The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-12-29

! The MHnner OF LIS Celebration In DIE
. ferent 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 Inns been celebrated by ceremonies and
rejoicings
The Hindoos on this day decorate their
homes with garlands Of flowers and pa
I pcrs Of gold and tinsel, and the custom
OF making presents to relatives and
friends is universally observed.
The Egyptians recognized it by their
festival i'll honor Of the birth Of their god
Horus.
1 In China it is o general holiday, the
. shops are shut and the courts closed.
No journey would under any circum-
stances be commenced on this day.
Tho PerSinns kept il as the birthday
J OF MitliriIs the Mediator, spirit Of the
sun, with ceremonies Of uncommon
splendor.
The old Romans held high festival in
honor of Bacclus, rejoicing with him
that tho sun was about to return and re-
. yivify the vineyards. They designated
the day the birthday OF the invincibla
sun.
There is no record that the birthday OF
4 Jesus tue Christ, wal observed till the
second century. At the suggestion Of
Pope Tclcsrhoris some of the Eastern
churches recognized the 9th OF January
MS the day, while those Of tho West
added ii to other celebrations in the last
4 week of December.
In the fourth century Popo Julius
made an order assembling the chief the.
ologians OF the time, for the purpose OF
examining all evidence bearing upon the
, date OF tho birth Of Jesus, that they
should, if possible, fix the day, in order
that its observance might bo universal.
After due deliberation they decided that
it was Oh December Tie 18th. This de.
: cision was, at the limo, believed by nov
Of the fathers in the church to be er
roneous, and they went SO far us to assert
that the examiners had been blessed il.
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 aud COMMUNICATED,
although it is now generally believed to
be wrong. On the publication OF the de-
cision tho Roman Church dccreed md in
stituted special prayers to priests, to be
said on that day, which are known as
Christ masses.
But we find another derivation for tho
name. The old Saxons had word
Afgssa, by which thoy designated all
days freed from labor, whether HOLIDAYS
or fast days. The holidays kept in re-
membrance Of the birth Of Christ. wero
Christ n,Gssa.
The spread Of the Christian religion
carried with it tho observance of Christ
mas as o religious festival with which
became connected other observances
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-famons
: myth Of Saint Nicholas" alias "santa
Claus, alias "Kris Kringle," the patron
Of Yule.tide and tho friend Of all proper
boys and prettily behaved girls. Hip.
PLY tho reforms in the observance Of tie
day, which began in Germany, reached
; and was copied in other portions Of
Europe. Christmas is also now Chill
> dren's Day" in England and France. In
toys and CONNECTIONS for tho period the
children are distinctly remembered in
Italy, and in America tho Christmas
Tree, the stockings hung by the chin
ney with care, and the harmless merry
games and innocent glec Of childhood
supplant much Of the boisterous carousal
which once tended to render the dav
rollicking and riotous. 1t was formerly
the custom, and is still the practice III
some OF the small villages in North Ger
many, to commission the parsonage Of
"Kuecht Rupert" corresponding with
our "Santa Claus, +" to distribute all the
presents made by parents and friends to
children. Disguised by mask, wearing
on enormous flaxen beard, clad in 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.