The New York herald., 1871-12-24

the Christmas service sing quaint hymns celebrat.
ing the occasion. These rejoicing carols and tne
decking OF the churCn with evergreenBa veStlge Oh
the decorations OF the pagan temple at the celeora
ton OF the Saturnalia-are among the great religious
lar OF them. Holly, bay, rosemary and laurel are
the correct evergreens to employ for this pur
pose IVY having been by some objected 70 on 40, %
count OF its having played 30 prominent part ~
the Bacchanalia. the use OF the msrleroe. though
allowed in private houses is expressly forbidden IN
the church. Its pagan origin being direct and noto-
riOus These decorations are generally allowed 70
remain IN churches until the end OF January:
races, the Christmas dinner has ever been regarded
as the most important and solemn rite OF its cele-
bration. Special dishes have been from time i'm
memorial, in England for example, looked upon as
necessary component parts OF Christmas cheer. Az
Sa q ana noble S mann d cases Is sVe
now practised for the last week OF the dying year.
The grand FEAST however, Is. OF course that on on
foremost dish always was boar's head when was
brought In dish OF precious metal, heralded ny
Ministries. The 'server' who carried it placed IT on
the table and sang In gladstone accents an old song,
half Latin, half English, beginning
G.Pst Apri% % %dsfsro, ,.
The boar's head in hand bringI,
with garlands gay and rosemary,
op pssy .,,s Xon N ast conviS,oa o,ds %e'''S'
But, almost as important as the Drawn was the
mustard which served as It's condiment. TO an
lovers Of what parents IN humorous mood term
nant az the common practice or making sandwiches
without an adequate supply Of this wholesome &C
cessory, the following advice from an old book OF
instruction for the use Of walters at the royal table
will be OF INTEREST,"
.Frst set forth the mustard with Drawn; take
your knife IN your hand and cut Drawn IN the dish
as u lieth and lay on your soveretgn's trencner,
and see there be mustard.n
This custom or "boars head,' though Washing
ton Irving states that he saw It while exploring
Yorkshire at Yuletlde seems 70 have pretty well
died out, and roast beef mas usurped It's place.
peacock In lJs natural plumage was also
conspicuous feature In an old English Christmas
feast. Furmetz, or boiled wheat, and mlnce pies
the latter, thank heaven still extant-were also
distinctive Christmas dishes. MinCe pies however.
In early days were called "muttOn pies." All OF
these dainties were abolished under Cromwell, %
the following satlrica lines amusingy show
Plum broth " AZ Popish, and minc CO pie
Oh, that dat dOlatryi
Last but NOT least, plum porridge which has since
assumed solid form in the shape OF plum pudding
was . necessary element Of Christmas cheer. In
old times however, as is still the practice In some
sleeping corners OF Great Britain, the pudding or
pOrrdge was served before the meat.
Sucn, briefly. was the institution OF Christmas and
Its celebration and salient features In the 'brave
days OF Old.n Much more, however, would need TO
OF justice, II q newspaper had space enough to
spare. All the uproarlous jolity, the wassail and
dan cling and many Of the quaint games with which
Christmas Eve was h0nored were again resorted to.
AL classes mingled freely together, and night was
noisy with merriment and gladness No doubt the
ordinary workaday life Of those rude times was hard
and coarse and sad, but these occasional carnivas
OF fun and frollc must have done much to make It
euduraDle.