The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-25
Christmas IIistOry-

Inc festival OF Christmas was OBJ
served by some communities of Chris
tlans In the earliest periods at which
we have any record of its observance
on the lst or 9th of January; by others
on the 29th of March, the time OF the
Jewish Passover; while others, it is
said, observed it on the 29th of Septem-
Der, or Feast of Tabernacles. Long
before the reign of Constantine, in the
fourth century, the Eastern Church oh.
served the 9th Of January, but the Gus
tom of the Western Church was the
18th Of December, the fixing of which
date appears to have been the act Of
Julius l., Bishop Of Rome from 33T to
$50 A. D., though there are some who
represent the fixing Of the day to have
been accomplished by st. Telesplorus,
who was Bishop of Rome 12S-i39, a.
D. Both the eastern and western
churches finally agreed to hold their
anniversaries on the 18th of December,
and that day, since the end of the
fourth century at least, has been uni
sorualy observed by all the nations Of
Christendom.
Nothing was more natural and proper
than that Christmas should commemo-
rate that most momentous of events,
the Nativity of the Savior, although
from the earliest ages of Christianity
there has been difficulty in inducing
the people to refrain from indulging in
such popular amusements as were con-
sidered by the clergy inconsistent with
the character of the festival. The
riotous demonstrations of Joy which
were made at the pagan festivals, the
feasting and merry-making, running
almost into universal license, called for
special animadversion when the newly
converted heather thought to transfer
them to the solemnities Of the Christian
festival. 1t was not deemed wise, how
ever, 10 prescribe all ceremonies which
had been used in the previous celebra-
tons of the people, such as innocent
games and amusements, presents by the
parents and friends, and the decking OF
houses with laurels and evergreens.
This latter custom, as applied also to
churches, is supposed to have been
proximately derived from the custom
prevalent during the saturnalia, of the
inhabitants of Rome ornamenting
their temples and dwellings with
green boughs. The sanction OF
our Savior was, however, pleaded
for the practice when He per
mitted the people to strew palm
branches in His way when he entered
Jerusalem in triumph. The jews also
employed green boughs in their Feast
of Tabernacles. 1t seems, besides, to
have been predicted by the prophet
Isaiah, in the 10th chapter, foretelling
the triumph of the Christian Church ::
THE glory OF Lebanon shall come unto
thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the
box together, to beautify the place Of
my sanctuary; and | will make the
place of my feet glorious" In fact, the
use of flowers and green boughs as a
means of decoration seems to be almost
instructive in human nature, and so
universally exhibited as not to char
acterize exclusively any particular form
of worship. A beautiful and touching
use of them, which has been lately in
troduced in our own country, Is the
decoration, by green wreaths or flowers,
Of the graves of the dead on the ami
versary Of the birth of Him who brought
life and Immortality to light in the
Gospel.
In Great Britain the Christian festiv-
ties, like those on the continent, exhibit
an amalgamation. in some respects, OF
ancient and Christian customs. The
mistletoe, regarded with such veneratlon
in the religion of the Druids, still plays
it's part in England on Christmas Eve:
The ancient ceremony, the burning OF
the yule log on Christmas Eve, was
transmitted from their Scandinavian
ancestors, who, at their feast OF Juuh
at the winter solstice, used to kindle
huge bonfires in honor of their god
Thor. The English Christmas fare has
In DAVIS