The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24
Christianity's Natal Day the
GrandeSt Day of the Year.
Merry- -makings in the Various
Countries Throughout
the World.
Etc. Etc. ETC., Etc., Etc, Etc.

Kind reader, to day, anticipating few
brief hours, we bid you, thrice bid you,
"Merry Christmas.' Tonight, the ringing Of
bells, the shouting of youths, the din Of noisy,
jostling, happy crowds, and indescribably
mingled sounds of all sorts will split the
week.-mrs. ear, not only here in this good old
Quaker City, but all over the earth, in
olamor telling you that the worlds festival is
at hand. Childish eyes have twinkled for
weeks as childish imaginations dwelt upon
the sure approach Of the happy time; and
older eyes have gladdened for weeks beneath
iovially- -arched brows as they beheld the speak
ing joy Of the younger folk. Long stockings
are already being stretched to their EXTREMIST
length, before midnight to be hung to
waiting bed-posts; and green trees are
already being planted in many a corner to
await their deckings Of Christmas trinkets
Gay have been the stores, gayer have been
throngs which hurried along the one and en-
tered the other. Although times are hard, to
be sure, yet purse-strings have loosened libe-
rally, and legal-tenders have been profusely
exchanged for all kinds Of articles to be given
away as presents. What you are to receive
let the morrow determine, but do not run the
risk Of being behindhand yourself by abstain
ing from giving in the fear that nothing will
be given to you. II there be any time at all
when q mans heart should warm benevo-
lently, is it not the merry Christmas timei
With the passage of single night the day
will be upon us. Shall we not then dwell
awhile upon the history of the fsstival-its
customs, and sportsf
Is the Date COrrectf
though the question whether the 25th OF
mber is the true Christmas Day has
practically settled by the observance of
fteenth centuries, still the subject is at
nes mooted, and arguments advanced in
Flavor Of other days, which, to say the very
least, have the coloring Of plausibility. 1t
was anciently observed by some Churches in
April, May, and other months, as well as De-
oember, but it has now for long time been
restricted by every Christian denomination
to the latter month, and we presume the Gus
tom will never again bs found to vary. Still,
it may not be improbable to glance at the
authorities which dwell upon this subject.
When we do so, we not only find that all the
arguments concerning the true date are based
upon mere tradition, but they are confused
and contradictory to perplexing degree. AT
the earliest period to which we can trace the
Observance Of Christmas as q professedly Chris
tian festival, we find that some OF the Churches
celebrated It on the lst and others on the 9th
Of January. Others, again, made it coincide
with the Jewish Passover, by fixing It on the
10th Of March; while by others the Feast of
Tabernacles, which occurs on the 29th of Sep
tember, was the favored season of the year.
But some time before the reign OF Constantine,
In the fourth century, the New Year season
. irrevooably fixed its claims to this additional
rejoicing. Even then, however, there was a
difference in the practice Of the Eastern aud
Western Churches. By the former the 9th Of
January was observed, and by the latter the
18th OF December. The Western Church was
finally triumphant, the date being nxed by a