Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-12-25
ton, that they may be better able to with
stand the fatigucs Of the night.

,
in which everything serious was burlcsqued.
interiors personifyiug their superiors, great
men becoming frolicsome, and which illus.
tratc the pronencss Of man to occasionally
reverse the order ofsociety and ridicule its
dcccncics. In the Protestant districts of
Germany and the north Of Europe, Christ
mas is often called the ehildren's festival
and Christmas eve is devoted to giving
presents, especially between parents and
children, and brothers aud sisters, by means
Of the SO called Christmas tree. A large
yew bough is erected in one Of the parlors,
lighted with tarers, and hung with mani
fold gifts, sweetmeats, apples, nuts, play
things, and ornaments. Each of these
is marked with the name Of the person
for whom it is intended, but not with the
name of the donor, and when the whole
family party is asscmblcd, the presents are
distributed around the room according to
their labels, amid joyful acclamations and
congratulations. A more sober scene sue
cccds, for the mother takes this occasion
to say privately to the daughters, and the
father to the sons, what has been observed
most prascworthy aud what most faulty
in their conduct. Formerly, and still in
some Of the smaller villages of North Ger
many, the presents made by all the pa
rents were sent to some persons, who, in
high buskins, white robe, mask, andan
enormous fax wig, becoming the bugbear
Of children, known as KnccM Rupert, goes
from house to house, is received by the pa
rents with great pomp and reverence, calls
for the children, and bcstows the intended
gifts upon them according to the character
which he hears from the parents after Sc
we're inquiries.
Christmas has always been at once
religious, domestic, and merry making fes-
tival in England, equally for every rank
and every age. The revcls used to begin
on Christmas eve, and continued often till
Candlemas February 2,), every day being
a holiday till twelfth-night (January 81.
In the houses of mobiles lord of misrule,
or abbot Of unreason, was appointed,
whose Office was to make the rarest pas
times, to delight the bcholder,' and whose
dominion lasted from 'All.hallow eve
October 81 till, Candlemas day. The
lardcr was filed with capons. hens, tur-
keys, geese, ducks, beef, mutton, pork,
pies, buildings, nuts, plums, sugar and
honey. The Italians have the following
provcrb: He has more business than
English ovens at Christmas The tenants
are entertained at the hall; and the lord of
the manor and his family encouraged every
art conductive to mirth.
On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung;
That only night, in all the year,
Saw the stolcd priest the chalcc rear.
Then open wide the 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 generous voice the happy night.
That to the cottage MS the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.
England WAS merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
Christmas gambol oft would cheer
poor mans heart through half the year.
The common custom of decking the
houses aud churches at Christmas with
cvergreens is derived from ancient Druid
practices. 1t was an old belief that sylvan
spirits might flock to the evergreens, and
remain unnippcd by the frost till milder
season. The holly, ivy, rosemary, bays,
laurel, and mistlctoe furnished the favor
lite trimmings, which were not removed
till Candlemas. Chaplets of these were also
worn about the head, a practice to which
the phrases to kiss under the rose,' to
whisper under tho mistlctoc,' are allu-
sions. In old church calenders Christmas
eve is marked; 1smpIa erornantur (adorn
the temples). Holly aud ivy still remain
in England the most esteemed Christmas
evergreens, though at the two universities
the windows Of the college chapels are
decked with laurel.
The Christmas celebrations in England
have lost their primative boisterous charac-
tor, the gambols and carols are nearly gone
by, and family reunions and evergreen
trimmings are nearly all that remain Of
the various rough mcrrimeuts which used
to mark the festival. The last memorable
appointment of lord Of misrule was in
1907 whon ho had romo IN ho Iono~,;c.