The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-01-01
0igin and History of tho Christmas
HOLIDAYS.


Holidays.
The first authentic traces of the cele-
brlion among he early Christians Of
the advent OF Christ is found during the
reign Of the infamous emperor Commo.
dls near the close Of the second centu.
ry. Some have stated it at nearly one
hundred years earlier, during the times
OF Antomins Plus, bnt the accounts are
not easily snbs,antiated. During the
middle ofthe fourth century we have
the first proof positive cl the existence
OF the custom, for it is recorded that
during the reign Of Diocletian the doors
OF church in which a number Of Chris.
tlans had gathered together 10 celebrate
the nativity OF Christ, were closed bv
order OF the emperor. and the building
fired, when all That were within it per.
iShcd.
The exact date OF the birth Of Christ
is unknown. 1t is supposed to have
occurred near the Winter solstice, but
this supposition has been refuted by
some, on the plea that, "n December
which is the height OF lhe rainy season
IN Judea, neither ilocks nor sheph,rls
cold have been at night in the fell of
Bethlehem, which we are told was the
case at the birth of Christ" This rca
sonlng is excellent, and cannot, with
such facts now to be obtained, Le dis
proved Therefore, the day which we
now celebrate as the nativity of our
Lord cannot be The day Of lis
birth.
The observance Of this day is derived
from the Western Church, which caus.
ed the nativity TO be celebrated on the
day OF the old Roman feast of Sol,
which occurred on the 18TH Of Decem.
her, though no information was possess.
ed relative to the day Of Chrisl's birth.
In the Eastern Church the celebration
occurred on the 7ih uf january
81. Luke tells us that Christ was born
during the night, and hence the name in
the German Of Wcilnaclar, e., Holy
or Consecratch night.
From England and Germany, prnci.
paiiy. do we derive the customs incident
lo the celebration Of this festival in the
South. In the former it was at one
time the universal practice, anl is now,
to considerable extent, to light larg,
candles on Christmas Eve, and to throw
on the hearth huge log, called tho
yul" log, or Christmas block. In the
upper classes Lord of Misrule" was
appointed to supcrintcnd the festivities.
In Scotland The same officer was desig
na'cd abbot of Unreason." The reign
OF this officer began on All Hallow Eve,
and lasted till Candlemas Day. All
kinds OF pasllmcs were inaugurated,
and, for the season, tho utmost license
was allowed to servants as well rs to
the others. The houses and churches
were deckcd with overgrecns, and tho
mistlctoe has ever since had peculiar
sacredness. These festivities were mat
ter OF such great horror to all Puritans,
that IL became point Of orthodoxy with
all goad Cavaliers TO partake of them -
The custom is therefore the Legitimate
inherltance Of many OF the people Of the
Southern States.
The making Of presents on Christmas
Eve and day is an old hoathen usage,
and dates back beyond tho Christian
era, and was originally derived from a.
certain practice at the celebration Of the
anniversary Of the birth Of Sol, which
the Christian observance has displaced.
In the North of Germany this custom
has for long time prevailed, and no.
where else, perhaps, Is it as closely ob.
served as here in our sunny South.
A n l1.Nnr Snnfnh linh lnnIn.