, 1865-12-22
CHRisTMAs DAY.

Previous to another issue Of the SrArEsn AN
Christmas day will have come and gone, and hence
it is proper that we should ndulgein brief ref
srence to its origin, and the glad event it is in
tended to commemorate. Its institution is attri-
buted to Pope Telesphorus, who died AID. 1873,
and from that day to this, it has been one of the
most noted of Christian soIemnities. At first it
the most movable of the Christian festive DAYS,
often confounded with the Epiphany, and cele-
brated by the Eastern Churches in the months
of April and May. In the 4th century, an in
vestigation was made concerning the day of
Christ's nativity. The result of the enquiry by
the theologisns of that day was an agreement
upon the 25th of December. The chief grounds
for the decision were the tables of the Censors
10 the archives of Rome; and although in the
opinion of one of the fathers, there was not au-
thentic proof CT the Identification Of the day,
yet the decision was uniformly accepted, and
from that time the nativity has bees celebrated
throughout the Church on the same day 1t has
also been the common tradition that Christ was
born about the middle of the night The day
was considered in the double light of a holy
commemora:ion and cheerful festival, and was
accordingly distinguished by devotion, by evaca-
ton from business, and by merriment. During
the middle ages, it was celebrated by the gay
fantastic spectacle of dramatic mysteries and
mOralities, performed by persOnages in grOtesque
masks and singular costumes.
The custom of singing canticles at Christmas,
called carols, which recalled the songs of the
shepherds at the birth Of Christ, dates from the
time when common people ceased to understand
Latin. The bishop and the clergy often joined
with the popuIace In carolling, and the songs
were enlivened by dances. and by the music of
tambours, guitars, violns and organs. Faith
ers, mothers, sons aud daughters, mingled to-
gether in the dance ,lif in the night, each bear
ing in his hand lighted taper. Preparatory to
Christmas, the bells are rung at midnight
throughout England and the continent, and Gf-
ter the solemn celebration of mass, tor which
the churches of France and Italy a.e maguif-
Gently adorned, it is usual for the jewellers to
partake of a collation., that they may be able
to sustain the fstigues of the night IE the
Protestant districts of Germany and the north
of Europe, Christmas is called the "Childrens
Festival" and Christmas eve is devoted to Civ
ing presents, especially between parents and
children, and brothers and sisters by means of
the SO called Christmas tree. large yew
bough is erected in one of the parlors, lighted
with taPers and hung with articles designed
for presents. Each of these is marked with the
name of the person for whom it is intended, aud
when the whole party is assembled, the pres
rnts are distributed around the room, according
to their labels, amid joyful acclamations and
congratulations.
In our own country, composed as it is Of rep
resentatives of all nations and creeds, Christ
mas is observed in many different ways, but
with all it is regarded an occasion of joy and
feStyty, and its recurrence is looked forward
to by old and young as season of delight. And
now having exceeded the space at our disposal,
we conclude by wishing our readers, one and
ALA HAPPY CHRIsrNAsl