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

The Orsaia OF shrisir,as O. e. Holiday
rho ManneF OK 1tn Celebration In, Dif.
fsrcne Countries.
The 25th of December is the dny on
which the sun is near the most .uthern
point in its apparent annual journey, and
for 30 long as wo have historical record.
it has been celebrated by ceremonies and
roioicings.
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 general holiday, tho
shops are shut and the courts closed.
No journey would under any circum-
stances be commenced on this day.
The Persians kept j. as the birthday
OF Mithras 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-.
vi7ify the vineyards. They designated
the day the birthday Of tho invincible
sun.
There is no record TINT tho birthday OF
Jesus tho Christ, was observed till the
second century. At the suggestion OF
Pope Telesphorus some of the Eastern
churches recognized tho 9th of January
as the dny, wliilo those OF the West
added 1t to other celebrations in tho last
week of December.
In the fourth century Pope Julius
mode nm order assembling the chief ttn-
ologinns OF the time, for tho PURPOSE OF
examining all evidence bearing upon the
date OF tho birth of Jesus, TINT they
should, if possible, fix the day, in order
that it's observance might DO universal.
After due deliberation they decided that
1t was on December the 25th. This de-
cision wns, ut the time, believed by many
Of the fathers in tho church to be err
roneous, and they went SO fnr rs to assert
that the examiners hnd 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.
stitnted special prayers to priests, to be
said on that day, which are known rs
Christ masses.
But we find another derivation for the
name. The old Snxons had O word
MWSsa, by which they designated oil
days freed from labor, whether holidays
or fast days. The holidays kept in Re.
mombranco OF the birth Of Christ, wero
Christ n,Gssa.
The spread of the Christian religion
carried with it the observance OF Christ
mas as religious festival with which
became connected other observnnces
varying with the customs and habits OF
different nations.
With the Germans, Christmas 10 es.
teemed tho "Children's Festival" and
with them originated the worId-f famous
myth OF Saint Nicholas" alias "5ants
Claus" alias Kris Kringle." the patron
o. Yule-tide and the friend Of all proper
boys aud prettily. behaved girls. Hap.
Ii, >-4e reforms in the Observance of the
and was copied in other iA,y, portiona tsauaeS oi
Europe. Christmas IL also now "Chil.
dren's Day" in England and France. In
toys and CONNECTIONS for the period tha
children are distinctly remembered In
Italy, and in America the Christlnas
Tree, the stockings hung by the chin.
ney with care, and the harmless merry
games and innocent glee of childhood
snpplant much of the boisterous carousal
which once tended to render the day
rollicking and riotOus. It was formerly
the custom, and is still tho practice in
some Of the small villages in North Ger.
many, to commission the personnge OF
"Knecht Rupert" corresponding with
our "Santa Claus, 3" to distribute all tho
presents made by parents and friends to
children. Disguised by mask, wearing
an enormous fuxen beard, clad in long
white robe, and shod in tall buctAkins,
"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.