The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-24

OF Ieastng, OF gadnesS OF heart and OF peace and
goodwill to all classes and conditions Of men, is
agaiA upon us. Another evening and another dawn
will see us fairly launched on its great sea Of hap
piness.
The season is not only time for rejoicing, but is
also time for conveying JOY. TO fully observe
Christmas, we must endeavor to make others happy
as much as we strive to minister to our own enjoy
ment; and let all remember, while in the height OF
their rejoicing, that there are many human beings
who are not highly favored in this worlds goods,
who know no merry Christmas, no happy New Year.
Towards such let the purse, as well as the heart
strings, be loosened, and you will have the pleasure
OF feeling that the true spirit OF Christmas has been
in you-namely, giving as It has been given.
1t is pre-eminently becoming that the day which
saw the great gift OF God to man-the Christ-child
should be observed in joyous manner, and by
the giving OF gifts from man to man. May the day
still be kept from age to age in the right spirit and
let US never forget in the accumulation OF new
observances, its high and holy origin
The Source of the Christmas Festivities.
Considering that Christmas is pre-eminently a
Christian festival, it would strange that many
Of the customs peculiar to the day be traced
back TO heathenish sources for their origin. When
the different European nations were first converted
to Christianity it found that the rites peculiar to
their former faith had taken such hold upon the
popular heart, that It was almost impossible to pre-
vent their continued observance. The early mis-
siOnaries, therefore, made the best OF this crcum-
stance by engrafting on the ancient ceremonies and
superstiti0ns OF their converts the principles OF
the faith which they had accepted thus render
ing the transition less sudden and less obnoxious.
This was particularly the with respect to
Christmas in Great Britain, from which country we
have borrowed nearly all OF our own methods Of OBJ
serving it. The origin of the principal ceremonies
was the Satuynatia OF the Romans.
At different times, to the peculiarites OF the
Sdturnalid added the weird rites of the Druds
and the grim Observances of the Saxon mythology:
and from this odd mingling Of Pagan ceremonals
Bprang the Christmas festivities OF our forefathers
Among such may be noticed the peculiar customs
and observances OF the olden times, the bringing in
and lighting of the Yule log, the hanging OF the
mstletOe, the decoration with evergreens the boars
head, the carols and waits and many merry freside
games.
The History OF Christmas.
Having received the eountenance of the Church,
and being based on customs which were revered by
the common people, Christmas continued down to
the Reformation to be celebrated throughout the
Christian world with great rejoicing When the
Protestant sects sprang into existence, this great
festival in common with many Others on the Roman
calendar, retained its place among the customs of
the Lutheran and Anglican Churches; but by the
adherents of Calvin it rejected Ia tOtO with
out any warrant in Scripture. 1t was to the pre-
Valence OF this spirit among the Puritan settlers of
New England that we owe the origin Of our national
festival Of Thanksgiving. AS Scotland was the
country in which the Calvnistic doctrines became
most prevalent, IL was there that the clergy made
the most determined efforts to de away with the OBJ
Servance of the obnoxious festival. The result
OF this is the absence, even at the present
day, of anything in the way Of festivity Christ
mas except In the Highlands and the county of For
far. But even in the Cavlnistic Lowlands the tend
ency to rejoicing at the close of the year is rre
pressible that New Years Day and the preceding
evening, known as Hognanay, are seasons of gene
raj jollifcaton. In this country, while Christmas
was formerly regarded by the Presbyterians with as
much aversion as it is by those OF their belief in the
Old World, it has at last come to be observed by
them generally, but merely season of festivity,
without partaking OF any sanctioned religious char
acter.
Ancient Christmas Sports and Customs.
The gathering Of the sacred mstletoe was among
the great events OF Christmas time with the ancient
BritOns and Druids, by whom the plant was held in
great veneration especially when found cinging to
the oak. On this occasion party OF the people
would sally forth with all the paraphernalia OF re-
jocing the Druds priests at their head, to gather
the mysterious plant. on reaching the oak two
white bulls were first secured to it, and then the
chief Druid arrayed in robes OF white to typify his
purity, assembled the tree and with golden knife
severed the sacred plant, which was caught in fall
ing in the robe OF another priest The bulls and in
some instances human victims as well, were then
sacrificed after which the plants thus gathered were
divided among the people and by them hung up in
sprays over the entrances to their dwellings. Not
only was the plant considered to possess the power
TO propate the sylvan deities during the OF
frost and snow but 1t was held to impart healing
influence TO all who thus revered it.
This plant has not been introduced to any extent
into the decoration OF Christian churches. but where
il can be easily obtained it has been used extensively
in the adornment OF private houses At the present
day II is extremely rare in England, and almost un-
known in our own country But it still Ourishes in
great luXuriance on the apple trees OF Gloucester
snire and Worcestershire where large quantities are
cut during the Christmas season aud forwarded to
London and other important cities, to be used in the
decoration OF houses and shops.
One OF the most entIcng games OF Christmas eve
is connected with this plant. branch of ii is sus-
pended from the wall or ceiling, and when one OF
the gentler sex passes under II, either purposey
by accident, she ncurs the penalty or being kissed
by any one OF the less gentle specimens OF humanity
who cOvets the privilege And IL she be not kissed,
A. IL generally believed that she will remain single
during the whole Of the coming year.
The decoration of churches and private houses
with greens is among the Oldest customs connected
with the season For churches, while 1t has beer
customary to employ nearly all the seasonabe vari
cites OF evergreens the plants that are held IN the
highest favor in England are the holly bay, rose
mary and laurel. The Ivy is also used but from it,
associations with Bacchus and the Internal orgie
celebrated in his honor, 1t is generally considere'
undesirable. II il still the custom, however at thu
TWO great English Universities 10 deck the window
Of the college chapels with this plant. Cypress
Also sometimes excluded on account OF its funerea
assOciatons.