Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-23
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS AS A HOLII


The 25th of December is the day on which
the sun is near the most southern point in it,
apparent annual journey, and for so long as
we have historical record, it has been celebra
ted by ceremonies and rejocings.
The Hindoos on this day decorate their
homes with garlands of flowers and pa
pers Of gold aud tnsel, and the custom OF
making presents to relatives and friends is
universally observed. ,.
The Egyptians recognized it by their festi.
val in honor of the birth of their god Horus
In China it is general holiday, the shops
are shut and the courts closed. No journey
would under any circumstances be commenced
OH this day.
The Persians kept it as the birth day Of
Mithras the Mediator, a spirit of the sun,
with ceremonies of uncommon splendor.
The old Romans held high festival in hon.
or of Bacchus, rejoicing with him that the
sun was about to return and revivify the vine
yards. They designated the day the birth.
day of the invincible sun.
There is no record that the birthday of Je-
sus the Christ, was observed till the second
century. At the suggestion ofPope Telespho-
rus some of the Eastern churches recognized
the 9th of January as the day, while those
of the West added it to other celebrations in
the last week in December. o.. ..
In the fourth century Pope Julius made an
order assembling the chief theologians of the
time, for the purpose of examining all evil
dence 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 delberation they deci-
ded that it was on December the 25th. This
decision was, at the time, believed by many
of the fathers in the church to be erroneous,
and they went so far as to assert that the ex.
aminers had been biased in their decision by
the desire to please the public, to whom this
day had already become to be noted one.
Popular feeling, however, sustained the coun'
Gil in their decision, which was finally univer.
sally accepted and commemorated, although
it is now generally believed to be wrong. On
the publication of the decision the Roman
Church decreed and instituted special pray.
ers to priests, to be said on that day, which
are known as Christ masses. .... ., .
But we find another derivation for the
name. The old Saxons had word Messa,
by which they designated all days freed from
labor, whether holidays or fast days. The
holidays kept in remembrance of the birth
Of Christ, were Christ MESA.
The spread of the Christian religion carried
with it the observance of Christmas as re-.
ligious festival with which became connected
other observances varying with the customs
and habits of different nations. .
With the Germans, Christmas is esteemed
the "Children's Festival" and with them
originated the world famous myth Of "Saint
Nicholas" alias Santa Claus" alias "Kris
Kringle," the patron of Yule tide and the
friend of all proper boys and prettily behaved
girls. Happily the reforms in the observance
of the day, which began in Germany, reached
and was copied in other portions Of Europe.
Christmas is also now "Children's Day" in
England and France. In toys and confec-
tions for the period the children are distinct
ly remembered in Italy, and in America the
Christmas Tree, the stockings hung by the
chimney with care," and the harmless merry
games and innocent gfee Of childhood sup.
plant much of the boisterous carousal which
once tended to render the day rollicking and
riotous. 1t was formerly the custom, and is
still the practice in some of the small villages
in North Germany, to commission the per.
sonage of "Knecht Rupert" corresponding
with our "Santa Claus" to distribute all
the presents made by parents and friends to
children. Disguised by a mask, wearing
an enormous Aaxen beard, clad in a long
white robe, and shod in tall buckskins,
"Knecht Rupert" went from house to house,
was received by the parents with great cere.
mony, called for the children, and after the
strictest investigation into their deserving,
dispensed gifts accordingly. Santa Claus"
we all know, reports himself differently.