New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-25
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.
HOW TIE DAY WILL BE CELEBRATED.
IN THE CHURCHES, CHARITABLE
INSTITUTIONS, MARKETS AND OTHER RE-


PREPARATIONS IN THE CHURCHES, CHARITABLE
INSTITUTIONS, MARKETS AND OTHER RE-
sORTS-TIIE FESTIVAL AND ITS CUSTOMS.
Christmas again! Christmas with it's mirth,
tts reunions and its divine lessons Christmas the
dearest festival in the cslendarthe venerable saiwart
oak about which the affections Of ages cling az green
and ~ tenderly as ivyi Unlimited In It's scope for
good cherished throughout Chrstendom, symboliing
the union Of the divine and human, 1t Is easy 10
comprehen nd that phase Of tho old world superstition
which believes In q thorough prostration OF 10"
powers of darkness on Christmas Eve anu tnho
then no evil influences can DO exerted on namih"'
II ia well for men to unmssk themselves ana enter
into the spirit pregnant TO most OF us Win tn
nestimabe Of association ana memorJ-reco
lectons of boyish ambitions and enjoyments. ana or
bright faces that shall glow WIN Joy VINE"
we are happy or cloud when We are sad. Inc merry
ring Of youthful voices the as In
past; children wish again the wishes OF their parents
and in unburdenng their young hearts repeat uhco"'
sciousy the history Of many unsatised sou THESE
are the ties that bind Christmas and grace the per
haps otherwise barren memory with chapets OF er''n
DO those Of US who are beyond the thhP'o
revery Of the season moan dsconsolate AZ the
cherries thought Of the quick succession u
yearsi DO We complain that blood will not tingle
as 1t was wont, and that bitter regret Is all we eA
riencei Rather enter petition that the memories
clustering about Christmas may endure IofcVer III "
happiness Of the children happy In their Spf2
like freshness pure. The man VINO har"chS h'"
self against these Influences or pays no heed TO the
hasthe COMMUNICATION OF ali who love and Dencht ny
Christmas Punishment surely follows the repression OF
natural instincts and impulses Unbeevng Scrooge VINO
thought Christmas bore, suffered the Icy horrors OF o
Marley's specter, and said. "Angels and mIntters"
grace defend us!"-starlng meanwhile through The
vague apparition at the two buttons on ITS c"a'
behind Believing scrooge, living In the past
the present, and the future as an ,o., m@n
should I've was and s What a wondrOu. ni
he did Who not chuckle with glee at the chane
OF Snrd ,p ssp lneGssa n into
benevoentlnani Tho capacity OF Chris MAJ FOR bring
Ing about the greatest changes IN enou.itl"s IL"
growth Of affection and sentiment 10 unboun'eh'
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
In the North in the South, in the East, and IN ta
West wherever modern Christianity has ioothold me
celebration of the nativity of the child CHRIST nctes All
the dormant good In mems hearts to action giving i
new interest and bracng the mind with renewed sense
of tho compensatons which attend every condition Oh
existence England 1t L. yet the first festival oil tba
year. and before stripped OF their Autumn
leaves preparations begun to give It the zest ana
warmth that were given to 1t In tho middle
ages In many counties particularly those In the sonh
all the hearty customs Of feudal times are reigiousy
observed. The villagers assembled In the Manor
House the yuelog 10 burned the wassail bowl brewed'
and carols are sung by the merry yeonanry FOR the
moment all social differences give way to whole
soued particp patton mrth Landlord and Dependents
mates tho kinship Of common humanity The heir 10
lsnds dances with village madens to the quick step
OF Sir Roger de Coverly" The Lord OF misrue ap-
peare and bids all to be just wise enough TO be foos
an edict which 10 willingly obeyed to the letter NO
other restraints are imposed than the purity OF mind
which invariably accompanies genuine mirth, and uI-
eemly rarely mars the elevang tendency OF these
gatherings In the cities Christmas pautommes are ach
ut all the theaers-vho does not remember IhacHerays
| Evenings AmusementP-and the stores are aVshly
rod berred holly and the pale green mis
toe The public illuminated and thebcst beei
Of Herefordshire and Suffolk s exhibited dny labeled
with the name Of the broederhe production OF good bei
being regarded slight honor The Saxons have per
versely turned nearly all the fast days IN the calendar
INTO feast days. and the material bliss OF good eating
held IN highest reverence although it 10 not strictly o.
| noncal.
Their delight in children and their strong domestic
tastes natural y lead the Germans ~ cherish festival
90 significant Of home and social unions. with tnl
many most beautiful customs orisnaed-that al
the Christmas tree, for instance which was introduced
into England by Prince Albert In all the smaller towns
and villages throughout North Germany the Chrsih"s
presents are as tradition hath H. by the parents 10
some one fellow, who, in high buskins white robe,
mask aud AN enormous fax wiz. personaten knecrt
| Rupert. e., the Servant Rupert Ga cLi'S;'
mas Night he goes round to every l"nse
| saving that Jesus Christ, his master, sent DlIr
| thither. The parents and children receive hun win
great pomp and reverence. while the little mot
pitaby afraid. He then inquiries for the Children anil
according the character which he hears from fh"'t
parents gives them the intended presents which
| received coming from heaven should they have
been bad children, he gives the parents rod AMI IN tho
name of his master recommends them 10 ns' it frc-
| Quently.
contemplation OF the current OF Joy tile approa'
| of Christmas has through nunberiess house.
holds must win many the advocacy OF the benefits
aud blessings that attend the season. The Innocent pratt
Ito Of the children the expressions VI wonder aud pleas
| IRE that have constantly been OH their hls
| for several days past, infect older people. Who
beesme Just wise enough to- he children. There hS
been time all the delightful trouble ot sending
checks to poor relations, and hampers containing all
kinds Of surprises other relations not need "t
pccuniary aid. Cunning fathers who have pretended
| TO be ruined, and have vowed their inability 10
waste money Christmas presents" have In secret
reoiced at the occasion Of the outlay ana with pleasant
inconsistency have demurcly asked their wives Ia Ia
what would be most suitable to send to some oh>cnd
friend who has been forgotten by every one else IN tia
family The ordinary business OF the registration de-
partment in the PostOfcc has been greatly increased
| by the remttances between friends and indeed, there
are few channels Of commerce which have moi beu isrd
for tho GOOD purpose of present-makng Aud ~ Ia thus
amusement the inquiry pertinent, What Is 1t D@s
II mean nothing beyond reciprocity OF gifts. an inter.
change expensive trines an operation having dis
seneeable mercantile favOri No, and % rank hereto IS
be who says 1t represents real impulse OF good will
and affection, and such deserves to BIO observed The
intrinsic value Of present Is indeed OF little account,
but the qualification that springs from the knowledge
that we are borne mind by others Is and inspiring
Happy will be millions of people to-day for the Simple
reason 1t Is Christmas bright will be the hearths
and brighter the faces that gather around them Ring
ing laughter and the clapping Of hands will resound
through palace and howell There will be quayeriug