The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-12-21
Ohristmastide.


Although a little in advance of the day,
the near approach of this time-honored
festival claims our present attention, as
the day will have passed before another
issue. : The very name Of Christmas IS q
10Y to both young and old. To the young,
by reason of its agreeable associations and
observances, and the kindly influences
which usually actuate the heads OF fami-
lies and older relatives towards them, in
the bestowal of gifts. To the old, by the
remembrance of their own happy expe-
riences at Christmastide, the social and
family reunions, and all that hal!ows the
return Of the natal day of the Saviour OF
mankind, or of the day on which his ma
tivity is celebrated. Historians tell us
that the institution of this festival is attrib-
uted to Telesphorus, who fourished In
the reign of Antonius Plus, A. D. 13o.,
but the first certain traces Of it are found
about the time of the Emperor Commo-
dus, A. D. 1870. 1t does not appear, how
ever, that there was any uniformity in the
period of observing the nativity among the
early churches. Some held the festivalin
the month of May or April, others in JAN
uary. 1t is nevertheless almost certain
that the 18th of December cannot be the
nativity of the Saviour, for it is then the
height of the rainy season in India, and
shepherds could hardly be watching their
focks by night in the plains. Not arbl-
trarily or casually was the festival of the
nativity celebrated on this day. Among
the causes that operated to fix this period
as the proper one, the most powerful was,
that almost all the heather nations regard
ed the winter solstice as the beginning OF
the renewed life and activity of the pow
crs of nature, and of the gods, who were
originally merely the symbolical personiti-
cations of them. In more northerly coun-
tries. the Celts and Germans, from the
Oldest times, celebrated the season with
the greatest festivities. At the winter
solstice the Germans held their great Y ule-
feast in commemoration Of the return OF
the sun, and believed that during the
twelve nights reaching from the 18th of
December to the 9th of January, they
could trace the movements on earth OF
their great deities, Odin, Berchta, &c.
Many of the beliefs and usages of the old
Germans and Romans relating to this
matter, passed over from heathenism to
christianity, and have partly survived to
the present day. But the church sought
to combat and Danish the deep rooted
heather feeling, by adding-for the puri-
fication Of the heather customs and feasts
which it retained-its grandly devised
liturgy, besides dramatic representations of
the birth of Christ and the events of his
life Hence sprang the so-called manger-
songs and multitude of Christmas carols,
or songs of joy and gladness. Hence also
originated, at later period, the Christmas
trees, adorned with lights and presents,
and the custom of baking special dishes,
such as cakes, currant loves, &c. Thus
Christmas became a universal social and
religious festival, which is hailed as no
other festival or observance of the year,
and always should be hailed with joy and
thanksgiving and in Cheerful, kindly and
devout spirit, with goodwill to all. fLet
us all endeavor to be happy on Christmas
day and to make all those around us hap
py, by honoring its ancient observances.