The New York herald., 1877-12-25
CHRIS NJ AS.
History and Observance of the Day
in Many Lands.
TIE TRAGEDY or WILD SWAN GULCH
How the Gospel Game
to Jim Oaks.
A SOLEMN HOLIDAY GIFT.
HOW New York Will Share
in the Festival.
"TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"

rank ana love that seeks not its own but sacri-
fees all external things for tho good OF ethcrsbr1g
this angelic Gospel Christmas, nearer to our hearts
and homes
Hail, holy Christmasl Reminding US OF the Magi
and the stars and merry Christmas! speaking to Us
OF a worlds rejoiclngs world civilized by religion
whose vitality throws or the corruptons Of centuries
and perpetuay renews ITSELF religion which was
tho precursor Of tho mightcst achievements Of the
human intellect which is unrivalled Its potency 10
produce sterling and substantial morality and Ia its
power TO solacc human grofa
How long it was after the matchlcss martyrdom Of
Him who brought this religion before His birthtlme
was celebrated among mon. II was nearly a century
and half after the crucinxion when Pope Telcs.
phorus instituted the Catholic service Of spoca |
mass in honor OF the adven, OF Jesus. For two
three centuries later tho mass was a movable one.
often confoundcd with Epiphany, and celebrated by
Eastern churches in April and May. Not until tho
fourth century did st. Cyril OF Jerusalem obtain
from Pope julius l. an order for investigation 10
be made concerning the exact day OF Chrst's nativity
Tho evidence procurabo not absolute, but it has
evcr since been accepted conclusive. "Thisn says
Milton
saS mSnS Ss Som aaf q ss sspDs
nr medasa sa a,a and virgin il mother other born
. sS s s oSr "ay d.sy sSs Sass aS .Soa :n
And with Ills Father work us u perpetual peace.
II was about the middle Of the night $50 the belief
RAM when Christ was born Therefore, the Roman
Catholic Church finally instituted three masses for
Christmas, ono at midnight. one at early dawn, the
other AZ bright morning These date from tho
sixth century. They came with the progress Of Gen.
turies to DO part only Of sacred CONNIE
but also OF cheerful festival
IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
In the Middle Ages up sprang Christmas as day or
mirth to DO marked by gay, fantastic spectacle Of
dramatic mysteries and moralities, masks and cos
Nmes.
Toward tho close of tho same period came in vogue
among all Christian peoples tho carols canticles
intended to initiate the songs OF shepherds on the
night Of the nativity. They arose after the common
people had ceased 10 understand tho Latin language
OF the Catholic masses forth in every Chris
tan tongne-Italian, Spanish, English, Welsh, Ger
man and French. They tho spontaneous songs
OF JOY and praise Of hunblest folk and the cocc-
tons o the earliest original which have survived
The vcissitudes OF intervening ages are among tho
most highly valued and carefully urcs
OF modern convonts ana literary museums The
singing OF them has yet ceased. 1t IS still the
custom during tue last days preceding Christmas tor
Caluurian miustrels descend from the mou utalns
INTO Naples and Rome, ana salute the snrInes tho
Virgin with Wild music, under the poctcal notion OF
cheering her until tho bIrthtime OF her infant.
THE DAY IN ENGLAND.
SO many years ago that the ancient British chroni-
sicrs do not identity the arst time tho bos prepar
tory TO tho midnight OF Jesus birth rang
England phe revels Of the Christmas SO
Wild ,ha, than others IN all o,her countries they
have iuent,ied Christmas with fcasting aud Jolly.
Kings came down from thor thrones 70 participate
the general divcrsions and the hall OF every noble
Was scene OF delight No icudn baron too high
to JON with ms vussais in tho 'Deccmber hberJ.es"-
ieasts oil Tools ana asses which changed tho titles
the participants ana amounted 10 reckless satire
upon all ceremonial observauces differences OF
Etlonwh hich formed part o the leveiling Christmas
6y tho PROCESSION oi The boars head Ia. soused head
oil boar being brought in Oh silver platter, with
immense solomnity and slatc Queens College, Ok
ford, originated tins custom In mmemoration oil tho
vaor ol one VI It's students, lcgend OF whom Is that
whio immersed IN tho forest and IN the study Vt
Aristotle he was suddenly attacked by Wild boar,
down whose throat he thrust the volume, cxcaiming
Cracum st! unti the creature actually choked
death,
Nor has The mother land OF many Of US ceased from
oil the ancient Christmas observances. Modified
habits OF modern England they still
by generous hospitality aud gayety English homes
aud inns are never duh at ChrIsimasttde Lardors
there, wot, last night filled Of old, with
capons, hens, turkeys, geese, ducks beef, mutton,
pors pes puadlInss, @ nuts puns, aagar and honey,
mesa than English ovens ut Christmas, may sill DO
pat.
Germany Is popularly supposed TO havo originated
features OF the American celebration Of Christ
But Is tins true?
In tho Protestant districts OF Germany ana tho
north OF Europe CHRISTMAS was indeed early desig-
naied tho ''children's icstivaLn Christmas Eve
was devoted TO the glvngf presents between parents
anu chldren brothers and sisters, Dy means ot tho
CEristmas trcc Alter this present giving mothers
and daughters and fathers and compared notes
together with more or less confidence familiarity,
s,ammcrnes and blushes US to what their conduct
had been during tho closing year-a sort Of uneasy
domestic confessional
sAxrA CLAUS
Oh, no; II was not Germany where still In some
villages OF the north knecht Rupert ngers desue
tude, that tho beautiful generous myth OF santa Claus
born II was IN North Amcricsl--ln the nrst set
uemcnt established in New York by the Dutch---lhat
Santa Claus (St Nichousl first donncd his wolfskin
cap, Coat Mittcns and leggings, hurncssed Prancer
md thn rlnru ts.fnl nj M
team and loaded his scdgc with presents Tor children,
good bad and indifferent, with tho single object OF
morning.
Was ever a myth SO charming as that OF Santa
Claus
or tho children wcro all taught tha; tho gifts
Of santa Claus were largely in the nature OF rewards
ior GOOD Dehayior but every child had such faith "a
Santa Claus that u would have been inexprcssibly
shocked II he had tailed 10 give something, whether
or not II had naughtiiy forfeited Its claim Ho would
havo carnod by stingy ana scrawny cxactItudc the
dctcstation disgust Of children instead Of grow
lg uoetcal love and reverence, deeping with aocumu
1nsod generations, which all children whose innocent
ianeies have not been too soon dispcllod have law
lshed on him. There Is pleasure com parable to
good decd associated with mystory which arouses
neither jealousy nor disappointment but only GER
tam delightful awe. Do any oil US forgot tho sensa
lions with which, in childhood hung up our stock.
ngs the fireplace or back o the sovey or tho ccs
tasy with which We received directions 10 spread out
plates when Il was the opinion OF Jalner or mother
Christmas Eve that Santa Claus might bring sone-
hing down tue chimney that could be put Tho
table more conveniently than II could BIO crammod
lLto hOW We usSu W Just vs.
manikns discussed II with last evening--tho
tastes OF Santa Claus and the chances Of his having
good load IL II Btormed, would ho be frozen before
he got TO our house, or would tho reindeer most likely
DO stuck In the snow? How, any way, could all
those rcindcers climb up IN the house? Then, how
could they jump 50 lar IRON ROOT TO rOol-how bal
lnco themselves ana tho sleigh full OF toys aud pres
ents, dolls aud whatno,, on the peaked sablosf And,
moreover, how could Santa Claus. represented as no
was in the pictures as pudsy lite man, pulled out
with lur ana iary laden aown with hand sleds and
toot horns and other knicknacks--how could no
soucezo himself through the house chimney? How
could he get down silently? How could ho contrvo
10 distribute ana label his gifts SO nicely without
body finding him outS
CHILDISH FAScIRs ABOUT THE SAINT.
oh, Santa Claus was, aud Is STILL hope person
age o-sciully asked about BY little children. His