The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.

Tho Origin OF (hrfstmas a. Holiday
Tho Manner OF Its Celebration In DIFF
Eerent Countries.
The 25th 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 Hindoos 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 OF their god
Horus.
In China it is q general holiday, the
shops are shut and the courts closed.
No journey would under any circum-
stances be commenced on this day.
The Persians kept it as the birthday
of Nithras the Mediator, 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 re-
vivny the vineyards. They designated
the dny the birthday of the invincible
sun.
There is no record that the birthday Of
Jesus the Christ, was observed till the
second century. At the suggestion OF
Pope Telesphorus 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 Of December.
In the fourth century Pope Julius
made an order assembling the chief the
ologians of the time, for the purpose OF
examining all 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 deliberation they decided that
it was on December the 25th. This de-
cision was, at the time, believed by many
of the fathers in the church to be er-
roneous, and they went so fur as to assert
that the examiners had been biased in
their decision by the desire to please the
public, to whom this day had already be-
come to be noted one. Popular feel
ing, however, sustained the council in
their decision, which was finally uni
versally accepted and commemorated,
although it is now generally believed to
be wrong. On the publication of the de-
cision the Roman Church decreed and in-
stituted special prayers 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 q word
Messa, by which they designated all
DAYS freed from labor, whether holidays
or fast days. The holidays kept in re-
membrance OF the birth Of Christ, were
Christ nlesSa.
The spread OF the Christian religion
carried with it the observance Of Christ
mas as q religious festival with which
became connected other observancee
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," the patron
Of Yuie-tide and the friend Of all proper
boys and prettily behaved girls. Hap.
pily 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 "Chil-
dren's Day" in England and France. In
TOYS and confections for the period the
children are distinctly remembered in
Italy, md in America the Christmas
Tree, the stockings hung by the Chin
ney 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
rollicking and riotous. It was formerly
the custom, and is still the practice I'D
some Of the small villages in North Ger.
many, to commission the parsonage OF
"Knecht Rupert" corresponding with
our Santa Claus, " to distribute all the
presents made by parents and friends to
children. Disguised by mask, wearing
an enormous faxen 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 ceremony, called for the children.
and after the strictest investigation into
their deserving, dispensed gifts accord
ingly. "Santa Claus" we all know,
reports himself differently.