The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-12-25
Christmas in the Olden Time.

Old times and old manners are changed
and gone; but there still will be many Il
frolic, many jest, and many glorious
burst of fun on this our Christmas day
Wealth does not always bring happiness
in its train; and, though we are not as
rich and prosperous as of yorc, we nave
too much courage, too much strength of
mind, to be daunted by poverty or dis
tress. The heart is in the right place
still, and, if we cannot be as merry as we
would, we will be as merry as we can.
The first certain records that we have
of the celebration of the birth OF our Sa-
viour, are found in the reign of Docle-
tan, A. D. 2S4-3O5, when: "While that
ruler was holding court at Nicomedia, he
learned that Il multitude OF Christians
were assembled in the city TO celebrate
the birthday of Jesus; and having order
ed the church doors to be closed, he set
fire to. the buildings, and all the worship
pers perishcd in the flames" From that
time until the Sth century, the records of
Christmas-or "Christ's Mass"-celebra-
,tions, are rare indeed. In l066, however,
at the time of the conquest of England
by William OF Normandy, the day of
Christ's birth was commemorated with
great grandeur-the preates. priests and
mobiles who followed in the conqueror's
train, lending by their presence addition
al magniiccnce to the event. From this
time down, Christmas was n grand loli-
day; and with it, even then, was always
linked that emblem of the mistletoe-
the rcyered of the Druidical priesthood
which is yet, in England, indissolubly
connected with the memories of the day.
The pale green leaf and the silver berry
which decorated tho uncouth halls of
Canute and Edward the Confessor; which
clustered over the heads of Richard and
Henry; and were gazed at by the beau
ties of Eleanor's Court-bchcld the well
coming home of English Harry, while the
glories OF Agincourt still shone DER his
brow-wtnessed the violence and guilt of
the Eighth Henry-the regal pride of
Eizabetll--the pedanticsm Of Scottish
James, and the hahghty pride Of the un-
happy Charles.
: All! Christmas in the olden times was
a merry, merry day! There was mead,
and hyppocras, and methcglin; there
were stout hearts and open hands; there
was mrth for The knight and lady, and
the squire of low degree. What though
the winds whistled through the chinls in
the walls? What though the very ours
quarrclled and fought on the rush strewn
floor? What though la mode with its
trickerios and follics was unknown :?
There was tho will and the spirit to be
light-hearted and gay, for tho day when
our Lord first came ON earth should be 4
Joyous time. There were the mummcrs
and the masqucrs, the feast and miracle
play. There was the grand old abbot
OF Misrule" with his attendant crew.
From palace to hut, all was rejoicing and
well. wishing.
In these olden times, when religion and
tradition combined, to make the period
one of Joyous, heart-easing mirth," the
festival extended from Christmas until
welfth-night, or Candelmas The lardel
was filed with fattcd capons, antcred
deer, and glistening fish-the river, the
moor and the sky, were called into con
trihntion. There were the birds, shining
in brilliant gold ard green, there were
the lusciously tinted hams, there were the
rosy apples, and the sobersided nuts. Tho
huge wassai bowl simmered in front o
the fire, where the old "Yule Log was
blazing and "Merric England" was thel
'Merre" in thought and deed. 1t was {
feast for high and for low, for peer ant
for peasant. The tenants were entertain
ed at the Hall, and the Lord of the Manor
and his family mingled with them, en-
couraging their joys and adding new yes
to theirp pleasures while perhaps to crown
the whole, the eldest son of the portIy
Seigneur led off the opening dance will
some fair village maiden.
Then, too, were the games! Forfeit
! and dancing, riddles and snapdragons
while the "Yulc Log burning bright anC
clear, threw its honest light on the happy