Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-25

We come this morning, gentle reader, on
NDur customary round, and salute You with
the old time greetIng-rA Merry Christ
mas" This Is the great Christian anniver-
sary, kept in honor Of the ,Savior's birth,
andof all the holidays inthe calendar, the
most universally observed. Wherever there
is the slightest traceSof the Christian faith,
there this great anniversary is known.
It's antiquity Is nOsless remarkable than
its uniyersality. From the first century
downward through all the subsequent ages
unto this very day, its annual return has,
as It were, re-echoed throughout all Chris
tendon che angelic announcemen made TO
the shepherds on the eve Of the 1Savior's
birth-"Peace on earth and good will to
men," TW Z.
In the earliest ages Christmas seems TO
have been regarded as both Q holy com
memoration and cheerful festival, to be
observed with. religious, cerenonies, cessa-
tion from business and innocent merry
making. During the middle ages, it was
customary to have dramatic spectacles at
Christmas, REPRESENTING an infant in era
die surrounded by the Virgin Mary and
ST. Joseph, by bullst heads, eherubs, eastern
magi, and a variety OF ornaments. The
custom of singing csnticles yor5 carols at
Christmas, as recalling the songs Of the
shepherds at the birth Of the Savior, arise
at an early period. In the carols, both
priests and people alike Joined, and they
we're often enlivened by music and dane
ing. "
Various reyels became in course of time
concomitants OF the Christmas season, such
as the so-called feast of fools and asses, in
which every thing serious was burlesqued,
and social order reversed, interiors taking
the place of superiors, and great men be-
coming children and servants. All are
familiar with the Christmas Tree, used for
distributing presents, and which need not
behere described. The custom Is said to
have come from Germany and the North Of
Europe. A@A''- ''s q -lha,sa AaAs
Perhaps no people ever excelled the Eng
lish in merry-making'a at Christmas, We
g -
speak of ages gone, when old Albion was
rightly called "Merrie England" The
revels began on Christmas eve, and each of
the twelve following days was holiday,
the season Of feasting and revelry often
lasting over a month. We find that often
in the house of nobleman "lord of mis-
rule' or an abbot Of folly was appointed,
whose Office it swas to make the rarest
, pastimes, and create all the amusing an
archy and sport he could in the household,
An old English song thus describes Christ
mas eve and the festivities it ushered in:
On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year, -rv
Saw the stoled priest the chAce rear
Then open wide the barons hall,
To yassal tenant, serf and all
Power laid his rod of rule aside, ~.
And ceremony doffed his pride.
The heir with roses in his SHOES, - ~
That night might village partner choose,
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night,
That t. the cottage, as the crown. .|.
Brought tidings Of salvation down, ~
ENGLAND was merry England when
Old Christmas brought this sport again.
Twas Christmas bruached the merrest ale;
Twas Christmas told the merrie.t tale;
Christmast ambol oft would cheer - 2
poor mans heart for all the year.