Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-12-23
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PORT TOBA &c o:
Friday Morning, December %, 1881
CHRISTMAS.

Next Sunday, being the twenty fifth OF
tho month will be the time honored festi
val of Christmas. This great feast is par
amount among the festivals of the Chris
tian church, being the anniversary OF the
birth of the Savior to the world. Its insti-
tuition is attributed by the decretal letters
to Pope Telesphorus, who died A. D., 1873.
In the early part Of the fourth century, it is
said, there was some confusion as TO the
proper anniversary of the Saviors birth.
This induced St. Cyril, of Jerusalem, to
obtain from Pope Julius I, an order for
an investigation to be made concerning
the day of Christ's nativity. The result
of this inquiry by the theologians of the
East and the West was an argument upon
the 25th of December, and that day has
been since uniformly and universally GEL
ebrated throughout the Christian church,
as the feast of Christ's nativity. 1t has
been common tradition that the Savior
was born about the middle OF the night,
hence the custom in the Catholic church
of ushering in Christmas day by the cele-
bration of three masses, one at midnight,
second at early dawn and third in the
morning. This custom dates from the
sixth century. Christmas has been al
ways considered in the double light Of
holy cemmemoration and cheerful festi
val, and its celebration has accordingly
been distinguished by devotions, by sus-
pension of business and by merriment.
The custom of ''Christmas trees" origi-
mated among the Germans. 1t has been
from the early ages a custom in German
families to erect, in one Of the parlors on
Christmas eve, large yew bough, brill
liantly lighted with tapers and hung with
manifold gifts, sweetmeats, nuts, play
things and ornaments. Each of these is
marked with the name of the member Of
the family for whom it is intended, but
not with the name of the dener. The
whole family assemblies in the room, and
the presents are distributed according to
their labels, amid joyful reclamation and
congratulations. A more sober scene sue
ceeds, the mother adopting this occasion
to say privately to the daughters, and the
father to the sons, what has been observed
most praiseworthy, and what most faulty
in their conduct.
In England, Christmas has always been
at once a religious domestic and merry
making festival. The merry making used
to begin on Christmas eve and often con-
tinued until candl.mas February o. In
the houses OF the mobiles, ''lord of mis-
rule" or s'abbot of unreason" was appoint
ed, whose office was "the rarest pastimes
to delight the beholder," and whose do
minion lasted from "All-hollow eve" (Oc-
tober 81, till Candlemas day. All the
tenants of the manor were entertained at
the hall, and the lord and his family en-
couraged every art conducive to mirth
So bounteous were the repasts spread up
on the English tables during these festive
times, that it became common saying in
other parts of Europe 'he has more
business than English ovens at Christmas"
The first dish on Christmas day was a
soused boar's head mot much Of deli
at the present day., which was borne in
Upon silver platter to the
pffhcipal table, by the butler, to the chant
of the following cid half latin ditty:
"Caput opri defero
Reddens laudes Domino
The bore's head in handle bring /,
With garlands gay and rosemary,
/ pray you all synge merely,
TUT estis in conririo,
There is tradition that this custom or
iginated at Queens College, Oxford, in
commoration of the valor OF student, who
while taking walk and reading Aristo-
tie, was suddenly attacked by afurious
wild boar, and in self-defense, rammed the
yolaue into the throat of the beast III
he had fairly choked him to death. 1fe
custom is still practiced at that institution