Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-25
Christmas Keeping in the OIden Time.

pie had learned 80 many ways of pleas.
ing the little ones as they have now
and the celebration of Christmas was
very different. There were many Gus.
toms which would amuse and interest
my little readers quite as much as the
Christmas tree. In England, in the
olden time, a few days before Christ
mas, when the hustle of preparation
was at its height in the houses of the
rich, some of the serving-men would
be sent out into the woods to cut an
enormous logfor the back of the Christ
mas fire. The fireplace was so large
sometimes that the log, which took sew
eral men to lift could be placed in it.
When it was selected, it was drawn to
the kitchen door with songs and much
merriment, and on Christmas Eve it
was placed at the back Of the wide
chimney and great roaring fire made
in front of it. This was called the
"Yule Log" and as long as it burned,
the men and maids were entitled to
keep holiday. Sometimes they were
cunning enough to wet it we'll in the
brook, so that it might last the longer.
When it was well a-burning, the mer-
ry-makirg of the evening began by a
very curious procession, such as ven
ture to say, our little readers never saw.
First came a man dressed in long
white robe, made generally by pinning
a sheet around him, with white hair
and beard, and crown of holly and mis-
tletoe, representing Father Christmas;
then followed a great many singular
looking figures, each personating some
Christmas dish, such as mince-pie,
boar's head, or plum-puddiEg; then
followed one dressed in priests
robes, he was called the Abbot
of Unreason, and after him came a
mixed company, dressed in the most
fantastic way they could devise, and all
with some Christmas decoration. The
actors in this "mumming" show, as it
was called, were generally servants,
farm-hands, or poor people who lived
in the neighborhood. The ''mummers"
would go about from house to house,
and everywhere they were made well
come, and after acting out thei1 parts
they were entertained with all manner
of good cheer, in the great hall, where
fires were kept blazing, and where
finally the evening ended with a dance,
which was joined in by all the com
pany in the house. The walls were
hung with holly and mistletoe, and the
scarlet berries of the one and the pure
white of the other made gay garlands
that reflected the light of the fire
cheerily. A branch of mistletoe hung
in the center of the hall, and if by any
accident lady happened to stand be-
neath-of course it never happened
except by accident-any gentleman
who caught her there was entitled to
kiss, and somehow, l do not pretend
to explain how, there were good many
kisses generally stolen on Christmas
Eve, probably because in dancing the
ladies forgot to look for the mistletoe,
and their partners did not. Many games
were played at Christmas time then
that are now happily almost forgotten.
One was that of " Snap-dragon,n which
occasioned a great deal of sport. In a
darkened room a bowl of blazing
spirits of wine were placed upon the
table, and the party gathered around
it. This bowl was filed with plums,
which were to be snatched from be.
meath the flame without burning the
fingers, and those accustomed to the
sport became very adroit in winning
the plums without gaining any scars.
| think VIC may be glad that we have
plays less rude for our holidays.
In Holland, where think they know
about as well how to please children as
anywhere in the world-for you know
it is there that so many toys are made
they had great many pretty Gus
toms. In the small towns and villages
a man dressed as Santa Claus, and
loaded with presents, would 90 about
jhe town on Christmas Eve, and knock
ng at the door of a house would in
luire whether any good children lived
here, and the parents would call the
and tell him how they had be-
laved, and whether they deserved any
The little ones were often
7ery much frightened when they saw
lis tall cap, and the large bundle of
witches which he always carries with
lim; for some reason, l fancy that the
number of these did not diminish much
Is he went along, for l think you will
agree with me in wondering how peo-
lie manage to give childrem such re-
narkably good characters about Christ
mas, and that the number of good chill
lren is greater than at any other time
# year. At any rate, the good old
santa Claus always seems to hope they
will be good in the future, if they have
lot been in the past. When this old
nan had gone his rounds, and dis
ributed his gifts, mostly among the
ounger children, the families would
ssemble round the Christmas tree, the
apers were lighted, and the presents of
be parents to the children were taken
rom the tree, and afterwards the chill
ren presented theirs to their parents.
Did you ever think why gifts are
lade more at Christmas than at any
ther timer You know it is because it
yas on Christmas day that God gave
is great gift to the world, the gift of !
is son Jesus, the Savior; and l am ,
ure that every child must delight to :
mink of Him as having been once lit
e child, and will not ferget that he
yas poor child, born in manger,
nd for his sake rpnamher those little