The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-12-25

folds Of his garment. The bulls were
then sacrificed, and the mistletse,
distributed In small portions, was
hungin their dwellings over tbe en-
frances, as O shelter and q propitia-
tion to the sylvan deities during the
cold season. These rites were retain
ed throughout the Roman dominion
in Britain, and for q long period
during the sovereignty of the Juts,
Saxons and Angles. The mistletoe
seldom now grows upon tho oak, but
dourishes upon the apple trees of the
orchards in the west and midland
counties of Englund, from which
large quantities are annually gather
ed, and sold in London for Christ
mas decorations.
The special custom connected with
the mistletoe on Christmas Eve, and
an indubitable relic of old Druidism,
Is we'll known. A branch of the
plant is suspended to the wall or
ceiling, and any one of the fair sex,
who through inadvertence, or, as
possibly may be insinuated, on pur-
pose, passes beneath the sacred sprig,
incurs the penalty of being then and
there kissed by any lord of creation
who is prompted to the enjoyment.
The custom of decking houses and
churches with evergreens is derived
from this Druidical observance.
Ivy, mistletoe, holly, rosemary, bays
and laurel are the favorite trimmings.
1t was an old belief that sylvan spirits
sheltered themselves in evergreens
unnipped by frosts to the warmer
seasons. Garlands were worn about
the head, and hence the phrases,
"kiss under the rose," and "whisper
under the mistletoe. Holly and ivy
in England, as in this country, are
the favorite evergreens, though the
windows of the chapels of the two
great English universities are decked
with lnurel.
The burning of the Yule log, de-
rived from the kindling of huge bon
fires by our scandinavian ancestors
at their feast of Judl, in honor of
their god, Thor, was very early in
corporated into the Christmas obser-
vances, and though sadly shorn of
its ancient pomp and circumstance,
is still maintained in some parts of
England, as we'll as in Northern Con-
tinental Europe. The venerable log,
each wayfarer doffing his hat as it
passed, was drawn from the forest,
and rolled with its ponderous pro-
portions into its place upon the spa
cious hearth-stone of the baronial
hall, with every demonstration of
Joy, on the Christmas Eve. the i'm
plicit fuith being that in its flame
would be burnt out all wrongs and
heart-burnings, and the liquor made
to bubble in the wassail-bowl, the
quaffing of which would drown all
ancient fcuds and animosities. and
''drive dull care away" The half
consumed log was preserved with
care for lighting the Yule log the
next Christmas Eve, and this charred
block was deemed essential in each
house as an effectual security against
fire during the year. 1t was deemed
bad omen for squirting or bare
footed person, and above all, for
hat-footed woman, to enter the hall
while the fule log was burning, and
as an accompaniment to the Yulc
log, a Yule or Christmas candle, OF
stupendous proportions, shed its
light upon the occasion. In Corn
wall, we are informed in Notes and
Queries, that the whole family circle
gather around the jovial hearth stone
OIL the occasion, indulging in games
and wassail drink to the Yale log, or
Mock, as they call it, the children, ms
n special dispensation, being allowed
to keep late hours on the occasion
with those of elder growth. "Goosey
dancers" go about from the villages,
and make hilarity, while others sing
the festal songs beneath the windows,
from house to house, early Christmas
morning. In Cheshire, entertain
ments are provided for these singing
parties in all private houses, and ali,
both rich and poor, deck their homes
for fourteen days with the sacred
holly and attendant mistletoe, under
the shade Of the latter of which
many kiss is stolen, which on other
days would be forbidden fruit. The
inspiriting song Of old Herrick, Of
which we give the first stanza, is well
known:
Come, bling with noiso,
My merry, merry boys,
The Christmas log to the firing;