The Morning herald., 1876-12-25

e9Os0VA sAs~xsssAASAS ~ -
tould be transacted, the Law courn ad-
iourned, the schools we're closed, md NO .
| gal punishmenh wers inflicted. Special in
dulgences we're granted to slaves. All ranks
devoted themselves to ieasting and mirth'
presents were interchanged among friends,
"ceri" or wax tapeu being common Of
ferins. A custom which exists until to-
day in full force in Ireland where Christ
mss candles are a common present, mark
edly, along its midland eastern coast.
Crowds tbronged the streets Of Rome upon
The night preceding the incoming Of the
festival, shouting 10 Saturnalia." The
Toga was thrown aside for leose gown
called Synthesia, with a round felt hat
called "pileus" upon their heads.
The burlesque masquerade Of cur large
cities upon Christmas eve, with their odd
| hats, masks and garments, are akin to
those which amused the denizens of the
Seven Hilled city, over two thousand years
ago. The last days of the Sa,urnalia were
| entirely devoted to children. The booths
and shops, and the arches Of the baths and
temples were alive with dealers and pur-
chasers Of toys for the young, who were
made happy by such presents at that
time.
| 1t is quite evident that the customs COM
monty supposed to be of Medieval, Saxon
and German origin, were old long before
the Christian era, and that neither the
| Saxon nor German peoples did more than
luse them, as they were introduced, by
| the all conqsering Romans.
! From two apparent sources all our
Christian customs come-the Latin and
The Celtic. From the one we have the
amusements, interchange Of presents, trees
decorated, and street masquerades. Every
one of these are common in our time and
country. From the Celtic Druids we have
the yule log, the evergreen hangings, the
holly and ivy fes,oons and the superstitious
practices connected with the mistletoe.
Save and except the distinctly retigioue
services, proper for Christmas, all its pop
|ular observances arose in the dark Pagan
times of the distant past.
Ii was no, until the 4th century that
the celebration Of Christmas was fixed for
| the 10Th Of December. This was done at
the instance Of Pope Julius l., who caused
exhaustive inquiries to be made as to the
time OF the nativity of Christ, and it was
found upon data, derived from the tables Of
the censors at Rome, that the 25th of De-
cember va. the proper anniversary Of the
birth OF our Lord.
Under the Ss1ons BY an enactment of
| Alfred. the twelve davs after the nativity
were made festivals, this included the day
known As the Twelfth day. Thus it is,
that in Il. early days Of the Christian
Church, this weary world, that now cannot
afford more than one day Of rest, had its
full Christmas holiday Of nearly two
weeks.
Many curious legends prevail about
; Christmas, one that oxen and other ami
mails kneel in their stalls upon the mid
night preceding it. Chautelriani mentions
the existence of this legend among the
Indians Of our country. He relates, that &
: traveller who surprised an American In
dian stealthily creeping by a spring, late
on Christm eve, when interrogated, sale
he came to see the chief stag of the here
of deer kneel to welcome the first hour Q
Christmas day. This superstition pre-
l. walls very generally in Yorkshire ant
10 Lancashire, in England, and we are told
N in North Germany. We never heard Of
Is in Ireland, Scotland or America. TIL
ID shops in Dublin, and other Irish cite
w. about this time, are we'll stored wit
+ little round boxes, enaintly carved an
10 decorated, these are called "Christms
III boxes" and are used as receptacles fc
en the money presents given to childrel
p The expression common "My Christm;
ar box on you," means present, not II
H. giving of the box itself, tina. is alwa,
- provided beforehand.
lei In many of the midland counties
England, it is accounted unlucky for al
IS one, save dark haired male person to el
b. ter the house first on Christmas day, and
nd is considered unlucky to permit fire to pa
en- from the house on that day. The lat,
he may seem unaccountable, but it was