The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.
ITS ORIGIN AND CUSTOMS.

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The institution Of this festival is attributed tc
fope TcIisphorus, who died A. D. 1873. AT frs
1t was movable feast, often confounded with
the Epiphany, and celebrated by the Eastern
churches IN April and May In the fourth cen.
| Jury st. Cyril, Of Jerusalem, obtained from Pope
julius |. an order for an investie ition to b,
made concerning the day of Christs nativity. The
result OF this inquiry was an agreement on III,
10Th OF December. There was no )sitivc proot
OF TINS being the correct date, but il was uni.
iormly accepted, and has ever since been a fixed
festival in the church. The custom of singing
oahtlcles at Christmas, called carols which re.
called the songs Of the shepherds at the birth of
Christ, dates from the time when the common
people ceased to understand Latin. The Bish-
ops and lower clergy often joined with the pop
utace in carolling, and the songs were eniv-
encd with dances and music. During the last
days before Christmas it is still the custom for
Calabrian minsrels to descend from the noun
talns to Naples and Rome, saluting the shrines
Of the Virgin Mother with their wild music un
der the poctical notion Of cheering her until the
birth time of her infant. Preparatory to Christ.
mas the bells are rung Mt midnight throughout
England and the continent. Among the revols
OF this season were the so.called feasts of fools
in which every thing serious was burlosuued
In Germany Christmas is often called the "chil-
drens festival" and it j. from there that we de-
rive or custom Of giving presens and the
Cristma5 tree, though the remote origin of gift
making undoubtedly arose from the fact that the
wise men of the east brought gifts to the infant
Saviour. That fat old gentleman whom the
children think of with so much delight St.Nich-
olas, originated in Germany. The presents
made by all the parents to their children were
sent to some one person, who, in high buskins, a
white robe, mask and an enormous fax wig,
went from house TO house, was received with
great pomp and reverence, and distributed the
gifts among the children according to the char
acter which he heard from the parents, after se-
we're inquiries.
Christmas has always been a religious ,domes-
tic and merry-making festival. In England the
reves used to begin on Christmas eve and lasted
often until Candlemas, Feb. .. In the houses OF
the mobiles "a lord of misrulc was appointed,
whose office was "to make the rarcst pastimes,
to delight the beholder," A glowing fire made
OF green logs called yule logs, was kept up n
the fire places and the generous wassail bowls
never failed to bring tumultu0us Joys.
The common custom of decking the houses
and churches with eycrgrccrs is derived from
ancient drdid practices. 1t was an old belief
that sylvan spirits might flock to the evergreenS
and rowain unnipped by frost till mildcr sea-
son. In this country, since the puritans were at
first stern opponents OF Christmas pastimes. the
lay has been generally less celebrated in New
England than in the Middle and Southern states |
There are many singular superstitions regarding |
Christmas in some countries Formerly in Eng |
and it was said that on Christmas eve the oxen |
were always found on their knees, as in an atti- |
ude Of devotion. This was derived from the |
prevalent medieval notion that an OK and an
lss which were present at the nativity fell upon
heir knees in suppliant manner. 1t was an
,ncient tradition, alluded to by Shakespeare,
hat midnight spirits iorsake the earth and go
o their own confines at the growing of the cock,
md that
Ever gainst that season comes
Wherein our sayour'S birth IS celebrated,
rhia bird of dawnlng Singeth all night long;
And then they say no spirit stirS abroad;
The nights are wholesome; then do p anet strikes,
SO fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm,
So hallOwed and so gracious is the time.
Ofcourse all these superstitions exist in Chris
ian countries only as traditions. In England
he Christmas celebrations have lost their prim-
tive boisterous character AMI rs in this coun-
ry, family reunions, making presents and ever
green trimmings are nearly all that remain Of
The rough mcrrmonts that once marked the fts-
iyll The celebration of the birth of Christ is
,ecoruing more and more universal in the Unit
d States, and the day is probably not far distant
when, on the morning Of each Christmas day
IL the people shall praise the Lord that Sa-
ior has been born unto the world.