,so
| immediately following considered a. most sacres.
| CHRISTMAS TIME AaoScsT TN: RoaASs.
In reference 70 Tho pafan origin OF Of the christ.
mas Observance We may especially notice the Roman
sa.vnaia, which celebrated 1T Ibis season. They
10 that people time Of universal nirth, congratc.
laton and rejoicing Oh friendships were renewed anJ
t at this period of unisersa mIh bouni TO cease
from their contentious and amt capital puni ihmcnt
end for the time Sacrifices were u course,
offered hymns IN honor u Bcchs and saturn sung;
| gifts, tokens q good svt ani rcIaembrancc
presented by friend friend ana he poor wer9 nply
remembered b. their opueut ucghbois II = easy
That rusny Of these Observance tran planted
| to a Christian soil
The respect Id tl's season th laurel doubles
derived from thc Romans who considered this plant
thc emblem of victory and ho.of aud he regard 10 tho
msetcc hardly a,l = remind af the dep yene
ration II which that plant heid b. the DraiIs W.
must also remember NAT not only II Tho mot Southern
| lands Of Europe, bl also in the Northern nattons,
this season considered as time Of annual joy ana
q religious festivity II this period of tho year
tha, festival in honor Of Tt1r celebrated wi,h
| songs, dances and f,astng anl al these mingled
With the rites e worship and with rndo he palty
/ From these Nor.hnen doubtless derived tho yule
log; end AZ Their mo-, fsyoro beye.. lc Sss sia ..
mend 81 doubtless qva6-d their s.stitlls u
| st.Ltcd measure.
| THE LORD MfsRuLE.
from the earliest times the people Of England ave
garaod tho feast Of the Nativity one OF bounsl'css
hospitality ana good fellowship. In those merry
| Drs the Court took the lead and its eXauptc fo,
lowed ~ We'll circumstances would pcrlt, III every
nook aud corner Of The land The Saxon rnondrchs exh
bed large hoslii, this occasion, and fbo cxssrle
not only copied but improved upon ~ eif Norman
succofsors Bat appears 10 have been Tho Institution
/
geenty Of vi ch the Old chronclcrs give such glowing
testimony. The Chr festivities were presided over
| ~ 1.-The LoId OF M'srule," frocsome monarch of
| whom the venerable antiquarian stow thus wr,6s--
"Anc ,ntly there in the kings house. wherever hs
lodged at the feast OF Christmas Lord Of Msrre or
Mastef OF Merry psport and the like also there
the oc every nobeman Of honor good worship,
| whether spiritual temporal Among them the Lord
Mayor Shers Of London had their several Lords OF
with Cfva ha
should make tho most past divert the behoder These
lords bcgap their rule rather misrule All Halows
Eve ana the until Cmdlcmas Day, which
spa there nnc and subtle disguengs, masks aud
mcrics with playing u cards for counters nails and
points every house, for pastmc than for GAIN
The titles which these Christmas monsrchs gave them
selves amusing from their absurdty. must
he concluded that their appointments and mock state
were kept up without considerable cost. The Lord OF
Msrue truth hing cf tho reves and during his
time OF brief authority appears 10 have been subjected
20 little control as actual sovereign He was in high
favor beth the Of learning and the sancuaes
Of the law somewhat clear idea OF the real character
and power q this renowned pocnate given IL the fol
lowing description of the lord Of Misrue chosen by tho
members of Middle Temple In the reign q Henry 70.
Eighth Tie jurisdiction, privileges and parade n his
mock monarch u thrs,mas 1885, hus circumstntia-
Iy described f'e attended " he ofd keeper lord
treasurer with eight white saycs captain u bis band
81 pensioners and Of hts guard and with his chapLns
who seriously impressed with of his royal
dignity that when they passed before him preccd-
| ing sunday 10 the Tempe church, on ascending the
pulpit they saiutcd b N with three low bows lie d,ned
both Tho ha an IN MS priyy chamber under cloth
q estate. The pole axes for his gentlemen pensioners
we're borrowed n lord Salisbury lord Holland hs tom
porsfy justice u r. re- supplied him with venlson On do
mand, and the lord Mayor shcriGs q London with
vine On Twelfth Day at going 70 church, he received
many petitions which be gave % his Master Of Requests
| and ike other kings, he had a fayoritc whom, with
other gentlemen o. high quality, he knghted
| inp from church"
ne Christmas prince this occasion was Mr. Francis
| VIVIAN who expended from hs own private purse the
large oi $4,000 In support of his digrites Really
| Il must have tired the philosophy Of these gscmen
descend from their temporary elevation uto the ranks Of
ord nary life hecom ng deunct pr noes and they nut
have felt Al getting up the Candicmas day
| some portion q the sensation OF Abon Hassan the
morning which succeeded his Calphae of day, when
the dissgfeeabc conviction forced gyon him that be
was no longer Commander Of the Fai,ful, and had 10
further clam 70 the service u the Cluster Of fcaris
| Morning star II "Coral iipsn Pair Face In the
| case bowcvs- az Nr yyian, u stated that after his
| deposition he was krghted by tho Bng-by way, we
| suppose of breaking bis fan
The learned sges of The law did not fail 10 hay aside,
for season their gravity for the annual mcuiment o.
| the The mennorits ~ lew men are mofe eNsea-
svcy honorcd than those u Sir Christopher Iaton aud
Judge Coke YET those truly great did not dan TO
| on n the festivities u Christmas and The records of
the Itns a Court afford GCmonstratye evidence that the
| lawyers could, On occasion, relax from the sober de-
mesl,r = oneal dignity The celebration q this fests
va appears have been for ong time of con
tel snong tbem and each of tue four Inns tried 10
with each other IN splendor and expense ~ length,
| however, better feeling began TO prevail, and The
arred bodies appear have agreed 70 celebrate Christ
together anil At JOINT expense. This memorable
event oh place thc 6 Cbarlcs the First, when
the expense II the Christmas cecbratons cf the united
lnrs II Court % the eighth year of bis reign amounted
10 The sum * $4,000
In Scotland ihs retk monarch es.cd the "Attotor
trf,sern ard Ia wis prt htcd bsre la 1853 ~ order