The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-12-20
CHRISTMAS NOTES.

churches and houses with evergreen Is de-
scended from the Druids. They believed
that sylvan spirits would dwell in the ever
green boughs and garlands until spring
and protect the house from evil spirita
The Puritans Of England, forbade the
general observance Of Christmas, and even
TO this day the Middle, Western and
Southern States indulge in more unre-
strained festivities than the dwellers in
Yankeeland.
There are, sometimes, touches of sad-
ness hanging around Christmas, as well as
those Of joy. 1t is the grand anniversary
Of the year, and the remembrance Of
friends beloved and dear, who have gone
to the better land, come to us then with
renewed sharpness.
Nearly every country has it's own mode
Of celebrating Christmas. In Italy, feast
ing and singing is the order Of the day,
and, as the shades Of night fall upon their
lovely towns, numbers of musicians 70
forth to celebrate the one who has most
merited their esteem and appreciation du-
ring the past year.
The first authoritative command to keep
Christmas time holy is attributed to Gle
ment, a oollaJoratew with St. Paul, and
mentioned by the latter in the Epistie to
the Philippians. Clement says: "Breth-
ren, keep diligently fast-days, and truly,
in the trst-place, the day Of Christ's
birth"
Long before the birth Of Christ the last
days of December we're dedicated to the
"Feast Of the Sol" The Scandinavians
watched the declining sun from June to
December, and as soon as the first shadow
Of its retrograde course was noticed, they
danced and sung, and inaugurated week
of festivities and season Of boisterous
revelry.
II was an old English superstition that
at midnight on Christmas eve every living
creature of the animal kingdom inyolunta-
rily bent the knee, and even at this en-
lightened day the idea finds many beliey-
ers. Ii arose from the medieval fancy
that the OK and the ass that were stabbed
in the manger at the birth of Christ fell
upon their knees before the Holy Baby in
alteration Of His divinity.
Christmas coming just as winter has
commenced his icy reign, the inner warmth,
and glow, and comfort make deeper i'm
preston on the soul, moving It to thank
fulness and rejoicing; and branches and
wreaths Of evergreen form more fitting
decoration in honor Of our Saviour's birth
than all the wealth of tropical flowers,
which blossom only to wither and perish
in an hour.
Christmas is the joyful time for reunion
and rest All business and study being
suspended, the family mansion Is filed
with youthful life and freshness; the bloom
ing daughter home from school, beaming
with fun and fancy; the youth forgetting
for time the account book and visions Of
future wealth--all throwing care aside and
considering Christmas kiss, under the
mistletoe, the highest Of earthly delights.
In Germany, and the Protestant districts
Of Europe, Christmas is especially the chill
dren's festival, and poor, indeed, Is the
family, that cannot have tree with its
load Of ornaments and presents on Christ
mas eve. After each one has had present
from the tree, the father takes aside the
sons, and the mother the daughters, and
tells them what has been observed good, |
and what faulty, in their conduct. The |
first part of this performance, has been in
troduced pretty generally, into this coun-
try, and doubtless the latter part might
bring additional profit, if not pleasure, 10
the children.
In all the civilized world there is no
spot so secluded, and, perhaps, no heart 30
dark that the sound Of Christmas chimes
fails to awaken in it sense Of Joy and
exultation. Round and round the earth
rolls the grand sympathetic melody, calling
on rich and poor alike to put aside for a
day all disputes and jealousies, and over
and above all trouble Andperplexity swells
the sublime, reiterated strain:
Peace and good viii, good will and peace,
Peace and good viii 70 all mankind.
Santa Claus Cor Klaus) is the Dutch
name for st. Nicholas who was called the
patron saint fboys Heissaid to have been
bishop Of Myria, and to have died about
the year 326. One story goes that st. |
Nicholas bestowed marriage portions upon
three destitute maideps, BY secretly leav-
ing money at their windows, and his day,
coming just before Christmas, he was sup
posed to bo the bearer Of all the gifts 10
the children in Flanders and Holland, who
hegan the euefnn e,f uniting os,f . ahoa ~,