Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-12-31
CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS.
The Origin OF CHI istmas as Holiday-ihc
Manner OF it's Celebration in Different
Countries.

The Origin of Christmas as Holiday-ihc
Manner OF it's Celebration in Different
Countries.
The % h of December is the day on
which the sun is nearer the most
southern point in its apparent annual
Journey, and for so long as We have his
torical record, it has been celebrated by
ceremonies and reioicings.
The Hindoos on this day decorate
their homes with garlands OF flowers
and papers of gold ami 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, 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 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 revivify the vineyards. They
designated the day the birthday OF the
invincible sun.
There is no record that the birthday
of Jesus Christ was observed till the
second century. At the suggestion OF
Pope Telesphore 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
theologians 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 uni
versal. After duo deliberation they
decided that it was on December 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 examiners had been
biased in their decision 10y the desire
to please the public, to whom this day
had already become to be q noted one.
Popular feeling, however, sustained the
council in their decision, which was
finally universally accepted and COM
memorated, although it is now gen.
erally believed to be wrong. On the
publication of the decision the Roman
church decreed and instituted special
prayers to priests, TO be said on that
dav, which are known as Christmasses.
But we find another derivation for
the name. The old Slxons had word
Mrssa, by which they designated all
days free from labor, whether holiday
or fast days. The holidays kept u
remembrance of the birth OF Christ
were Christ mPsST.
The spread Of tho Christian religion
carried with it the observance OF Christ
mas as q religious festival with which
became connected other obseryances
varying with the customs and habits
of different nations.
With the Germans, Christmas is
esteemed the Children's Festival, and
with them originated the word-famous
myth OF "Saint Nicholas" alias "Santa
Claus" alias "Kris Kringle," the patron
of the Yule-tide and the friend OF all
proper boys und 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 CONNECTIONS for
the period the children are distinctly
remembered in Italy, and in America
the Christmas tree, the stockings
hung by tho chimney with care" and
the harmless merry games and innocent
glee OF childhood supplant much OF the
boisterous carousal which once rendered
to rend to 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 commit
sion the perso mage of " Kuecht Rupert"
corresponding with our Santa Claus"
to distribute all the presents made by
parents to children. Disguised by a
mask, wearing On enormous faIen
beard, clad in long white robe, and
shod in tall buck-skins, "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 G aus" We all know
reports himself differently.