Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-12-25

A glowing Ere, made Of great logs, the
principal Of which was termed the yule log,
or ChristmAs block, which might be burnt
till Candiemas eve, kept out the severity Of
the weather. and the abundance was shared
with music, eonjuring, riddles, hot cookies,
tool-plough, snaP-dragon, jokes, laughter,
repartees, forfeits and dances. The generous
wassal bowls and bowls Of punch never
failed 10 bring tumultuous joys. The favo-
rite aud frst dish on Christmas day was q
soused boar's head, which WA borne 70 the
table with great state and solemnity, upon
q silver platter, with minstralsys." ga = :
The common custom Of decking the houses
and churches at Christmas With evergreens
is derived from ancient druid practices. It
was an old belief that sylvan spirits might
hoek 70 the eVergreens, and remain unnip-
ped by frost until q milder season. The
holly, ivy, rosemary, bays. laurel, and mis-
LetOe furnished the favOrite trimmings,
which were not removed till Candlemss.
Qhaplets Of these were also worn about the
head, q practice to which the phrases 10 'skiss
under the rose, p to g whisper under themis-
tletoe, are sllusions. Holly and ivy still
remain in England the most esteemed
Christmas eYergreens, though at the two
universities the windows Of the college chap
els are decked with laurel. 1t was an old
the oxen were always found on their knees,
as in an attitude Of devotion, and that after
the change from old to new style they con-
tinued to do this only on the eve of old
Christmas day. This Was derived from q
prevalent medieval notion that an OK and an
ass which were present at the nativity fell
upon their knees in q suppliant posture, ss
appears from numerous prints and from the
Latin poem OF Sannazarius in the 18th CEN
tuFy. 1t Was an ancient tradition, alluded
to BY Shakespeare, that midnight spirits for
sake the earth and 90 10 their own confines
at the growing of the cock, and that, $50.
-EFer 'gainst that season comes
Wherein our SaviOurs birth is celebrated
This bird Of dawning singeth all night long
AND then, they say, no spirit stirs abroad
lhe nights are wholesome; then no planet strikes;
NO fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm
80 halloWed and SO gracious is the time rsl
The Christmas celebrations in England
have lost their primitive boisterous charae-
ter, the carols and gambols are nearly gone
by and family reunions aud evergreen
trimmings are nearly all that remains Of
the various rough naerriments which used
to mark the festival. sH..- -aa
In this country the dsYis generally OBJ
served, though less in the New England
than the Middle and Southern States, the
Puritaus at first being stern opponents of
Christmas pastimes. The German custom
of Christmas trees has been pretty generally
preserved, and in the small villages Of some
Of the Southern States men grotesquely
dressed, with painted faces, their heads
crowned with horns, together with other
defOrmities, will pass from house to house
on Christmas eve, and summoning the chill
lren, inquire into their conduct, with
view to ascertaining if they are entitled to
receive anything as e Christmas gift."-
This, however, is custom by no means
and not unfrequently results seri-
'usly to children, for the appearance of
.hese visitors IS sometimes SO frightful as to
1--WE even adults. e.
And now, dear reader, we close, wishing |
you and yours merry Christmas