Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-01-03
OLD CHRISTMAS.
The Close Of The Midwinter Fes-
tai season.

The Christmas and New Year festal
season is to have a fitting close in this
cits with the Twelfth Night ball by
the members Of the Tennessee Club
in honor Of Old Christmas on Friday
evening next at the Peabody Hotel
"a bids fair to be orc Of the most brill
liant social events given in this city
for many years.
The costumes ordered by those who
expect to participate in the iestal
gathering are designed to illustrate a
Christmas merry making in France
during the reign of Louis XIV, some
thing over a century ago, and many
will be exceedingly rich In material
and make mp. Some, it is said, will
cost their wearers between three and
four hundred dollars. They have ell
been ordered from New York or New
y Orleans. In this connection it may
be- well to give a few points in cxpla-
nation Of Old Christmas, and the
style Of its celebration by former gen
erations.
Russia is the only Christian ctuntry
at this time which adheres to the old
style, and continues to recognize the
9Th Of January as the real Christmss.
This day was the ecclesiastical begin
ming Of the year until the calendar
was reformed by Pope Gregory XIII
in 1852, after which time the LIST of
January was recognized as the open.
ing Of the new year. The new style
was not adopted in England until
1852, and in Sweden for a year after.
It was adopted in France in 1854, in
Scotland in 1900, in Denmark soon
alter, in Holland and Germany in
100. Since the several periods named
all of the Christians of the world,
except those allied to the Greek
church, annually observe the 18th of
December in memory of the birth Of
Christ. For many years after the
change Of the calendar Christians
celebrated the Feast of the Nativity
for twelve days, observing the first and
last with great solemnity-the first,
from our Lord having on that day
made His appearance in the flesh; and
the last, or Old Christmas, FROM The
visit Of the Eastern Kings tc the cave
of Bethlehem. To render due honor
to thu memory Of these Kings, Catholic
monarchs offer at the altar on this day
gold, f~rankincense and myrrh.
In the Middle Ages, commemoration
Of the Magi was male by a little
drama called the Feast Of the Star.
Three priests, clothed as Kings, with
their servants carrying offerings, met
from different directions before the
altar. The middle one, from the East,
pointed with his staff to a star. A
dialogue then ensued, and, after kiss
ing each other, they began to sing:
Let us go and inquire" after which
the chanter began the responsory:
"Let the Magi come A procession
then commenced, and as soon as it
began to enter the nave, a crown with
a star resembling a cross was lighted
up, aud pointed out to the Magi, with
Behold the star in the East" Then
two priests, drawing aside a curtain,
showed them a child, whom. falling
down, they wOrshiped. The servants
made offerings of gold, irankincense
and myrrh. A boy, robed as an angel,
addressed them with IAN things
which the prophets said are fulfilled"
The festival concluded with chanting
services.
1t was a Christian custom Of ancient
memoir land probably a relic OF Pagan
ism, to indulge In a pleasantly called
the Election Of Kings by Beans. In
England, 10 later times, a large cake
was made with a bean inserted, and
this was called Twelfth Cake. The
family and friends being assembled,
and the cake being divided, whoever
got the piece containing the bean, was
accepted as King Of the day and called
king Of the Bean" Sometimes there
was also a Queen as we'll as a King on
Twelfth Night. A writer tells us:
After tea, a cake is produced with
two bOlls containing the fortunate
chances for the different sexes. The
host fills up the tickets, and the whole
company, except the King and Queen,
are named maids Of honor or Ministers
ofState. Often the host and hostess,
more by design han accident, become
King and Queen. According to
Twelfth Night law, each party sup
ports his character until midnight.
And thus, with song and dance, and
innocent merry making, the joyous
Christmas tide is passed"
No more graphic picture of Christ
mas in olden time, has artist ever
painted than that found ia SCOTS
Marmion:
And well our Christian sires Of old
Lotsl, Nhen tae year its course had rolled,
gu nnd or0peht bhthe Christina back ag4in,
domestic and religious rita
HaYe, honor to the holy night;
w yhr stmas {, e the mass was ,ung.
IN Chrismas eve the bells were runq.
mat only nlght In al the year
N paw me stoled priest, the chnline telr-
we damsel denned her kirtle shser.
ahe nall va dressed with htllv an
fTTpfln % inc wood did merry men 70,
10 gather In the nj tlotoe' "s
nhen opened wide the Baron hall
10 va sil, tenant, serf and All.
Power laid his rod Of rule asid,
And ceremony dofed his pride.
Inc heiri with fots in biz shoe,
tnat bient migat village pastures oboos..