The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-12-26
Seasonable .8istorp.
Christmas in ye olden Times.


The wheel has reyolyed once more, and
Yule Gothic gial or hinl tGRing-point Of
the year, hence, ,cheei, with its dear old
customs, is again with us. II may not, there
fore, be out Of place to consider the customs
Of the season among our ancestors, from many
of which ours are derived. Christian nations
have, from a very early period, celebrated
Christmas about the period Of the shortest
day, but we must look much earlier than this
for the origin Of the custom. We must ever
remember that the church did not, as O gen
eral rule, invent new festivals, but altered the
pagan ones to suit her own purpose. This
was especially the case with Christmas. The
Romans worshiped Saturn at this time, hence
their Saturnalia, during which their slaves
were allowed freedom Of speech-in fact, they
changed places with their masters for short
time. The Puritan author Of the Historic
Aastir was not far wrong when he said tiff
we compare our Bacchanalian Christmasses
and New Years tides with these Saturualia
and Feasts Of Janus, we shall find such near
affinitye between them, both in regard Of time
they being both in the end of December and
on the lst of January,) and in their manner
of solemnising (both Of them being spent in
revelling epicurisme, wantonesse, idlenesse,
dancing, drinking, stage plates, masques, and
carnall pomp and jolity,) that we must needs
conclude the one TO be but the very issue ol
the other.n
The festival Of Christmas is the most i'm.
portant throughout the ecclesiastical year
but is the 25th Of December really the day on
which our Saviour was bornY Some commu-
mites Of Christians used to celebrate the festi-
val on the LIST or 8,h of january, others on the
10Th Of March. A difference existed in the
practice Of the Eastern and Western churches
the former observing Il on the 9Th Of January
the latter on December 25. Julius ! (3s7
s52) was the first Pope who Fixed the date, o.
course the latter one this we are informed b.
St. Chysostom. All nations of Christiani
now celebrate it on the same day. Sir Isaac
Newton, in his Commentary on the Rtophesiel
Of Daniel, says that the feast Of the Nativity
like other festivals, was originally Fixed a
cardinal points Of the year, without any refer
ence to the dates Of the incidents they com
memorated. The generally received view nov
is that the date does not correspond with The
actual date of the Nativity. The shepherds
could not have watched by night on the
Bethlehem plains in December, which is q
period Of great inelemency.
In the opinion Of some, the Christina,
festival commences on the 10th of December
or 0sSapientia day; and of others, that L
begins on the eve before Christmas day. The
festival, Of course ends on the Parifcstion Of
the Virgin, or Candlemss, when all decora
tons in churches must be taken down. We
cannot refrain from quoting Sir Walter scoti'l
beautiful lines on the Eve from Marimioa
On Christmas Eve ,he bells were r,ns;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night. in all the year
Saw the sioled priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donned her kirfle sheen
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth 70 the wood did merry mon 20,
To gather In the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the barons hall
10 ovasaal, tenant serf and an
Power laid his nod ofruie aside.
And Ceremony dofIsd his pride.
The heir. with roses IN his shoes,
Thai night might village partner choose.
The lord, underusaiing. share
Tho vulgar game Of "pnst and pair
All hailed. with uncontrolled delight
And general voice. the happy night.