New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-12-25
CHRIeTEAN.

Christian calen0aI. AtS hA0uoA Ao
is hailed with rejoicings in every land
aich recognizes the Man OF Nazaretn as
the greatest benefactor Of the human race
and the beautiful and symbolic customs
which have always distinguished it TESTIFY
to the hold it has upon the heart OF
Christendom. From very early pefioo
in the Christian era the Feas: OF the Ma
tiv;ty has been celebrated by the Church.
bat the day now kept aa such was not
fixed upon until the fourth century.
From that time down to the present II mas
been customary in all Catholic churches
throughout the world TO usher IN .hls
festival by the celebration OF grand nien
mass. beginning at midnight: and :. IS
the privilege OF the clergy to receive me
eucharist on this day three times 's's
likewise customa ry in Catholic countries
to have in the churches representations o.
the manger aad the holy family sfdgles'
| sacred to the glowing imaginations OF 'm'
! plicit faith, and harmless to the superior
intelligence Of the more cultivated.
There are other supefs.itions connected
! with this festival equally simple. ana
some of them beautiful: as scs instance.
tina. mon Christmas eve the cocks GRO"
all night long. and no bad spirit is sut'
fered to be abroad; thai 6. midnight the
oxen .al! upon theis knees as It IN srs'''
tude to Him whose teachings were 20
soften the heart Of man even toward she
dumb brutes: and that poetic custom.
said 70 still prevail: among the Caiabrlan
peasants, OF descending from their mo"n'
tains 70 Naples and Rome as the approach
| O. Christmas ana salu.ins WITH she's
simple uinst relsy the various slri''es OF
che Virgin Mother along theis route
! thinkin: thns 90 chez. her until she
birth-,ime Of her divine infant. This is
! one of the Jew relics OF ancient times thar
| still remain TO halo this sacred morn IN
the white light Of modern sea'sn'
bu. in the middle ages. both IN
! continental Europe and in irsular Eng
| land the festivities Of the Christmas sea-
! son were looked forward to with eager
anticipation for months beforehand. and
| remembered with delight jor months
! afterward.
In fact, the dawn Of the dramatic ar
! under Christian auspices is connected
I with the festivities Of this season. for the
Church. which at that time regulated che
! amusemen,s Of the people. permitted tor
! their dedication the performance ct
! dramatic ''mysteries' or ''noralities. by
| masked persouages. srotesGnely dressed
! and reprepresenting the Virgin Mary. the
! Graded infant Jesus and St. Joseph. with
the wise men offering gifts. and the tabled
OK and ass: the latter images OF wood
! usually in kneeling positions. These mum
! meries subsequently gave rise 70 the
.seasts Of fools, " or December liberties.
I species o. saturnalia in which everything
! mos. solemn. and a: other times most re-
! speciei was turned into burleslue. Scott
in his shovel Of the Monas:ery" has given
us picture o! similar buffoonery ss prac-
t;sed in England and Scotland during the
! DAYS Of Elizabeth. Al that time. how
ever, the "Abhos Of Unreason." although
| til, creature Of Roman Cstholi: growth.
! WAS accustomed to turn his mock weapons
against the ancient Church; and pagean's
q the kind were accordingly discouraged.
In all countries. and at all times. the
! customs Of giving presents and OF offering
boun.iful hospitality during Christmas
times have prevailed. although in New
England. owing to its Puritan origin. the
season has never been celebrated with tie
enthusiasm which distinguishes it else
where. no. has there been any particular
beverage devoted to Christmas conviviali-
| ties On the continent Of Europe the
choicest bins Of cobwebSed vino are
broached for these holiday Inequalities.
! In England there flows besides 9 copious
fountain Of the popular beverage. strong
beer: the Irish warm the hearts and addie
the heads Of themselves and their friends
with ..poteen." .:ag'i:c. whisky punch;
while among the numerous po!aticns in'
dulged in in this country. the favorite fo'
this season, in the South. at least. is egg
nogs. Another beautifn! custom. and
very ancient. is that OF decorating che
churches and horses with evergreens. IN
England the holly. Ivy and m;stletos arc
the favo.;te plants. and the custom i said
to be derived from the ancier. nsu;dica'
rites. Whatever its origin. the custom is
now 50 prevalent among all classes thai
Christmas, withou. its ''greens. would
; lose more than half its charm. IN fact
even here, in this land Of sunshine ard
flowers, we remove the "'oo.' cst'' ant
cedar from our gardens % ornament on
, houses.
. While recalling the hcspitab'e and 'es
, tai character of this day, II is well to bea'
in mind its religious origin. and that IL
celebrating the nativity o: Him whose
mission was to bring peace and good vii
to men We only mock Him by cherlshlns
in our hearts malice. anger and unchanta
, bleness. Nor should We, while surround e
. bv family and friends around bounti
t;fully Spread board, close our hearts 9
the wants Of those less blest by fo1.un'
than ourselves. !: Individually We hav'
not IL. time 70 seek on. the needy ant
minister 10 their want; nor the faculty {,