The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-12-28

We are now IN the mldst OF the Cnrlstmae
season, which, commencing on the 25,h OF de.
cember, when the nativity is celebrated. is gen.
srally regarded IS LASTING until twelfth Night
which occurs January 9Th, when the " Nantes. I
tation to the Gsntiles' is commemorated. The
holiday, or holy day. is nearly as old as the
christian church. and is repete with associations
both sacred and secular. Though tho form of its
celebration changes with the lapse Of time. its
keeping is gaining rather than losing III univsr.
salty. The tendency OF modern times 10 rather
to eliminate from the festival its pasan features
than to bring it into desletude. Tho conversion
of our ancestors to cbristianity was q gradual
WORK. and in the matter Of festivals particularly,
instead Of radical overturning, was rather u
Transformation of old established heather obser.
vances into christian festivals BY changes 80 gen.
tie and gradual as net TO repel the new converts
by excessive prudery. The Christmss misletos
bough, for instance, came down from the Dralds,
who held the plant in peculiar reverence; and
the yule log doubtless had a similar origin. Old
Santa Claus, too, whose origin is rather mythi-
oal, but who certsi My had no christian birth,
character now from what he was 500 years ago.
, From a terrifying old customer, with Aiming
! eyes, fearful horns aud disbolical tail, he is
now considered Father paltry charsctsr-a
saint after the Sir John Falstaff pattern. And
while our Christmas story books still tell US all
about sitting around blazing wood fires, imbi.
bing "wassail," whatever that compound may
have been, and playing childish games, the 18th
century certainly insists on more rational Oh.
servance Of festival Of such deep relisious zig.
nifcauce
There is no need, in undermining and civiliz.
ing the festival, that it should be deprived Of
any of its joyful concomitants. 1t should be .
time when the several links OF the family are, as
far ss ssible, reunited. and this alone ought to
make 1t q season to be looked forward to with
many pleasant anticipations. 1t is also time
for the cultivation of charitable feelings, remeu
bering the peace aud good will which, in far
higher sense, we're announced to the shepherds
OF Bethlehem. IL Is an appropriate time for the
exchange Of presents aud keeps kes, but not for
unreasonable e4travasauce into which the Gus
NOIi, iine eilth threatens 10 duC
1t is time FOR benevoleuce sud di.-ribu:inv o
one sbundance 10 the poor, remembering Cod
uuspeaknbe gift to Us.
The is being KEEP. with less than it
usual spiri: in Ottaw. this year, on account
the intensely cold weather. Whlteyer may hsv
been the home enjoyment- Chri-,m, IS day
the churches that usually have decorations an
services fer the occasion, were but modes,y t.n
med and were more thinly attended than usaa
There is, OF course, nothing surprising in thi
considering that It was almost dangerous t
venture out on account of the cold.
1t is customary, at this season, for friends I
- exchange their greetings and good wishes W
trust that We have not SO unwor.hily discharge
.ur duties in the conduct OF this Journal, br
that we can make such friendly exchange wi,
our readers. We desire to extend our greetin
to all of them, and wish them right merry an
full enjoy ment Of tn. Christmas season.