The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-25
oagIsrBAs CUSTOMS.

The origin OF Christmas as Holiday
Tbe Manner OF IFS CeIebFaiian In DIE
fcreut Countries.
The 25.h Of December is the day on
which the sun is near the most southern
point in Its apparent annual journey, and
for so long as we have historical record,
It has been celebrated by ceremonies and
rejoicings.
The Hfndoos on this day decorate their
homes with garlands Of flowers and pa:
pers OF gold and tinsel, and the custom Of
making presents TO relatives and friends is
universally observed. =.
The Egyptians recognized It BY their
festival In honor OF the birth oil their goa
Horus. , a.
In China it Is q general holiday, the
shops are shut and the courts closed. NO
Journey would under any circumstances
be commenced on this day.
The Persiaps keptit as the birthday OF
Mithras the Mediator, a spirit OF the sun,
with ceremonies OF uncommon splendor.
The old Romans held high festival IN
honor OF Bacchus, rejoicing with him that
the sun was about to return and reVlvliy
the vineyards. They designated the day
the birthday OF the invinciole sun.
There ia no record that the birthday oil
Jesus the Christ, was observed till the
second century. At the suggestion oil
Pope TeIesphorus some of the Eastern
churches recognized the 9th OF January
as the day, while those OF the West added
h 10 other celebrations in the last week oil
December.
In the fourth century Pope Julius made
an order assembling the chief theologlans
Of the time, for the purpose OF examining
ali evidence bearing upon the date oil the
birth Of Jesus, that they should, II posi-
bic, fix the day, in order thaeits observ-
apce might lie universal. After due de.
liberation they decided that It was on De.
cember the 25th. This decision was, at
the time, believed by many OF the fathers
in the church TO be erroneous, and they
went 80 far as to assert that the examiners
had been biased in their decision by the
desire to pleaee the public, to whom this
day had already become to be a noted ore.
Popular feeling. however, sustained the
council in their decision, which was finally
universally accepted and commemorated,
although 1t is now generally believed to
be wrong. On the publication OF the de-
cision the Roman Church decreed and in
s,ituted special prayers TO priests, 10 be
said on that day, which are known as
Christ masses.
But we find another derivation for the
name. The old Saxons had word
NEsid, by which they designated all days
freed from labor, whether holidays or last
days. The holidays kept in remembrance
Of the birth OF Christ were Chria H'e'sd.
The spread OF the Christian religion car
ried with it tho observance Of Christmas
as a religious festival with which became
connected other ohservances varying with
the customs and habits OF different nations.
With the Germans, Christmas is es.
teemed the "Children's Festival" and
with them originated the world.famous
myth OF "Saint Nicholas" alias "Santa
Claus" alias kris Kringle," tho patron
of Yule-tide ard the friend OF all proper
boys aud prettily bshaved girls. Happily
the reforms in the observance OF the day,
which began in Germany, reached and
were copied in other portions OF Europe.
Christmas is slso now "Children's
Day" in England and France. In toys
aud conieCtions for the period the chill.
drcn are distinctly remembered IN Italy,
and in America tho Christmas Tree,
the stockings hung by the chimney
with care" and the harmless merry
games and innocent glee OF childhood
supplant much OF the boisterous carousal
which once tended to render the day roll
licking and riotous. 1t was formerly the
custom, and 10 still the practice in some OF
the small villages in North Germany, to
commission the personSge OF "knecht
Rupert" corresponding with our Santa
Claus TO distribute all the presents made
by parents and friends to children. Dis
guised by q mask, wearing an enormous
flaxen beard, clad in long white robe, and
shod in tall buckskins, "Kuecht Rupert"
went from house to house, was received by
the parents with great cermony, called Tor
the children, and after the strictest inves:.
tigation into their deserving, dispensed
gifts accordingly. "Santa Claus" we all
know reports himself differently.