The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1869-12-29
Christmas.

As our readers are well aware Christmas Christ and
nass is festival Of the Christian Church, observed
on the 18th Of December, az the anniversary Of the
birth Of our Saviour. According to the American
Cyclop@da, from which we make copious extracts, its
institution s attributed by the decrcta letters to Pope
who died 4. 1873, and throughout the
subsequent history Of the Church It has been Of
the most noted Of Christian soIcmniticg. st first it
was the most movable Of the Christian festive days.
often confounded with the Epiphany, and celebrated
by the eastern churches in the months Of April and
May In the 4tb century the urgency of St. Cyril Of
Jerusalem obtained from Pope Julius l. order for
investigation to be made concerning the day OF
Christs nativity. The result Of the inquiry by the
theologans Of the East and West was agreement
upon the 18th Of December The chief grounds for
the decision the tables OF the censors in the
archives Of Rome and although in the opinion OF
some Of the fathers there not authentic proof OF
the Identification of the day, yet the decision was uni
formly accepted. The manner OF celebrating this
day ia different 10 The respective countries and reig-
ions In the countries Of Europe it is exceedingly
variable, but it ia only Of old England that we shall
refer TO at this time. There it has always been at
once a religious, domestic and merrymakng festival,
equally for every rank and age. The reveIs used to
begin on Christmas eve, and continued often till Gan
dlemas (Feb. q, every day being holiday till twelfth
night (Jan. o.. In the house Of the mobiles a lord
of misruIe," or "abbot Of unreason," appointed
whose Office to make the rarest pastimes, to de
light the bcholder," and whose dominion lasted from
"All.bollow eve" (0ct 81 till Candemas day. The
larder filled with capons, hens, turkeys, geese
ducks beef mutton, pork, pies puddings nuts, plums
sugar and honey The Italians have the following
proyerb: " He has more business than English oven:
at Christmas" The tenants were entertained at the
hall; and the lord Of the manor and his family en-
couraged every art conducive to mirth:
"On Christmas'tvc the bells were rung;
On Christmas the was sung;
That only night in all the year,
Saw the stoled priest the chace rear
Then opened wide tue baron's hall,
| TO vassal. tenant, serf, and all;
| Power laid his rod Of rule aside %
And ceremony dotted his pride
| The heir, with roses in his shoes,
| That night might village partner choose.
| All hailed, with uncontrolled delight
| And general voice, the happy night
| That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidngs Of salvation down.
| England was merry England when
~ Old Christmas brought his sports ngain.
/ Twas Christmas brOach'd the mightiest ale;
Twas Christmas told the merrest tale
l Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor mans heart through half the year"
The Christmas celebrations in England have los
their primitive boistcrous character the gambos an
carols are nearlyagone ~, and family reunions an
evergreen trimmings nearly all that remain 81 tn
various rough mcrrmcnts which used to mark tbe'fc:
tiyal The last memorable appointment OF lord {
misrulc was 1927, when he had come to be demon
mated "a grand capaine of mischiefe" The9 poem
of Herrck contain many descriptions of old Englis
"A christmas celebrations. In the United States sine
the Puritans first stern opponents of Christina
pastimcs the day has been less generally celebrated
New England than in the Middle and Southern state
1t has been made legal holiday ipsome of the State
and is usually observed by religious service and b
making ;pFseents and not unfreqnenty by trimmin
ahouses hurches with evergreens, and byimtatin
the German custom OF Christmas trees,