Smyrna times., 1867-01-02
Christmas.

The term Christmas is derived from the
Latin Church-it is properly Christi Massa
the Mass OF Christ. In former times. the
celebration of Christmas began in the later
part of the previous day-Christmas Eve
The house was first deckcd with holly, ivy, and
other evergreens. Candles of an uncommon
size were then lighted under the name Of
Christmas candles an enormous log or Christ
mas block, was laid upon the fire, while the
people sat round regaling themselves with
beer, &c. In the course of the night small
parties went from house to house, singing
what were called Christmas carols-simple,
popular dltties, full Of joyful illusions to the
Redeemer. A mass was commenced in the
Churches at midnight, custom still kept up
in Catholic countries. These carols were more
generally sung i'll the morning of Christmas
day.
| n contributor to the "Gentlemen's Maya
zine in 1911, describing the manner in which
! Christmas was spent in Yorkshire saws: =
About six O'clOck ON Christmas day, | was
awakened by sweet singing under my win
dow; surprised at u visit so unexpected,
arose; and looking out of the window, | be-
held SIX young women and four young men
welcoming with sweet music the blessed MORN "
Christmas carols are among the oldest Of
English songs
Christmas has long since passed into a sy-
nOnym 70: festivity. In oldcn times the boar
head, ornamented with rosemary, was carried
to table upon silver platter, with great cere-
mony. IiOllnShcd states that in the year | 20,
on the day of the young Princes coronation,
King Henry H. served his son at table as
server, bringing up the boar's head with trum-
pets before it, according to the manner, or
general custom of the times.
With Christmas commenced the season of
mumming, and the reign Of the Lord Of Mis-.
rule" or Abbot Of Unrcason," as he was
called in Scotland in which Scott describes in
The Abbot These pleasantrieS, which were
carried frequently to great excess, were the
remains of the ancient Saturna9, which exist
ed before the introduction of Christianity. The
decoration of Churches with evergreen is 9
pleasing relic of these olden times. These old
customs which seem dying away like distant
music, hnd but an echo III our modern matter
Oi-fact days, yet it is pleasant to take glimpse
of our jOyial tore-fathers, as .hey were accus
toned to regale themselves at this merry max
ing season. Twelfth day--the anniversary ot
the alteration of the magl-occurs on the
twelfth day after Christmas. Many curiou,
customs are associated with its celebration il
Great Britain and on the continent. Thus, il
parts Of Ireland, at night, they used to set q
sieve of oats as high as they could, and place
around it twelve lighted candles, with large
one also lighted in the centre This was, o
course, to typity Christ and his twelve apostle
as lights unto the world, and they do it by
building twelve small and one large fire in tn,
fields. In Staffordshire, however, the custom
differ, for there on the evening before, the,
light large fire to commemorate the guidin
star which led tue magi to Bethlehem. In
many European countries the rulers did, an
in some they still do present the gifts brough
by the wise men. at the altar of their chape
on the sixth of January.
Thus we find in the "Gentlemen's Maga
zine for 1863 in the record for January :
Being twelfth day, his majesty went to tn
Chapel Royal with the usual solemnity, an
offered gold, myrrh, and frankincense, in thre
purses at the altar, according to the ancier
custom" In some parts of England ther
, exists practice among the farmers of goin
under the apple trees on twelfth eve or night
; and singing various couplets. This practice
6 known as "apple bowling" and it is suppose
i that without it the apples will not grow we
u during the year