The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-27
tn. H;.tory of Christmas.

We read in Mayne Reid's Magazine,
On,rard every one IS aware that
Christmas day is the 25th Of December,
and that IL is q time of feast!ng and
general fsstivity in memory OF the ma
tivity of Jesus Christ, after whom 1t Is
named. Every one, however, may not
be possessed of the knowledge that the
birth of the Savior did not occur at that
period of the year; and, in proof that
1t did not, the words of Shaw have con-
siderable weight. We are told that
shepherds were watching their flocks by
night, in the fields of Bethlehem; but
as December is the very hight of the
rainy reasonin Judea, neither the focks
nor shepherds could have been there at
shis month. As further evidence, it is
well known that the early Christian
churches had no uniformity whatever
in the timo of the festival, some OBJ
serving it in the month of January, and
others in May and April.
ut is generally supposed among the
students of Asslc nt history that ths in
stitutiOn o4gXAtmas as festival was
first neutrality-suspicious., who flosr
ished about, or between, The years l3S-
l61 A. D; but the earliest reliable
traces We have of it are found between
lS2 and 1872 A. D, about the time of the
Emperor Commodus.
Among the numerous instances of
religious prosecutions, there stands forth
one prominently, and far back IN the
list, that of DiccletIan, who held his
court royalty at NicOdemia, and who,
fnding multitud-s of Christians assem-
blsd together to celebrate Christs ma
tivILy. commanded the doors of the
church in which they were met to be
shut, and fire set to the building, which
in short time reduced it to ashes, con-
summing it along with the worshippers
within.
"The very general-so
general in fact that it may be termed
universal-practice of giving presents
at Christmas was without doubt founded
the on Pagan tom of New Years g fts,
with which now it has become blended.
Monsieur de Ia Nalos says that the
kings of France gave presents 10 their
soldiers at this season. This idea Is
still retained in English barber shops,
and has even been adopted by the col
ored gentlemen of that profession III our
own country. A thrift box, so-cslled, is
toner is supposed to contribute some
thing for the future welfare of the
establishment. Sometimes / have seen
the boxes quite tastefuIly adorned and,
all except the hole for catching coins,
concealed with evergreens."
AS to the dear old illusion Of Santa
Claus, or "St. Nick" we are told that
he was verltable parsonage. He was
born in Panthera, in Lycia, and died
December 9th, 326. Catholic Europe
esteems him as one of its most popular
Saints. The Dutch gave him the name
of Santa Claus HIS supposed patron
age of children is traced to the follow.
ing story: "During a scarcity of food,
he was once entertained by man who!
used to steal children and serve up their
limbs TO be eaten by his guess. But
when the dish was s.t before Saint
Nicholas, he detected the fraud, and,
going to the tub where the remains OF
the children were sailed down, he made
over them the sign of the cross, and
they rose up whole and we'll"
To Irving and Dick, rs We are indebt
ed for our best Christmas sketches. The
English, more than any other people,
bring TO their observance of this day o
heartiness and enthusiasm that are
truly inspiring. 1t is the day of all
Others there; even the Derby is obscured
in the light of this CHEEKY festival. A
charming rural custom is that of the
village chorIstsTs, who 60 about from
house to house, singing sweet and SIM
pie hymns. Churches, houses aud shops
are decorated with evergreens; in Lon
don the theatres are OVERLOOKING with
people 10 see the Christmas pantomimes,
which John LeeCh used to illustrate SO
wildly, and everybody surrenders him.
self to the spell Of physical enjoyment.