The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-24

Tho Manner OF Its Celebration In oil
FeFent Countries.
The 26th Of December is the day Of
which the sun is nearer the most southern
point in its apparent annual journey, ant
for so long as we have historical record, /
has been celebrated by ceremonies and re
ioicings,
The Hindoos on this day decorate theil
homes with garlands Of flowers and papen
Of gold and tinsel, and the custom o
making presents to relatives and friends il
universally observed,
The Egyptians recognized it by their fes
tival in honor OF the birth Of their god
HOrus.
In China it is a general holiday, the
shops are shut and the courts closed, Nc
journey would under any circumstances be
commenced on this day,
The Persians kept it US the birthday Of
MithIas 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 10 return and reviviiy the
vineyards. They designated the day the
biIE day 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 Teles-
phOre some OF the Eastern Churches reCOg-
ni2rd the 9th OF January as the day, while
those in the West added II to other Cele-
bralions in the lust week OF December.
In the fourth century Pope Julius made
I'M 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, itpossible,
Tx the day, in order that It's observance
might be universal. After due delibera-
ton they decided that it was on December
25th, This decision was, ut the time, be-
lieyed by many OF the fathers in the church
to be erroneous, and they went SO fur us TO
assert that the examiners had been biused
in their decision by the desire to please the
public, to whom this day had already be.
come to be noted one, Popular feeling,
however, sustained the council in their de.
cisiOn, which was finally universally
commemorNted, although It Is now gen
orally believed to be wrong. On the pub
lcatiOn OF the decision the Roman church
dccrGed and instituted special prayers to
priests, to DO said on that day, which are
known as Christ misses.
But We find another derivation for the
name, The old Saxons had Il word Mesa,
by which they designated all days free
from labor, whether holidays or fast days.
The holidays kept In remembrance OF the
birth Of Christ were Christ maSsa.
The spread OF the Christian religion car
ried with 1t the observance OF Christmas
us religious festival with which became
connected other obsprvancCs varying with |
he customs and habits Of different MI
lions.
with the Germans, Christmas Is esteem
ed the "Children's Festival" and with
them originated the world.ialnous myth OF
saint Nicholas" alias Santa Claus, alias
Kris KringIr," the patron OF tho Yule.
Tide and the friends OF all proper boys and
prettily behaved girls. Happily the reforms
III tue observance OF the day, which began
in Germany, reached and were 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 arc distinctly remem.
Dcred in Italy, and in America the Christ.
mas tree, the stockings hung by the chin.
ley with care" md the harmless mer.
" games and the innocent glee Of
childhood supplant much OF the
DoisterOus carousal which once tended to
'ender the day rollicking and riotous. It
was formerly The custom, and is still the
practice in some OF the small villages in
North Germany, tocommission the person.
lge Of "KneCht Rupert" corresponding
with our Santa Claus" to distribute all the
presents made by parents to their children.
Disguised by musk, wearing nm enormous
Ilaxen beard, clad ina long white robe, and
shod in tall buck skins "Knecht Rupert"
went from house, WIS received by the par.
ents with great ceremony, called for the
children, and after the striCtest investiga-
ton into their deserving dispensed gifts
accordingly "Santa Claus" we all know
reports himself differently.