The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-25
CHRISTMAS DAY.

tion Of our perplexities III the sylipatnet
10 feelings, which seem to characterize
nil. friends and enemies alike, on this
ouiet Neutral Day Of the year dedicated
bv common consent, to our most
amiable behavior, our best sentiments
our most acceptable charities and oul
payest temper. Good old Telesophorus
the enlightened Pope, who established
the blessed day NJ one for pioua com.
memoration. for physical recreation
for charity and for merry-makinp
throughout the combined Christian
nations, certainly In doing 80 built him
self Il monument, by his Decretal,
| IN the hearts Of men which has already
survived moro than eighteen centuries,
and will yet last, wo trust, for thousands
of happy generations dwelling In the
centuries to come. IL IL true that the.
present Xmas day, the 25th OF Decem-
her. was not mt first chosen rs the exact
time of our Savior's nativity, and In the
East the month during which tho won.
derful Birth, 50 full OF humanity and
love and Joy. occurred, was April in
some places, and May IN others. But
julius, the third, IN accomplished
Ecclesiastic, scientist and philosopher,
having instituted IN investigations for
the purpose Of fixing on day absolute
ly correct, or US nearly correct as posi-
bic after examining, II is said, carefully
the tables Of the censors IN the Ko-
man archives, containing tho best
evidence to be attained IN regard to the
eventrul period OF Jewish history. IN
which Jesus OF Nazareth lived, 1t was
decided to celebrate the 25th OF Dccem-
Der. our present Christmas, as being
the most appropriate. After full delib-
GRAFTON throughout Christendom, and
final accordance between the East and
the West. the authority Of the day was
universally accepted. Hence IL Is that
IN. all parts of the globe, where our ben
eflcent religion prevails, on this day,
men engage In the same prayers, in
dulge In the same charitable thoughts,
and indulge In the Same innocent and
hilarious festivities and cnjoyments. or
course the mere forms In the obser-
vance OF Christmas differ in many
countries; but It Is substantially
the same thing everywhere. Holiday
apparel, the ringing Of bells, brief
church devotion. songs, glad voices OF
acduaintances and friends, family re-
unions at dinner, evening gatherings
for dancing and music, Xmas trees for
children, such tribute to the poor as
m cans will permit, wherever the Chris
tain's hand Ii seen or his tongue is heard
on the wide face Of tho earth, these are
IN the main his social practices on this
Divine day.
It Is curious to trace the origin of
some Of the ceremonies and decora-
tions still practiccd. The ringing OF
bells originated from the circumstance
that II was supposed the Lord was born
about the hour of midnight, and It
therefore became the custom through
out England, France and Germany to
usher In the first hour Of the 25th 9th
OF January, old style with these sounds
OF JOY, as IL to inform an awakening
people Of the glad tidings of the Saw
ours birth. The evergreen decorations
with Ivy, holly, bay, laurel and missletoe
are derived, without doubt and not inn
properly assimilated, from the ancient
Druideal worship which preceded the
Christians In Europe. The expressions
Of "kissing under the misslctoe," or
Whispering under the rose," are the
result OF Xmas gossip, or games, or
love making, long before Harold the
Saxon lost, and William the Norman
gained at Hastings the crown Of Eng
land, or the romance Of Vortigern and
Rowena Is said to have transpired.
LIN the distant times the priests and
people met together in tho streets Of the
several cities, and with carols and instru-
ments Of music, and afterwards in the
theatres with dramas and spectacles
deemed suitable for the occasion, eX-
pressed the general mirth and happi-
ness associated with the glorious day.
The antiquarian curiosity in the shape
of the "Xmasse carolles" printed by
Winkin dc Worde, in 1921, will show In
what bad English our ancestors sung
their joyous roundelays, but at tbs same
time their eminent piety, goodness Of
heart and rollicking gayety hundreds
of years ago. Indeed, while mankind
have unquestionably vastly improved
in material civilization, and in nothing
more than in the pronunciation
and reading Of the English Ian
guage itself, within the last CEN
fury or two, we doubt very much
whether there has been any re-
markable advancement in those hui
name and fraternal sentiments which
should accompany morel as well as a
mental progress. The "Abbot of En-
reason" and the Lord OF Misrule "
have been banished, and the practical
habits Of this commercial age dispenses
with their presence and former services,
but their large and genial hospitality,
their loaded boards in the hall, their
larders full Of meat, their cellars full OF
drink, their warm yule log, their pity
and blessings for the poor, their Jokes,
and conjuring and forfeits, and merry
dances and music, cause them to be re-
membered as type Of the most exalted
humanity Of the period, as bright and
much moro unfading than their own