The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-12-25
Christmas.

I'LL W iIS JOSOuc liz oiuC "
life's picture/ The day is welcome alike to the
young, the mature, and the aged. To the young
it is the inaugural of happy ceremonies and
pleasant pastimes-to the mature it is the de-
lightful "Reminiscences of youth-to the aged it
is the combination of both--the essential principle
of each and every sentiment united is one.
The origin of the festival of Christmas is at
tributed to Pope Telesplorus, who died A. D..
l3s, and was Mt first celebrated in the months of
April and May. In the fourth century Pope
Julius /, ordered an investigation to be made
concerning the day of Christ's nativity, and the
theologians to whom the matter was referred
united in agreement. fixing the day upon the 25th
OF December. This day was chosen as n sort of
compromise for it is certain that the archives of
Rome were not always authentic. However, the
decision was uniformly accepted, and from that
time the nativity has been celebrated throughout
the world on the same day. The truth is that
the day of Christ's nativity is not known beyond
pcradventure, and, indeed, prominent Jewish
writers aver that the birth took place at mid
night, thus making more doubtful the exact day.
Christmas day has always been considered in
the double light of a holy eommemoration. and a
cheerful festival. During the middle ages it was
celebrated by spectacles of dramatic mysteries,
performed by personages in grotesque masks and
outlandish Costumes. The bishops and clergy
joined with the people in singing canticles, or
carols-enlivening the scene by dances, music
from guitars, violins, tambours and organs, each
person bearing in his 6and a lighted taper. Some
of tie canticles were very naive, and the only
ancient record OF these medieval carols is a single
leaf, preserved in the Bodleian library, in a vol
t,pna af 80 frbrisf,naccn CaroIfae y, rr;,tal IA,
Wynkin dc Worde in 1921. The carols of the
Wclch are especially celebrated, and have, as
well us the French and German canticles, been
collated and published. The Calabrians still pre-
serve their custom by descending from their
mountain homes to Naples or Rome, chanting
their wild music ut the shrines of the Virgin
Mother.
At midnight on Christmas eve it is the custom
throughout England and the continent to ring all
the bells-not with murderous cannon, as is done
in barbarian ATTITUDES. The churches in France
and Italy are magnifcently adorned and a collation.
provided for the assembled multitude. In the Pro-
testant districts of Germany and Northern Europe,
Christmas is called the Z" Children Festival.
The Christmas tree, which has become m %institu-
ton among us, is of German origin, and Christ
mas eve is devoted to giving presents, especially
between parents and children-brother and sisters
by means of the so-called Christmas tree. A
large evergreen is erected in one of the parlors,
lighted with tapers and hung with manifold gifts,
each marked with the name of the person for
whom it is intended, but not with the name of
the donor. The family party being assembled,
the gifts are distributed amid joyful congratu-
lations and happy romping. But a more sober
~. -.--. -. &I-. IL x1-- I. I
to point out to the daughters, and the father to
the sons, their errors and shortcomings.
Formerly. and still in Northern Germany, the
presents mad, by the parents were sent to one
person, who. dressed in high buskins, u white
robe, a mask and an enormous flax wig, is called
KneeM Rupert. Thus becoming the bugbear Of
the children, he goes from house to house, and re-
ceived with comic pomp and reverence by the
parents, calls for the little ones and distributes the
gifts intended, according to the character which
is given them for obedience.
In England, Christmas has always been a relig-
ious and m~erry-making anniversary, without dis
of rank or caste. The revels begin on
eve, and used to continue, in old times,
till Candlemas, every day being a holiday till the
twelfth night. In the houses of mobiles a 50 lord
Of misrulc," or 90 abbot of unreason," was ap-
pointed, whose Office it was to " make the rarest
to delight the beholder." His domin-
ion lasted from All-ballow eve till Candle
mas. The larder was always stocked with
capons, hens, turkeys, geese, ducks, beef, mutton,
SenisonsFork, buildings, pies, nuts, plums, sugar
md boney-the tenants being entertained in the
hall, and the lord of the manor encouraging every
thing conducive to mirth. The way in which
1ur English forelathers celebrated this day NAV
be imagined by reading the following descriptive
lines
On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung -
That only night in all The year
Tiss. opened vide the sa.oo,. han,
rSw sa-i iad i s. laa or: sa n 1ed a :ss
The heir, with rose. In hi, shoes.
In,t n,s., nigh. village psr sas choose. 4
That, to the cottage as the crown. =
Brought titings Of salvation down. .
srss cs csii.sna s'G sasssh ns s sSs mis asa.ai ale, g,
Christmas sambOl on would cheer
A paor mans heart throughout the year. =
The custom Of decorating houses and churches
evergreens is derived from ancient Druid
The holly, ivy, rosemary, bays, laurel,
nd mistletoe were the favorite trimmings, and
ever removed till Candlemas. Chaplets of these
we're worn about the head, and 8 kissing under
he rose. and 50 whispering under the mistletoe," I
re illusions to this practice. But the old GUS
in England have lost their primitive charnc-
or, the gambols and carols are nearly gone by, Z
amily reunions and evergreen decorations beingf
early all that remain of the old festivities.
q The bark Ethan allen, with the mail and I
to Dec. 4. is overdue. The mail steamer win >
due on Wednesday next.