The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-12-25
Christmas.


festival, and afterward the 9Th of Janu-
sry was observed, both as the day of our
Lords baptism and in celebrating his
birth, but in the 4th century St. Cyril of
Jerusalem, obtained an order from Julius
1, Bishop Of Rome, to investigate con-
cerning the date of Christ's birth, result
ing In an agreement to fix 1t at Decem-
Der 25th, and certainly since A. D., 337,
and some authorities put it as early as
13S, it has been one of the most noted
of Christi c$olemnities.
Since the 9Th century, the Romish
Church have celebrated three masses to-
usher in the day, one at midnight, the
second at early dawn and the third in
the morning. The Romans, Irish and
Germans have for centuries made the
day one Of great feasting, protracting
the gayety through Twelfth night, Janua-
~ 9Th, and with more or less enthusiasm
keeping it up till Candlemas, February
I'd.
In the Protestant countries Of Europe,
Christmas is regarded as the childrens
festival, aud presents between parents
and children, brothers and sisters are
customary; the father taking that annu-
al occasion, also to remind his sons Of
their faults of character and conduct and
the mother to instruct her daughters with
especially solemnity, and also to praise
them in any improvement she has OBJ
served. 1t is further related that still in
some of the villages Of Germany the
presents are all sent to one person, who
in mask and frightfully fanciful
dress ss Kuecht Rupert, who goes
ceived with solemn reverence by the par
ents, and after calling for the children
and severe questioning of the father and
mother as to the past behavior Of each,
bestows the gifts according to merit, q
discipline more wholesome than pleas
ant.
In Northern Europe and England,
many are the tales and traditions Of the
splendor Of the Christmas PREF arations,
when the yule log glowed from ample
hearths, tenants were entertained at the
Hall, and the abundance of the lords was
shared by the peasant.
"A Christmas gambol Oft would cheer.
poor mans heart through half the year"
The bay, the laurel, the holly, the ivy
and misletoe are the favorite decorations
where these evergreens are to be had
but substitutes are readily found where
they are not. and though the Puritans
,frowncd upon the Dutch innovation of a
merry Christmas and Santa Claus, the
observance of the day as festal and
religious holiday has spread from the
Middle and Southern States until it COW
ers all the land, and is so dear to the
hearts Of the young it sweeps away all
the prejudice of the old.
The people of this country do not
abandon themselves to reckless merry
making. as they must have done in the
olden lands, according to the stories and
descriptions We have read and heard
but few homes are SO sternly practical or
SO poor that some little attempt is no;
made to surprise each member thereof
by gifts; while family and neighborhood
dinner and evening parties, church and
Sunday school observapces make the day
. religious and social festival. The Gus
tom of giving presents at Christmas or
New Years, is becoming more and more
general as the country grows older and
luxuries increase. Every merchant and
shop-keeper makes special provision for
the holiday trade, and shopping fol
Christmas becomes more bewildering
with every years new devices to lead one
into temptation in money spending.