The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-12-25
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Before u next issue will have ap-
peared the anniversary Of that great
event will have come and gone, when
1878 years ago the Star Of Bethlehem
cited the wise mon of the East to
where the Saviour was born. 1t Is a
day observed throughout Christendom
with devout exercises and merry-mak-
ing.
Merry Christmas with Its CHEEKY In
nuence has come again. The great
Christian festival concentrating the
birth Of Jesus Of Nazareth, stands at
the head of the great festival week,
which is rounded out into the joyous
advent of the New Year:
As . Christian festival the 25th of
December Is celebrated in all Christian
countries. The precise date Of Jesus
Christ's birth Ii not known. The
Eastern church first celebrated 1t in
April. and later. In May. In the fourth
century q convention OF th~eologisns
representing the authorities of the
Eastern and Western churches was
held for the purpose of determining
the question, and they agreed to FIX it
on the 25th Of December. This conclu-
sion was based chiefly on certain tables
of the censors found in the archives in
Rome, which were believed to be aY-
thentic, and the decision was generally
accepted by the churches a correct.
Since that date in alIparts Of Christen-
dom the same day has been observed.
1t is not claimed to be a day of Di-
vine appointment. Christ's birth was
not celebrated until about A. D.. $50,
at which time 1t seems to have been in
troduced into the Eastern church.
At an early age the custom of giving
Christmas presents obtained to a
popular degree, being suggested by the
gifts Of the magl at the birth of Christ.
The custom Of decorating churches.
places OF business and dwellings with
evergreens followed at u much later
period, but it has now become general
In all Christian countries. 1t Is said
to have arisen from the Druids who
entertained the opinion that sylvan
spirits flocked to eyergreens in winter
and remained until the milder season
Of spring. In the Old English churches
tho favorite selection for decorative
purposes were from the holly. the ivy,
the laurel and the mistletoe.
The Christmas season Is In some
sense an exempliacation Of Christiani-
ty, and when we remember how these
holidays have been sung Of by the
poets, how many weird and fantastic
fancies gather around them, and how
universal Is the rejoicing at their re-
c~urrence, we begin to appreciate the
influence Of this festival upon man
kind. "Christmas comes but once a
year." sang the old poet. but its coming
is always looked forward to with anti
cipatlons OF happiness and pleasure,
which are not INDUCED in at any other
time. It Is the season for the giving
of good gifts, and OF good cheer; and
social and family reunions. For one
day at least Santa Claus becomes a liv-
ing reality. The stockings are hung in
the chimney for the venerable Saint to
all, and the day is ushered in with the
gladstone cries Of children, as
"with beaming fnces around the tree,
Stand /, Dung and old In Joy and peace"
None of us are apt to forget that it
is Christmas, either in our hearts or In
the manifestations Of heart kind
ness to others. The happy laughter Of
little children who, in the dusk Of
morning, turn out the heterogeneous
treasures Of bursting stockings on the
floor, is a better than that Of
the most trenchant theologian. Suffer
the day not to fall into decay. Foster
1t encourage it, cherish it; teach the
children that Mt least for this one frag-
ment of the year, s~elhshness must give
way-greed unjust smooth its wrinkled
'front.'" and relax Its clutching fingers,
and each for himself must recall and
act upon the half forgotten fact that
there are others In the world besides
themselves.