The news and herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1876-1881, 1879-12-31
Christmas,


The celebration Of Christmas, tho
birthday of our Lord, is of ancient
origin. The institution Of the festival
is ascribed to Tclcsphorus, who -four
ishcd IN the reign OF Antoninus Plus
III the second century, but the first
traces of ii are found in the reign Of
Commodus, few years later. Do
clctian, in the third century, is said
to have set fire TO IL church IN Nicomc-
dia in which multitude Of Christians
had assembled TO celebrate the festival
and to have prevented any Of the un-
fortunate victims from escaping from
the flames. Neither Dioclctian, how
ever, nor amy other prosecutor, nor
even the p,ritans, under Cromwell,
succeeded in abolishing this scmi-dc-
"otional feast, and Christmas will be
observed as long as there arc young
people on the earth, and old people to
give them the Thcrcwithal to make
merry.
Among the carly churches there is
said to have been no uniformity i'm The
period Of observing the nativity.
Some held the festival in May, some
in April and others in january. 1t is
argued that the birth of the Savior
could not have occurred on the 25th of
December, because that is the height OF
the rainy season in Jutlca, and shcp-
herds could hardly have been watch
ing their flocks by night, and the
wise men might not not, probably,
have seen the new star rising over
Bethlehem. Gradually, however, the
25th of December was selected, chiefly
for the following reason, it is said.
The winter SolSticr was regarded bv
the Ecath"n nations rs that point Of
the year Il: which begins the renewed
life and activity of Nature, and its
coming was celebrated VITA great
rejoicing, especially among the Cclts
and the Germans in the North. AT this
season the Germans held their great
Iulc feast, in conlmcn,oration Of the
return OF the fiery sun wheel, aud
they believed that during the twelve
nights. reaching from the 25th Dcccm-
Der to the 9th January, they could
trace tie personal movements and
lmcrtcrcnccs on earth, OF Odm
Dcrchta and their other great dri,ics.
when Christianity penetrated these
Willis IL touli't great difficulty in pre-
scrvin" the worship Of the true re-
ligion inconiaminatcd by old hcathcn
customs. Learned scholars hold that
when the festival Of Christmas WAS
adopted, its date was made that Of the
old Iulc feast. TO eradicate these
pagan customs tho church strovc earn
cstly, and originated its "nlangcr
songS," its Christmas carols and
Chris mas dramas, which subScuucnt-
ly dcYcncratcu into f;,rccs and fools
festivals. Hence also arose the GUS
tom of Christ trees or Christmas trees,
adorned with lights and filled with
gifts. During the seventh and eighth
centuries, particularly, several other
festivals, partly old and partly new,
were added to the original day, and II
whole week or more was given up TO
ieasting and joy. In course of time,
Christmas has become Il universal
festival, and although some churches
REJECT IT. III its political aspect as Il
human invention, and as ''savorin"
of papcstical will worShips," still as a
social holiday il is everywhere OBJ
served. In the North il is yielding in
honor to New Years day, but the
Southern people, white and colorcd.
stlll cling to the old traditions, and
call for their "Christmas gifts"