Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-24


moment Of conjugal weakness to extort money
or exiract a promisel Has she call TO be
wife who takes a journey for pleasure, leaving
her husband TO toll IN a close Office and have an
eve when at home, to he servants and ehidrenf
Has she call to be a wife to whom a good hus-
bands society il Lot the greatest Of earthly
blessings. and house full OF rosy children its
best furnishing and pretiest ornamentl
Christmas.
We wish all cur patrons. friends, old and
Young, a merry Christmas. IL il al hand. IL -
the day looked forward TO each year BY all with
anxiety, BY many with so,emnity, by others with
joyful anticipations. Il Is looked at ia differ
cut light by different persons, and perhaps by
many not fully understood. Ii j. day recog
nized BY the Christian Church throughout the
world a. the anniversary OF the birth Of Christ.
Ia the early stages of Christian Development,
when there was bat a single denomination or
sect Asd that one now known as the Catholic or
Church OF Rome. mass was specially celebra-
ted on the birthday OF the Saviour, and from
the two words "Cbrist" and Mass, the word
"Christmas" has been formed, and some word
answering 70 the combination j. said to exist in
all the modern languages of Christian countries.
IL vas day that Tor many years after the estab
lishment of The head at the Church at Rome.
was celebrated az different times and, like many
Of lhe holidays was movable" often happen
ing. OF being celebrated as late as in the Spring
Such was the uncertainty and variety Of evil
dence even in those early days in regard 20 the
date Of the birth OF the Savior.
The first celebration of mass on the birth day
il said TO have been ordered in decree of Pope
Telesphorus about the year l27. but as different
authors and leaders in the Church attributed the
birth to different days. it not so generally
observed as expected, and as generation follow
ed generation. il fell into general disrepute. In
the 4th century however, there sprung up a
series OF devoted and learned authors and mis-
sionaries who saw the necessity of having the
birth day Of Christ definitely settled, 20 that all
the people could join in doing honor to the an
nually recurring anniversary. A convection,
called the " Urgency" composed OF wise chris
tians Of Jerusalem. under the patronage of the
church Of ST. Cyril, accordingly held, IN
which petition was made to Pope julius i, for
a commission TO investigate the evidences and
report TO the church at what time the Savior
born The Pope favored the investigation. and
in due time the report was made, fixing the 18th
day Of December the actual birth day OF
Christ The evidences were principally the
tables in the archives Of the Roman censOrs.
which were considered sufficient, aud from then
till now, the day has been universally recognized
by christians a the natal DAY of the Savior of
mankind IL was an early tradition, generally
believed. that Christ was born about the middle
of the night.
The custom in the Roman Catholic countries
OF ushering in Christmas day by the celebration of
three masses, first at midnight. second at early
dawn. and the third in the evening. dates from
the 9th century. The day considered in the
double light of holy commemoration and a
cheerful festival and was accordingly distn
guished bv devotion, relaxation from business,
and universal merrimet. During the middle ages
il was celebrated by the gay fantastic spectacle OF
dramatic mysteries and moraties, performed by
persons in grotesque masks and singular cos
tunes. The scenery usually represented an in
FAINT in a cradle, surrounded by the Virgin Mary
and st. Joseph. by BULL heads. cherubs. eastern
magi. and manifold ornaments.
The custom of singing canticles on Christmas
called carols. which recalled the songs of the
shepherds at the birth of Christ, dates from the
time the common people ceased TO understand
Latin. The bishops and clergymen often joined
with the populace in carong, and the songs
were enllyened by dances and by the music of
tambours guitars, violins and organs. Fathers.
mothers sons and daughters mingled together in
the dance: if in thenight. each bearing in the
hard lighted wax taper
To this custom D. music and dancing at
Christmas, may be traced the custom at the pre-
sent day OF Christmas dancing. parties and balls,
which are FAR from being called forth by the
spirit or conducted IN the practice OF Christian
ty. Among the revels OF the Christmas season,
in the middle ages were the feasts of the fools
aud asses, grotesque saturnalia sometimes term
ed 1" December liberties, in which everything
serious or important was yarously burlesqued in
feriors personifying superors, great men becom-
ing frolcsome, and which illustrates the prone
ness Of man TO occasionally reverse the order of
society and rdicule its decencies In the Pro
testant districts of Germany and the North of
Europe, Christmas is often called the "Children's
festival" and Christmas eve Is devoted to giving
presents especially between parents and children.
and brothers and sisters. by means of the Christ
mas tree. A large evergreen bough or small
tree is erected in the parlor, lighted with tapers,
aud hung with \ variety of gifts, consisting of
ornamental articles of wearing apparel, nuts toys
and books Each of these gifts Is marked with
the name of the person tor whom il is intended
but not the name of the donor, and when the
whole family party is assembled. the presents are
distributed around the room according to their
label, amid joyful acclamatiOns and mutual con
gratulatious, These distributions are followed
BY more sober scenes for the mothers take coca
sion 20 say privately 70 their daug hters, and the
fathers 70 their sons. what has, during the year
been observed most praiseworthy and what most
faulty in their conduct which the sons and
daughters receive in the most kindly manner,
evincing determination to profit by the sugges
tons.
Christmas has always been 40 once a relig Gus
domestic and merry making festival in England
equally for all ranks and ages The reves used
20 begin on Christmas ard continue I'LL after
Candlemas FEB. . everv day being holiday
till the twelfth night OF January. In the houses
OF the mobiles "iord Of misrale," or abbott OF
unreason." was appointed: whose Office was ito
make the rarest pastme, 10 delight the behol
ders."' and whose dominion lasted from "Al
haIlow eve Oct 81 till CAndlemas DAY The
IL, u oh.
geese ducks beef, pork. mutton pies. buildings
nuts. fruits: sugar and honey. So profuSe were
the English IN their provisions for the English
holidays that ! became well known throughout
Europe. AM The Italians. when speaking Of
man who i very busy. use the proverb: He