The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1875-12-24
CHRISTMAS.


tian world as the anniversary of the
birth of Christ; Christmas anthems will
rise and swell in solemn, reverent
grandeur from thousands of churches,
Christmas carols be warbled by happy
voices, and Christmas chimes steal
softly and sweetly out upon the air of
morning, proclaiming "peace on earth
and good will to men" to listening ears
and myriads of weary, fainting hearts.
The institution of the festival of
Christmas is attributed to Pope Teles-
phorus, who died A. D. 1873, and since
that year it has been one of the most
noted of Christian solemnities. 1t has
not always been celebrated as now, on
the 25th of December. During the 4th
century, Pope Julius I. caused an inves-
tigation to be made by theologians con-
cerning the day of Christ's nativity, and
the result of the inquiry was an agree
ment upon the day now celebrated. The
chief grounds for the decision were the
tables of the censors in the archives of
Rome, and although, in the opinion of
some of the fathers, there was not au-
thentic proof of the natal day, yet the
decision was accepted, and since that
period the nativity has been celebrated
throughout the church on the day
chosen.
The custom in Roman Catholic coun-
tries of ushering in the day by the cele-
bration of three masses, the first at
midnight, the second at early dawn,
and the third in the morning, dates
from the 9Th century. The day was
considered in the double light of holy
commemoration and cheerful festival,
and was accordingly celebrated by de-
votion, vacation from business, and by
merriment.
The custom of singing Christmas
carols, which recalled the songs of the
shepherds who "watched their fiocks by
night" is of ancient origin. These
carols were frequently accompanied by
dancing, in which fathers, mothers,
daughters, and sons mingled, bearing in
their hands lighted wax tapers, if in the
night.
Preparatory to Christmas, the bells
are rung at midnight throughout Eng
land and the continent.
In the Protestant districts of Ger
many, and in the north of Europe, the
day is regarded as children's festival,
and Christmas Eve is devoted to giving
presents by means of the Christmas tree.
1t is still customary in some of the
smaller villages of North Germany for
the presents all to be sent to one person,
who, fantastically arrayed, goes from
house to house, distributing them ac-
cording to the character he hears given
TO each of the children by the parents.
Christmas has from very early age
been observed in England as a religious,
domestic, and merry-making festival,
and in this respect, as in many others,
we cling to English customs. The
Italian proverb, ''He has more business
than English ovens at Christmas" is
suggestive of the ample preparations
once made for this annual feast. The
custom of decking the houses and
churches with evergreens is derived
from ancient Druid practices. 1t was
an old belief that silvan spirits might
flock to these boughs and remain un.
nipped by frost until a milder season
Holly, ivy, rosemary, bays, laurel, and
mistletoe were used for this purpose
and were not removed till CandlemaS
February q. Christmas celebration,
in England have lost much that wal
boisterous and rude in their character il
earlier times, family reunions and ever
green trimmings being nearly all thai
remain of the old customs.
The day with US is usually celebrated
by making presents, initiating for tha
purpose in many instances the German
custom of Christmas trees, by religion
service, and sometimes by decking
houses and churches with evergreens
In addition to this, there seems q subtl
spirit to pervade all the atmosphere O
social life, which is at once of pleasing
and generous nature, and adds infinitel,
to tine zest with which everything is en-
joyed, and without which Christina
would cease to be a grand gala day, con
templated with almost equal pleasur
by the venerable grandparents who's
hairs are thickly sown with silve
threads suggestive of many a Christ
mas, and the wee toddler who attribute
10 the muni6cence of "Santa Claus'' tn
contents of her well-filled stockings.
$50 hallowed and SO gracious is the time,"
That enmity and evil-speaking are for
gotten, and each, unmindful of sell
plans pleasure for others. Peace brood
over all hearts, in which good will t
men reigns, and from hearth-stones an
altars throughout Christendom all beau
tiful and sweet and clear,
"The holy melodies Of love arisen