The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-23
ennasrm1s.

lemnity was celebrated at an earlier pc
tiod in the month Of April and May
But upon full investigation Of the
time the theologians of tho East and
West agreed upon the a5th of Dec
ember, since which time this day has
been celebrated as one of the noted of
Christian festive days. During the mid
die ages it was celebrated by tho gay
fantastic spectacle of dramatic mysteries
and moralities performed by personages
in gretesque masks and singular cos
tunes. The scenery represented an In
fant in a cradle, with the Virgin Mary
and st. Joseph standing close by. There
was custom of singing canticles or
Christmas carols, which recalled the
shepherds sang at the birth Of Christ.
The bishops and the lower clergy often
joined with the populaee in earsliing
and the songs were enlivened by DANG
ing and by the music of tambours. gui-
tars, violins and organs. Fathers, moth.
ers, sons and daughters, mingled togeth-
er in the dance. II in the night, each
bearing Lighted wax tapor in his hand.
These customs prevailed as early as the
fourteenth century among the Welsh,
French. Germans and English. It Is
the custom still for the Calabrian min
strels to come down from the mountains
of Naples and Rome and salute the
shrines of the Virgin Mother with their
wild music under the poetical notion of
cheering her until the approaching
Christmas. At dead midnight before
Christmas the bells are r,mg throughout
England and the continent, collation.
being partaken Of by the midnight rev.
ellers, that they may the better sustain
the labor of the night. In Germany
and north Europe Christmas is often
called the"children's festival and Christ
mas Eve Is devoted to giving presents.
A large yew beugh is erected in one OF
the parlors, lighted with tapes, and.
hung with manifold gifts. The donors
name is never marked on them. WheA
the whole family are assembled the gifts
are distributed amid joyful acclamation
and congratulations. AS soon as this is
over the good mother takes occasion to
say privately to the daughters, and the
father to tho sons, what has been OBJ
served most praisewo-tby and what most
faulty in their conduct. The different
modes of celebrating Christmas are
very singular and peculiar to the peo-
pie adopting them. But Christmas day
has always been at once religious, do
mestic and merry-makins festival in
England. This often continues until
Candlemas February 2nd.) The lard
er was filed with csFons, hens, tur-
keys, ducks, geese, beef, mutton, pork
pies, puddings, nuts, etc.
Old England was merry, England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Christmas broached the miehiiest
ale;
Twas Christmas told the meTTiest tale
A Christmas gambolofl would cheer
A POOR mans heart through ha.f the
year.
The common custom Of decking the
houses aid churches at Christmas with
evergreens is derived from ancient Drr-
id practices. It was an old belief that
sylvan spirits might flock to the ever
greens and remain unnippsd by frost till
a milder season. The holly, ivy, rose
mary, bays, laurel and rnistletoe were
the favorite trimmings These are
the fayorite trimmings with as In this
country. These were not removed till
Candlemas. Chaplets of these were
worn about the head, hence the phrases
kiss under the rose" to "whisPer IN
der the mistletoe," etc. Many were the
superstitions that surrounded this day.
The famous hawthorne in che church
yard at Glastenberry Abbey, which al
WAYS buddsd on the oath, and blossom
ed on the 25th Of December, and when
the style changed to January 5th, it
b.ossomed On that day, has with many
other mysterious Obseryances passed
away. These celebrations have lost
their boisterous features, and gambols
md carols are nearly gone. Family re-
uniens and evergresns are nearly all
hat remain. In the United States it
S celebrated after the style OF the old
country. The German, the Frenchman
and the Englishman infuses into the
much of his OWE custom. 1t
Is so with those from all nations that
celebrated Christmas 1t is with US a
legal holiday, and is celebrated with
church service and exchanging Christ
mas cards, presents, trimming houses
and churches with eyergreens and imi-
tating the German custom of Christmas
trees. Dinners ale the social feature
Of the day. The day will be celebrat-
ID with great interest and pleasure and
we hope all may enjoy it after the ira
iitions of their fathers. We wish all a
merry Christmas"