The Baltimore County union., 1881-12-24
THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS.
The Origin OF the Decoration OF Houses
and Churches With Evergreens.

Fc,ii, al days. or holy days. on which religious
services Lei have been common among
Pagan, JeNish. Mohamtntdan and Christian ma
tons. The festival days obseTyed al present ia
all ChIistian counties are of tso kinds, movable
aud hXei "a other wofds ;hose which are always
kept on q certain day Of the year. Among the
former !. Easter. which regulates all the movable
holy days. This festival. which derives its name
from the Saxon goddess Eastrc. 10 whom homage
was paid "a the month of April vas hTsi kept by
some Of the early churches on the same lay a. the
JeNish Passover. by Others on the hr.t sunday
after the fret full moon in the year. Uniformity
vas established IA 4. u. 325 BY the Council Of
Nice. which ordained that Easter should be kept
in all Christian churches on the same day, which
should alSa! be sunday.
When. a. a festival, Christmas vas fret kept in
commemofatian of the birth Of the Savior - not
knosn. There is. however a melancholy proof
that IL vas observed ia the time % the Emperor
DiOcieiian, Hho tegued from 4. u. 2Sg, for bis-
tory record. that the tyrant, shen ~ Nicomedia.
finding . number VI Christians assembled IN the
churehc. 20 celebrate the Nativity, ordered the
duors 90 be suddenly closed and those within them
10 be burned. But there does NJ, seem 10 have
been any uniformity IN the period Of observing the
day until Pore Julius l.. Ia the fourth eentuATy.
ordered il g. be Kept on the 18th Of December. IL
" hoScvef almost certain that the birth oi Christ
dii not occur IN December. a. that l. the rainy
reason IN Judea, when shepherds do not watch
the season Why this festival was fixed near the
winter sostiee vas that almost all the ancient
nations regarded that period an important one
in the year. This probably foseirom it, being the
time ., which the days begin 90 lensiheh ami
when nature seems 90 renew her energies for the
production of the warmth and fruits of the
Christmas Christ Macs 10 observed with peca
liar solemniiy By certain denominations Of Chris
tiAns. while others reject its religious aspect but
keep 10 as social holiday The easiom Of deck
ing houses aud churches At Christmas uith ever
greens IL derived from the Druis priests " min
is,ers of the ancient Gaul', Bri,ons and GeFmans
-vho believed that the SYLVIA deities Ioddesses
0f the Woo1s-w0uld come and dWell among the
trees which retained their leaves uhen the other
portions ot the forests were deprived Vt their fuli
age. The planting of tree covered With pfesenis
for the little ones,' the NAMES of the person for
whom the gift :. intended being given. ba; the
name ~ the donor concealed, hA. been customary
ia many part Of Germany and IN the northern
districts of Europe FROM time inmemoTial. The
Puritan Parliament Of England abolished Christ
mas. aud Il Vas for long time regarded With but
little favor BY their descendants la New England
Christmas carols and music on that day can be
traced 90 an early period in Saxon annals. Under
the Tadors. ia Engiand, singing merry carols
Christmas vas cOmnob. But they gradually be-
came ribald aud profane and the custom was e. a
great extent abandoned. The olies; collection of
Christina carols IN English bears the date Of 52l.
s.ent in the chimney on Christmas isht aud whose
iberalty has been tor ages the uonder and delight
of many Juvenile possessors of toys, ginger bread
and mint. stick, was fret introduced under the
name Of Kris krnge 10 the inhabitants of the
Western Continent by the Da' ch residents q the
State of New York. Christmas has been made a
legal holiday in the greater part. IL not in all Of
the States and 10 generally observed either by re-
hgioas services. social gatherings or suspension
Of basiness.
Thee custom Of spending the last days of the year
either in devotional exercises or in withdrawal
from every day pursuts appears % be Of very high
antiquity. The Romans devoted the latter part
of February, then the las, month u the year, 20
the februatiA or expiAtory sacrifices which have
given its name 10 the month. and the Greeks EN-
ploysd portion of Jane. the end Of their year.
Tor a similar purpose In almoF, all Christian
eountFs. the interval between the nativity and
the arst day Of the year. has been set apart for
social enjoyment, the interchange Of acts Of kind
he.s. and relaxation from the pursuits and EN-
| ployments which have required attention during
the year. l. II any wonder, then, that young and
old. the grave and the gay" hail Christmas, the
hr. of ,hOse holidays. with pleasure and glAdnes'