The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30

| GUS revelries and routs are now almost absolete
! in England. 1t has become quite family and
| church holiday.
In the United States, Christmas partakes of
all the above features, Its people having
brought from their various ancestral lands the
peculiar customs of each. 1t Is both family.
church and festal holiday Its commemora.
ton has now become general, and Christmas
may be looked on as an established and inlpor-
tant holiday.
1t is in the home circle that its greatest power
IS felt. The little folks have been visited gen.
erously by old Santa Claus, and their Stockings
pour out treasure of TOYS aud sweetmeats
What JOY they feel. How the "old folks" sigh
as they think their days OF glee and lght-hesrted
merriment are gone. But they console them
selves with huge dinners of turkey, and oys.
tiers, and mince pie, and egg-nogg &c. and play
cards the rest of the day, so that all hands
have good time All. if these holidays
could only come oftener. We have too few of
them The heart grows old too soon, because
they come so seldom.
This year, by happy arrangement we shall
have double holiday. To-day can be oh.
served as religious festival, and tomorrow
enjoyed as social and carnal one. and hoping
thai you, dear readers, may enjoy it in its full
est manner, we wish you MERRY CHarsT-
MAS
Prom the Daily Pioneer Of the 25th.
The Anniversary OF the Birth OF our Saviour
was celebrated with great spirit in Saint Paul,
by all classes. On Sunday-the real Christmas
of course nothing could be done except such
as would be appropriate for the home circle;
Jet 1t was passed in happy frame of mind by
all The little folks had generally been nber-
ally treated by Santa Claus the evening previ-
ous and the upsosr made over the contents of
their stockings commenced at daylight and
lasted throughout the day. The old folks were
also made happy by general regalsment on
roast turkey, oysters and mince pie, so that as
far as the home circle was concerned Christ
mas day was passed by all hands In happy
manner.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Appropriate services took place at all of the
Churches. High Mass was celebrated at five
o'clock a. NJ IN the Cathedral. Nearly all the
Churches were decorated tastefully with ever
greens, and at most of them sermons were
preached on the Advent, and kindred subjects
MONDAY
being the other half the Siamese. twin holiday,
was improved in hearty style by those who
could not have their peculiar Christmas festv-
tiles on the day previous, On account of the 81.
cred restraints Of the day. The weather was
ali that could be desired-mild and pleasant
Indeed, more mild Christmas was never
known in st. Paul.
The day was spent in pleasant manner by
all, according to the dictates of their several
condolences or appetites. Some patronized 10
Hall S egg-nOgg barrel very freely, and in con
sequence retired to bed rather early with boots
on). The Sunday School children went to
their Festivals, or went skating and sliding
while the larger children, grown up to be
bhoys, went buggy riding. Yesterday, great
many people were complaining of headache
natures retributioa for excesses
AT HOME.
Numerous family parties and Christmas trees
afforded nearly everybody the means Of enjoy
ment, and we are of the opinion that Christ
mas was more generally observed this year in
its festive character, than ever before. The
custom of giving presents seems also to have
been o more general one. In these respects
the American pc @ple are fast becoming changed
in their habits, IS a few years since, holidays
were but feebly observed. Even Pet some are
disposed to disregard them, but the tide is SET
ting the other way. The general sentiment
places ON LIES toilsome journey. and that we
have TOO few Of them, in fact Grey hairs and
wrinkles would not come so soon az they are
said to come TO Americans, if there were more
holidays, or if what we had were more gener.
ally observed.