The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-25
COLUMBIA.
Friday Morning. December 20. 1868.
Ubyistmas-Its Origin and 1ferry
Customs. "a

st. Nicholas, Santa CLAUS, and
Krish- -Kinkle, whose traditional
budget Of all good things, his journey
with it through the air, and descent
down all chimneys, are radiant vi
sions Of childhood, which. follow us
into maturity and age, have come
again, and the replenished stocking,
the decorated Christmas tree, and
the gifts under manifold forms of
surprise, are making millions of
young hearts and old as well-hila-
rious and happy, as has been the
case on the annual return of the
event for more than thousand times
before. Christmas, 80 called from
the two Latin words, Christi and
Nissa. signifying the mass, or offer
ing of Christ, is the great festival of
the ecclesiastic year, and so impor-
tant and joyous a solemnity is it
deemed, that special exception is
made in its behalf, whereby in the
event of the anniversary falling on
Friday, that day of the week. under
all other circumstances fast, is trans
formed into q festival. That the
birth of Jesus Christ, the deliverer
of the human race, the mysterious
link connecting the transcendent and
incomprehensible attributes of Deity
with human sympathies and affec-
tions, should be considered the most
glorious event that ever happened,
and the most worthy of commemora-
tion, commends itself to the heart
and reason of all who aspire to walk
in His footsteps and share in the in
effable benefits of His sacrifice. In
Catholic countries, q mass is always
celebrated at midnight on Christmas
Eve, the hour in which our Saviour
is believed to have been born, an
other at day-break on Christmas Day,
and third, at subsequent hour in
the morning. A beautiful idea enter
tained in this connection, is that
which represents thorough prostra-
tion Of the Powers of Darkness at
this season, relieving mankind for
the time from their malevolent inhu-
ences. The cock is supposed to crow
all night long. and by his vigilance to
scare away all malignant spirits.
There is another belief which was
long prevalent, even in the memories
Of the older people of this genera
ton, and in this country as we'll as
elsewhere, that the cattle in their
stalls fall down on their knees in ado
ration of the infant Saviour, as the
tradition reports them to have done
in the stable at Bethlehem. Bees
were also said to sing in their hives,
and bread baked on Christmas Eve
never to mould. All nature was thus
supposed to join in the great solem-
nifty. The custom of Christmas gifts
has its origin in the Roman Pagana-
liza, which was instituted by Servius
Tullius. B. G. 555. On these festi-
walls, celebrated at the beginning of
the year, an altar was erected iii every
village, and to the box placed upon
it, every man, woman and child was
expected to contribute coin. Aubrey
speaks of a pot, in which Roman
coins were found, and supposed to
be one of these Paganalian vessels.
The Christmas box naturally arose
from this Pagan New Years box.
There is an impressive propriety and
tender beauty, however, in thus COM
memorating the event which gave O
Divine Redeemer to lost world, the
greatest gift that is conceivable to
mankind. It is, moreover, an equally
appropriate custom, which makes the
season one not only of composing
and forgetting old quarrels, aud re-
newing and confirming friendships,
but for universal manifestation Of
generosity and charity from the rich
to the poor-in olden times, this
beneficence being extended even to
the lower animals, practice to which
Burns alludes in 1.-The Auld Farmers
Address to his Mare" st. Nicholas
is one of the most popular saints of
Catholic Europe, being invoked as
the patron of sailors, travellers, cap
tiyeS and the Onordian of unmarried