The national Republican., 1866-12-25
THE DAY WE CELEBRATE.

According to standard authority, as set
forth in the Encyclopedia Britannica, Christ
mas day is festival Of the Christian Church,
observed on the 25th day Of December, in
memory of the nativity Of JESUS Christ.
The day, however, now kept as Christmas
cannot be that of the nativity Of our Lord,
for the reason assigned by SHAW and others,
viz, that in December, which is the height
of the rainy season in Judea, neither hocks
nor shepherds could have been at night in
the fields of Bethlehem, which we are told
was the case at the nativity Of CHRIST. As
to the antiquity of this festival, the first
traces we find Of it are in the second century,
about the time of the Emperor CoNMoDUs.
The decretal epistles indeed carry it a little
higher, and state that TELEsPHoRUs, who
lived in the reign Of ANToNISUs PIUs, ordered
divine service to be celebrated, and an an
gelical hymn to be sung, the night before the
nativity Of our Saviour. We have melan-
choly proof that it was observed before the
times of CONSTANTINE, for while the persecu-
ton ragged under DIocLETIAS, who then kept
his court at NiComedia, that prince, among
his many acts Of cruelty, finding multitudes
Of Christians assembled to celebrate CHRIsr's
nativity, commanded the church doors to be
shut, and fire to be put to it, which in a
short time reduced the church and all within
to ashes.
In all civilized countries the annual re-
currence of Christmas was celebrated with
festivities Of various kinds. In none, how
ever, was it more joyfully welcomed than in
England, where even still the "old honor"
has not altogether fled. In that country it
was the custom on Christmas Eve, after the
usual devotions were over, to light large
candles and throw on the hearth huge log,
called the Yule Log, or Christmas Block.
This latter practice is still observed to con-
siderable extent in England especially in the
northern counties. At court, and in the
houses of the wealthy, an officer, named the
Lord Of MsrMe, was appointed to superin-
tend the revcls and even in Scotland sim
liar functionary used to be appointed, under
the title of the Abbot of UnreaSon, till the
wear 1855, when the office was abolished by
act of Parliament. The reign of the Lord u
Msrule began on All-Hallow Eve. and lasted
till Candlemas Day. The favorite pastines
over which he presided we're gaming, music,
coniuring, dipping for nuts and apples,
dancing, fool plough, hot cookies, blindman's
buff. &c. All these recreations were re,
garded with the utmost horror by the Pur
tans, who cursed them with q wrath that was
at best fanatical. The favorite dishes fol
breakfast and supper at this season were the
boars head, with an apple or orange in thu
mouth, and set of with rosemary, plum pud
ding and mince pies. The latter dish was re
garded with peculiar aversion by the Puri
tans, and it was therefore point OF ortho
doxy to partake Of it. The houses an
churches were decked with evergreens, es
pecially with misletoe, to which traditionar
sacredness has attached since the days G
the Druids.
In our own country the celebration Of th
great Christian festival varies according t
the predominance of the Puritanic elemer
in the religious society. In the cabin Of tn
old Virginia darkey the yue log or the bl
chunk Of pine wood still blazes on the broa
hearth in primitive fashion, while in artist
cratic circles the mistletoe hangs over
crimson carpet, and instead of cracking 10
in the fireplace we find warmth dispense
from a patent stove. The warmth Of Il
Christmas festival has pervaded nearly Il
whole land, and even the strongholds of ol
fashioned Puritanism in New England ha'
experienced thaw since the days Of Il
fathers.
In Washington the festival is observe
with fervency by old and young, who ass
ciate with the day oil that is pleasantest
our religion and in the philosophy Of soci
life. The public Offices were closed yeste
day at about o'clock, in order TO allow Il
employees of the Government an oppo
tunity to make suitable preparation for I'll
occasion.
Shopping was lively yesterday afternoc
and evening; for, although money is not
plenty as usual in this ten miles square
everybody is obliged to buy something {
"the children"
After wishing all our friends "Mer
Christmas" this morning, we shall attel
church, and in the evening we intend to Sc
out such Christmas party with mistlet
bough) as is described by Dickens in t
Pickwick Papers, from which we make
following extract
"Ms Wrinkle kissed the young lady W
the black eyes, and Mr.. Snodgrass kiss
Emily; and Mr.. Weller, not beisg particu
about the form of being under the mistlet
kissed Emma and the other female seryan
lust as he caught them. AS to the poor
lations they kissed everybody, not even
cepting the palmer portion Of the young-lO
visitors, who, in their confusion, ram ri
under the mistletoe directly it was hung
without knowing il! Wardle stood with
back to the fire, surveying the whole SCI
with the utmost satisfaction, and the fat
took the opportunity Of approprriating to
own use, and summarily devouring, par
ularly fine mince pie that had been careful
put by for somebody else.
"Now the screaming had subsidized, a
faces were in glow, and curls in tang
and MIR. Pickwick, after kissing the old la'
nc baf,ra tinnad xuaa standing uIlor 4