The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-24

tember, was the favored season OF the year.
But some time before the reign of Constantine,
in the fourth century, the New Year season
irrevOcably fixed its elaine to this additional
rejoicing. Even then, however, there was
a difference in the practice of the Eastern
and Western Churches. By the former the oth
Of January was observed, and by the latter the
26th Of December.
The Western Church was finally triumphant,
the date being fixed by mandate OF Juilus l,
who was the head of the Roman See from A d.
337 TO 352. We are informed by st. Chrysostom,
who died in the early part OF the hfth century,
that Pope julius, being solicited by st. Cyr1, Of
Jerusalem, so to do, caused inquiries to be
made into the matter, and authortatlvely de-
cided that the most authentic traditions were in
favor Of the 25th of December Mosheim, the
celebrated historian of the Church, doubts the
truth of this story; and other writer's seem
ingly without any warrant, have IN ain!aned
that the date was fixed upon by ST. Telesphorus,
who was Bishop of Rome from A. D. 12s to l39.
There is a lameutable history connected with
one of these early celebrations of the Nativity.
In the latter part of the third century, the En-
peror Dioclesian, who was one OF the bitterest
foes that the Church has ever encountered in
the whole course of its eventful history, caused
all the doors of church in Nicomedia, in which
the Christians were celebrating the birth OF the
Saviour, to be closely barred, and then set fire
to the building, not soul escaping from the
fury of the flames.
The COmmen cement and Ending Of the
Christmas Festivities.
In this country and, indeed, throughout tbe
world, the Christmas festivities may be said TO
commence with the evening of December "a.
D,,4 al,
authorities, the festival should begin on the 10th
day of the month, which is designated in the
Calendar as o. Sapieatia, from the name of an
anthem sung during Advent.
The proper termination of the festivities is the
1st of February, or the eve before the Purfca-
tion of the Virgin-Candlemas. .Day-by which
time, in accordance with the canons of the
Church, all the holiday decorations of places
of worship should be removed. In England,
however, the festivities continue at the pre-
sent day scarcely a fortnight, ending with
Twelfth.nay; while in this country it is but
seldom that they Lax beyond the commence
ment of the New Year.
The Origin of the Christmas Festivities.
Considering that Christmas is pre- eminently
q Christian festival, it would seem strange that
many of the customs peculiar to the day are to
be traced back to heathenish sources for their
origin. When the different European nations
were first converted 10 Christianity, it was
found that the rites peculiar to their former
faith had taken such hold upon the popular
heart that it was almost impossible to prevent
their continued observance. The early mis-
sonaries, therefore, made the best of this cir
cumstance by engratting on the ancient cere-
monies and superstitions of their converts the
principles OF the new faith which they had
accepted, thus rendering the transition less sud-
den and less obnoxious.
This was particularly the with respect to
Christmas in Great Britain, from which country
we have borrowed nearly all of our own
methods of observing ii. The origin of the
principal ceremonies was the SdtuTndlt1 of the
Romans. The season chosen for this grand
merry making was the time of the winter sol
stice, on the 2lst of December, when the days.
having arrived at the period of their shortest
duration, began 10 lengthen, thus heraldng the
approach of spring and summer, which was
regarded as a fit subject for rejoicing. The
Roman SdtuT7ldil were characterized by uni
versal license and jollity. The relation of mas
ter and slave, for the time being was COM
pletely severed; the former frequently attending
upon the latter as servants. The houses were
made gay with evergreens, and games and pre-
sents were the staple occupations of the old and
young of all classes. Among the ruder nations
of the North of Europe there was similar festi
val at the same period of the year, characterized
in this case by the sacrifice of men and cattle
the hanging up OF the sacred mistletoe, and the
universal kindling of fires, indoors and out
From the last Of these is derived the Yule Log Of
''Merre Old England" of which we shall speak
elsewhere. 1t is also said that the ancient Per.
slams, between WHOM and the Druids OF western
Europe there is supposed to have been an init
mate relation, were accustomed to kindle fires
on an extensive scale at the same period of the
year.
At different times, TO the peculiarities of the
Sdtot1ndiid were added the weird rites of the
Druids and the grim obseryances of the Saxon
mythology; and from this odd mlnging Of
Pagan ceremonials sprang the Christmas festyi.
ties of our forefathers.
The History of Christmas.
Having received the countenance OF the
Church. and being based on customs which were
| revered by the common people, Christmas con-
tinued down to the Reformation to be celebrated
throughout the Christian world with great re-
| ioicing. When the Protestant sects sprang into
| existence, this great festival, in common with
many others on the Roman Calendar retained
| its place among the customs OF the Lutheran
and Anglican Churches.
But by the adherents of Calvin it was rejected
IN toto, as without any warrant in Scripture.
1t was to the prevalence of this spirit among the
| Puritan settlers of New England that we OW