The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-24

Was 0AcluhlVely rellgi0us song, put IL mas
become 80 secularized that but little Of the
religious element now remains. We subjoin
few stanzss from one Of the most touching
Of these Christmas ballads fs a.
"And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day, on christmas day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring
On Christmas day In the morning '
"And all the angels In heaven shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the angels In heaven shall sing
On Christmas day In the morning
"And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing
On Christmas day In the morning.
"Thep let us all rejoice amain
r, ON Christmss M M az day, on Christmas day;
On Christmas day in the morning"
In this country the singing of Christmas
carols has never been popularly adopted.
sperts and Festivities.
With years always comes sedateness. This
holds true not only in regard to the life Of
man, but also in regard to the life OF a custom
In bygone ages, as has already been remarked
the festival of Christmas was observed in
noise and clamor, and while, .sooth to say, I.
is Kept even in this present age in manner
rather unquiet, yet, as II has grown old, its
celebration is not now attended with any ap-
proach to that boisterousness which marked
it centuries ago. Nevertheless, Christmas
sports make up much Of the attractiveness Of
the time. In the days Of yore the "Yule
Log" was the grand elimination of the sperts
of ofChristmas Eve. The custom is still retained
in some sections Of England, although it Is
sadly shorn of the pomp and ceremony which
formerly attended it. The festival of the
winter solstice, as celebrated by the ancient
Goths and Saxons, was termed JUL or Yule by
the latter of which terms Christmas is still
known in the Scottish dialect. The term is
most probably derived from the Gothic word
giul or hiul, from which is derived the English
"wheel," and which has the same significance.
JUL, or Yule, is therefore supposed to signify
the turning point of the year-a supposition
which is confirmed by the fact that in the old
clog almanacs the Yuls-tide is designated by
the device of wheel.
The ceremony Of bringing in the Yule Log
was conducted in the following manner
The party repaired to the woods where the log
lay, and having placed themselves in the
udEucpp, Niob6Cu ~ Ia W bh0 udiI,
each wsyfarer raising his hat as 1t passed.
Arriving there, they were greeted by the min
strels with song, of which the following
supposed to belong to the period of Henry vi,
is fair specimen
welcome be thou. heavenly King,
Welcome born on this morning,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome Yule!
"Welcome be ye, good New Year.
Welcome Twelfth day. both In fere
Welcome saints, loved and dear,
Welcome Yule"
The log was then rolled upon the ample
hearth and ignited with coal from the rem
nant of the Yule Llog of the preceding year.
This done, a candle of monstrous size was
lighted, and then the Christmas party made
themselves merry with music and wassail.
'Kissing under the Mistletoe" was another
favorite game of Christmas Eve in olden
times, while still another was the Procession
Of Mummers," styled guiSers or suizards in
Scotland, ceremony which is still kept up ia
some sections of England. The term 'mum-
mer," which is synonymous with "masker,"
comes from the Danish munme, or the Dutch
momme. The custom was probably derived
from the Roman Sat,unalia, of which masqus-
Fading was a favorite feature. The early
Christians, on New Years day, were
accustomed to run about the streets
en- masqae, in ridicule of the custom
Of their Pagan neighbors. From these
practices II Is supposed sprang the 'mys-
teries,'' or ''miracle plays" which were
for many centuries favorite amusement of
all the European nations. The
mumming ceremonies of Christmas Eve
were in many respects similar to these popular
mysteries" although the religious element,
which was pro minent in the latter, was almost
entirely wanting in the former. The persons
engaging in them would array themselves in
the most outlandish and fantastic costumes,
combining all the oddities Of men and brutes,
and then make the round Of the principal
houses within their reach, TO the intense de-
light of old and young. The ceremony was
not strictly confined to the Christmas season
In old times, although it is at present, wher-
ever practised in England. AT Tenby, in South
Wales, II is kept up for three weeks, every
house in the town being visited. In Scotland.
mumming, or gutsing, is performed at New
Year, as are all the other festivities of the
winter solstice.
The "Lord Of Misrule" now takes his place
as next on the list of Christmas sports of the
days of our ancestors. This functionary, in
word, was the master Of the Christmas revels.
We have the following account Of the custom
by StoW:-"In the feast OF Christmas there