The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-25
Miscellany.
Christmas Customs


Tn ENGLAND Christmas has always heen a
religious and merrymaking festival, without
distinction OF rank or caste. The reyels be-
ON on Christmas eve, and used to continue,
In old times, till Candlemas february 2d),
every day being a holiday till the twelfth
night, January 9th. In the house OF mobiles
''lord of misrule" or sabbot of unreason"
was appointed, whose Office it was to make
the rarest pastimes to delight the beholder.n
His dominion lasted from All-hallow Eve
October 81 till Candlemas. The larder
was always stocked with capons, hens, tur-
keys, geese, ducks, beef, mutton, venison,
pork, puddngs, pies, nuts, sugar and honey
the tenants being entertained in the hall, and
the lord OF the manor encouraging every
thing conduc We to mirth = 30
At midnight or Christmas eve it is the
custom throughout England and the CONT
nent to ring all the bells. The churches in
France and Italy are magnificently adorned
and collation. provided Tor the assembled
multitude. In the Protestant districts of
= Germany and Northern Europe, Christmas
is called the "children's festival'' The Christ
mas tree, which has become an institution
among us, is OF German origin, and Christ
mas eve is devoted to giving presents, espe-
cially between parents and children brothers
and sisters-by means OF the so-called Christ
mas tree. large yew bough is erected in
one of the parlors, lighted with tapers and
hung with manifold gifts, each marked with
the name of the person for whom it is in
tended, but not with the name OF the donor
The family party being assembled, the ca
deduc are distributed amid joyful congratula-
lions and happy romping. But more sobe--
scene ensues; for the mother takes this oc-
casion TO point out to the daughters and the
father to the sons, their errors and short
comings. - i A'A-'--' -''e.---l'
There are some curious superstitions in
some parts of England in reference to this
season. A notion prevails in DevOnshire
that ut twelve o'clock at night on Christmas
eve the oxen In their stalls are always found
on their knees, in an attitude of devotion, and
which is still more singuiar-snce the al
teration OF the style they continue to do this
only on the eve OF old Christmas day. 1t is
also believed that a noted thorn at Glaston-
bury blossoms ON the latter day. An offshoot
from this tree, which had been transplanted
to another part of ENGLAND, was once on
Christmas eve, new style, visited by above
two thousand people with lanterns and can
dies, and finding no appearance of bud it
was agreed by all that December rs, new
style, could not be the right Christmas day,
and consequently they reused going to
church. The affair became so serious in the
neighborhood that the ministers of the vari-
Gus churches, in order to dppease the people,
thought it prudent to give notice that the old
Christmas day should be kept as before.
In part OF Nottinghamshire there is val
ley, said to have been caused several hun
dred years ago by an earthquake which
swallowed up a whole village together with
the church. 1t used to be the custom for peo-
pie to assemble in this valley on Christmas
day morning to listen to the ringing of the
bells OF, the church beneath them, and it was
positively asserted that they might be heard
by putting the ear to the ground and listening
attentively. 1t is believed in some places
that the bees sing on Christmas eve; and in
the, mining districts the workmen declare
that High Mass is performed with the great
est solemnity on that evening in the mine
which contains the most valuable lode of ore,
and which is systematically lighted up with
candles in the most brilliant manner, and the
service chanted by unseen choristers. d2 .
There is a remarkable connection between
the beliefof the oxen kneeling and that of
some Christian Indians mentioned ia Hewi-
sons Sketches OF Upper, Canada" After
telling us thathe observed an Indian creeping
stealthily along on beautiful moonlight
Christmas eve, who made signs to him to be
still, he adds that, on questioning the Indian
as to the cause of his conduct, the other re-
piled, "We watch to see the deer kneel; this
is Christmas night; and all the deer tall upon
their knees to the Great Spirit and look up"