Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-12-31

tons that during the eve preceding Christ
mas day, certain vineyards Of the Holy
Land assumed their vernal robes, and even
the withered roses of Jericho became
fresh and beautiful. In the middle ages it
was popular idea that during Christmas
eve certain apple trees bloomed and bore
fruit. To give to this faith visible form,
the evergreen must now lend Its crown,
and bear golden apples amid the fragrant
Iustre of wax tapers, that illumine the
gifts intended to cheer the heart. This
evergreen, with its golden apples, is the
symbol of the Tree of Paradise that bore
the forbidden fruit. The Christian faith
imagined new apples on these trees during
this sacred eve fruits Of redemption And
thus the apple, through which Paradise was
lost, became the token Of redeeming love
through which we are again reconclled to
God, and again regain Paradise. This is
the medieval mysticism of the apple, and
the reason why we place the blooming
tree with golden apples on the Christmas
board.
It is another of the fancies which old
people still remember as the tradition OF
their early days, that at midnight on
Christmas eve the oxes always fall on their
knees; and it was added. in our case, that
no person who attempted to watch the
ceremony allfC. MS Giau4IAOb
comes from prevalent notion of the mid
die ages that an OF and ass present at the
Nativity fell upon their knees in a sup
plant posture. The ancient prints and
an old Latin poem of the fifteenth century
commemorate this belief. There is also q
tradition that in the churchyard of Glaeton
bury Abbey was famous hawthorne, that
always budded on the Oath and blossomed
on the 10Th of December, and that after
the change from old to new style it still
continued to blossom on the same day,
which, after the change, was the 9Th of
January. Slips from this shrub are said
to be preserved, which blossom still on the
old style Christmas day, January 9Th.
In parts of Ireland at night they used to
set sieve of oats as high as they could,
and place around it twelve lighted candles,
with large one, also lighted, i'll the CEN
tre-an emblem of Christ and his twelve
Apostles, as lights in the world In Glou
cestershire the same is done by building
a large fire, surrounded by twelve smaller
build one fire only, an emblem of the
guiding star which conducted the wise
men to Bethlehem.
In Cornwall the ''Yule log" or "mock,
as they call it, is lighted by a portion
saved from the last year, and the family
gathering around indulge in games and
drink to the "mock, " the children being
allowed to keep late hours with the chill
dren of elder growth. ''Goosey dancers
go about from the villages, and make hill
airity, while others sing the festal songs
beneath the windows, from house TO
hNlse, early Christmas morning. In Che
shire, entertainments are provided these
singing parties in all private houses and
all, both rich and poor, deck their houses
for fourteen days with the sacred holly and
attendant misletoe, and under the shade Of
the latter many kiss is stolen which on
other days would be forbidden fruit. Ser
wants hire from New Years to Christmas, re-
serving the six days, from December Doth
to January LIST, fer 1estal freedom. Trough
out England Christmas has always been
q noted religious and u cry festival. The
revels used to begin on Christmas Eve,
and continue often until Candlemas, every
day being holiday until January 9th,
Twelfthnighc. In the houses of the no.
bles s'Lord of MIisrule" or abbot of I'm
reason" was appointed "to make the rarest
pastimes to delight the beholder," and
whose authority lasted from "All Hallows
eve," October 81, till Candlernas day, Feb
ruary 2.
A soused boar's head, borne in great
state and solemnity "upon a silver plate
with minstrelsie" to the principal table,
was the first and famous Christmas disL.-
It is the tradition that student at
Queens College, Oxford, while on o walk,
reading Aristotle, being suddenly and flu
riously attacked by wild boar, rammed
his book into the animals throat, crying
GrCecunu est, and choked him to DEATH
This dish commentaries his valor
In some countries straw is used as an
emblem in Christmas festivities, because
our Saviour, as a new born child, was laid
upon straw in the manger. This Manager
worship, as it was called in the middle ages,
is still retained in some retired regions Of
Catholic countries, and is made the motive
to the development of much sacred poetry
and art
In Sweden, Norway, and the north of
the Yulelog plays an important
part. A large log is selected, and on
Christmas Eve is placed i'll an open fire
place, where it may burn during tho sacred
night, and thereby acquire a magic heal
ing power; the Goals are gathered up and
preserved during the year, to be worn ns
a talisman against disease and danger.
In these northern lands there is also a
custom known as the yule goat this IS
fine cake, baked very hard, and bearing
the impress of goats head. During the
Christmas days it stands on the table Of
the reception-room, and many of the
cakes are retained till the coming spring,
when man and maid servant, aud beast,
receive each a cake as they go to the fields
for the first time, carrying blessing with
them that insures bounteous harvest.
ST. NICHOLAS
is one of the most popular saints of Catho
lie Europe, being invoked as the patron
of sailors, travellers, captives, and the
guardian of unmarried girls and children.
The Dutch call him
SANTA CLAUS.
The earliest legend Of his appearance at
Christmas is derived from the Italians.
Giraldi, shoemaker of Verrara, was very
poor, and could not give his three pretty
daughters even the smallest dowry, and
thus, though each had an admirer, they
were left unmarried. The father prayed
to his patron saint, st. Nicholas. that he
would interpose with miracle. A neigh
Dor, rich merchant, one day overhear-
ing his simple petition, ridiculed the idea
that st. Nicholas would thus interpose for
Lis daughters, and told him that his saint
was Buonajuto the Jew, who lent money
L