The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-25
WEDNESDAY,. DECEMBER 25, 1872.
LOCAL MATTERS.
Christmas-Xts Origin and Obse

9NTsStHnHS--AtS OrlgIn 0kltz observance.
The word Christmas was derived from
Christ. and mas from the Latin naitto. to send.
Once Christmas was confounded with the
Epiphany, and celebrated by the Eastern
Churches in the months Of April and May,
but in the fourth century st. Cyril, of Jerll-
salem, obtained from Pope Julius First an
order TO Investigate the subject of the day Of
ChriSt'S nativity. The theoiogians Of the
East and West. alter careful research, agreed
upon the 25th of December, the chief
grounds of the decision being the tables cf
the cenSors in the archives Of Rome. Accord
ing to ecclesiastical computation the Christ
mas holidays commence on the 10th Of De-
cember and end on the 1st Of February, but
practically the festival begins on the evening
before Christmas day and lasts until the
second day of the new year.
TO trace the origin Of many Of our Chris
tian customs we must go far back to the old
Pagan rites and ceremonies. No festival of
the Christian year was more thoroughly cha
ractcrized than Christmas by the amalgama-
ton OF Christian and hcathcn rites. The fes-
tiritics derived from the Roman Saturnalia,
and aitcrward intcrminglcd with the ccrc-
monies Of the British Druids, at the period
of The winter solstice, became still later in
co:porated with the grim mythology Of the
ancient saxon. The burning Of the yulc log,
and The hanging up of the miStletor, certain.
Is belonged to the worship Of our heathen
ancestors. Our friends in the cheerful farm
houses, where tircplaceS are large enough to
hold the Christmas log, and where happy
Young people still! kiss under the mlStletoe,
will. we are sure, like to know when and how
these customs originated.
The burning OF She yulc log was trans
,I,>
their winter SoEStice feast, kindicd huge bon
fires in honor Of their God Thor. BY the
Druids the mi>tetoe was regarded with the
utmost veneration when growing on the
bark Of the oak, the favoritc tree of their
divinity, TistameS, who was the same as the
| Phmnician "od-she eSun-worshipped under
so many different names in olden times.
| The ancient Brilons OIL Christmas day
went with pOmp and reioicings to gather the
| myStic parasite. When the oak WIS reached
on which the mi>tlctoe grew. two white bulls
| were bound to the tree, and the Chief Druid,
clothed in whie-embiem of purity
assembled the tree and rut the sacred plant
with golden knife. and the sprays were
| caught in the folds Of the robes Of q priest
standing beneath the tree. The miStletoc
was then divided among the people, who
| took home the sprays and hung them over
the entrances of their dwellings to propitate
the sylvan dctics during the season OF frost
| and cold. These rites We're retained through
out the Roman dominion in Britain; also
under the sovereignty OF the Jutcs: SiXonS,
and Angles.
The Christmas tree is probably Il remnant
of the splendid and fInrilul pagcants Of the
! Middle Ages. II certainly was very ancient
custom in Germany, was thence introduced
into England. aud WAS brought into America
by German settlers in PENNSYLVANIA, together
with those legendary pcrsonascs krisS-
krin~lc, the Christ-child, the rewardcr of
good. and Perc Nlchol, or st. Nicholas,
the punislicr Of evil children. These are
sometime, represented rs thesam individual
under different characters. the prototype CT
which WAS doubtless the charitable st. Mich
oits
The English custom of singing carols in
| the early morning dates from the time
when the common people ceased to under
stand Latin. and the decking Of houses and
churches at Christmas with evcrgreens is de-
rived from the ancient Druid practices. 1t
was an old belief that sylvan spirits might
flock to the erer@recnS. and remain unnIppcd
by the frost till mildcr season. The holly,
ivy, rosemary, bays, laurel, and miSlctoc fur
nistied the lav1lit" trimmings, which were
not removed until Candlcmas.
| And now Il few words about the bestowing
Of presents. There is nothing more abSo-
lutcly annoying than to feel compelled to give
when one has neither money TO spare for the
purchase or desire to show evidence of good
will. One writer says: " Presents should
always be the free or spontaneous gifts of the
giver, not in the way OF charities, but as me-
mcntoes: gifts from heart to heart rather
llian from pocket TO pocket"
This l. the season for generosity, and all
are able 10 le>!Ow something upon those
who need. Give preScGtS where your heai t
IS Interested, but be iudicious in their seec-
! ton, be sensible in their appropriation, and
see that they bring happiness rather than
sorrow and misery to the recipient.
The worthy poor around Us need at this
bitter season such gift, Of old clothing aa can
} be spared from every household in even
moderate circunStallcrs--old dresses, warm
but out of style, Of the mother, outgrown
garments of The little ones, and worn suits
of the father, will all be appreciated. Nc
one should be SO cngroSScu in selfish enjoy
mcut us to forget
| All have TO share. none are too poor,
| When want umd winter comes;
| The oal Is never ali Your OWL
Then scatter out the crumbs.
Soon winter falls upon your life,
The day Of reckoning comes;
Against your sin. by high degrees.
Are weighed those scattered crumbs.
Christmas this year brings most seaSonablt
weather, and "'tiS cold rs Christmas wa:
never more timely remark than now. But
despite this the boys will be abroad early
this morning with their pop-crackers, mimic
guns and pistols, and, we fear, horns, soaring
the timid and making the nervous jump ant
start Indeed, last night skrmishng hat
already begun, and a pack of pop-crackerS
thrown into Main street near the Old Mar
kct, started the teams Of two vehicles stand
in" near, but Fortunately they were soor
stopped before amy damage was dorc.
| CHRISTMAS ENTERTAINMENT AT TRINITY Sun
DAY SCuUoL.-Thc scholars and parents o
scholars, together with others connected
with Trinity Methodist Sunday school, vii
lie treated 10 gratutous exhibition OF Har
din.'s Giorama of Christ Oh tomorrow night
at y o'clock. The exhibition is highly spo
ken of by those who witnessed it at Union
Station church, and any person other than
those named desiring to aid the school IN the
| o.r.,,c, ,ujll l,a udni,t9H hC the Dayment OI