The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-12-24
cuRIsTHAs CUSTOMS.
TIE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS As a HoLI
DAY-THE MANNER OF ITS OBJ
sERv ANCE n VARIOUS
COUNTRIES

The 25th Of December is the day on
which the sun is near the most southern
point in its apparent annual journey
aud for so long as we have historical re-
cord. IL has been CGleDrated'by ceremon-
les and rei0iciHgs.
The Hindo0s on this day decorate
their homes with gariands Of flowers
and papers Of gold and tinsel, and the
custom OF making presents to relatives
and friends is universally observed.
The EgyUtians recognized 1t by their
festival in honor Of the birth of their god
Horus.
In China it is a general holiday, the
shops are shut and the court closed.
No journey would under any circum-
stances be commenced on this day.
The Pers.aus kept it as the birthday
OF Muhras the Mediator. q spirit Of the
sun, with ceremonies of uncommon
splenGor.
The Old Romans held high festival in
honor of BaCcLus, rejoicing with him
that the sun was about to return and re-
viyify the vineyards. They designated
the day the birthday Of the ineyincible
sun.
There IS no record that the birthday
of Jesus the Christ wac observed till
the second century. At the suggestion
OF Pope Telesphorus some of the East
ern churches recognized the 9th o! Jan
uary as the day. while those Of tho West
added it to other celebrations in the last
week Of December.
In the fourth century Pope Julius
made an order assem- bling the chief the
oIogians of the time for the purpose Of
examining ali evidence bearing upon the
date Of the birth Of Jesus, that they
should if possible, fix the day, in order
that its observance might be universal
After due GeliberGtiOu they decided that
it was on December the 18th. This de-
cisiOn was, at the time, believed by
many Of The Fathers in the Church 10
be erroneous, and they went so far as to
assert that the examiners had been bias
ed in their decision by the desire to please
the public to whom this day had already
come to he noted one. Popular feel
ing. however, sustained their decision,
which was finally universally accepted
and cOmmeuorated, although it is now
generally believed TO BE- wrong. On the
publication OF The decision the Roman
Church decreed and instituted special
prayers % priests, 10 be said on that day.
which are known as Christ masses.
But Ue find another derivation fCr the
name The old SaE0us had a word
HCass1, by which they designated al
days freed from labor, whether holiday:
or fast days. The holidays kept.in re
memberauCe Of the birth Of Christ, Wer:
Christ lfgssr
The spread Of the Christian religion
carried with it The Observance of Christ
mas as a religious festival with whicl
became connected other observance
varying with the customs and habits o
different nations.
With the Germans. CHTistmasi es
teeTued the Children s Festival, - ant
with them originated the wCrld-tamOU
myth IF saint Nicholas - alas -'cant
Claus, " alias kris Erugie," the pa
tTon Of IuIe-tilg and The friend Of .
proper boys ami pT-itjiy behaved giT.
Happily the reforms IN the ObServanC
Of the day, which began in Germany
reached and was copied III other portion
Of Europe. Christmas is also now chi
dren's day in EEglald and France.
TOYS and corrections for the period ID
children are distinctly remembered
Italy. and iG America the Christina
Tree the stockings hung 10y The chin
uey with care. .'' anti the harmless. meTi
games and IGuCceIt glee OF childh0C
supPiant much OF the Eyi5,erouS carou
al which once tended 20 render the q.
IOlliCNiuE and rIotOus. i5 vas LoTme
II the custom. and is still the prUCtIt
in some Of the small villages in II OF
Germany, to commission the persona.
Of ''EnecLt Rupert corresponds
with our ''SIIta Claus, to dlstEiJu
all the presents made by parents al
friends to children. Disguised b. a ma
wearing an enormous tlaIcn beard, cl.
III a long white robe, be was received
the parent with great ceremony, cali
for the children, ana after the sJr.cLe
investigation into their deserving, d
peused gifts accordingly. Santa Clar
we all know, reports bfmselI diGerelti