Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-29
CHRISTMAS SYMBOLS.


The Christmas carol is derived from
cantdTc, to sing, and roha, an interjec-
ton OF Joy, from very early date. Bish-
op Taylor, observes that the "Gloria in
Excelsis, the well known hymn sung by
the angels to the shepherds at our Lord IS
nativity, was the earliest Christmas carol.
In former times bishops were accustom-
ed to sing these pious canticles among
their clergy Warton tells us that. in
152l, Wynkyn de Worde printed set OF
Christmas carols, which were festal chan
sons for enlivening the merriment of the
CHRISTMAS celebration, quite unlike our
religious hymns of the present day, which
are popular among all classes and we are
told that the Puritans adopted them in
keeping with their more staid notions Of
Christmas observance. The boar's head.
soused, was anciently the first dish served
on Christmas day in England, and was
carried up the principal table in the hall
with great state and solemnity to the
chanting of II certain carol. Amoag 9TH
er early English customs at this festival
was that of the chambers, who gave to
their customers gifts of candles, and the
bakers presented their patrons with yule-
cakes, which often represented some gro
tesque character in miniature. or pastry
presents of some description.
Among the ancient Romans the laurel
was an emblem'of peace, Joy and victory !;
whence an English authority derives the
custom of decorating English homes with
that evergreen, as n symbol, denoting ioy
for the victory gained over the powers Of
dark and of that peace on earth and
good will toward men which the angels
sung over the fields of Bethlehem. Other
everSreens were subsequently adopted.
The mlstletoe, however, regarded rath.
er as n symbol emanating from the heath.
enlsh rite of Druidism, was never admit
ted into churches, but was hung up in
dwellings, where it signifed, upon Christ
mas occasions, the right of any young
man to salute with a kiss any maiden who
passed beneath the bough The Christ
mas-box was one for the reception Of
money contributed in contemplation of
this season, that masses might be said by
the priests, who invoked forgiveness for
eXeesses committed by the people.
The old English name of the holly was
"holm," or ''holm-oak," and in many
parts of England it is still known by
these I; and Holmesdale, in Surrey, and
Othervlllages whose names commenC with
Holm, have been derived from the abund-
ance Of holly, which at some period grew
i'll their vicinity.
1t has been thought that the "Green-
wood tree, familiarized in the story of
Robin Hood and other English ballads of
forest life, was identical with the holly.
The following lines, by Charles Mack
ey, will express the sentiment of this
symbol.
"Yc who have scorned each other,
Or injured friend or brother
In this fast fading year (;
l5 VINO by word or deed
Have made kindred heart bleed
Come gather here,
Lei slhhed against and SHINING
Forge Their strlfcs beginning
Ana ION ~ friendship now
De i nks no longer broken,
BE sweet forgiveness spoken
Under the holly bOngh.'
A writer i'll Chamber's Joulnal saws
concerning the etymology of mistlctoe
"Mistletoe Is an obsolete old English
word, used. however, as late as in the
writings of Boyle, and is defined in DIR.
Johnson's original folio edition of his die
tionary as the state of being mingled.
Now, this is truly the condition of our
plant, which is internungled with the
foliage of other trees, and mixes their
juices with its own, and, is indeed, in ru-
raj places still called the mistie. If to
this we add the old English tod or toe,
signifying bush, we have at once the de.
rivation, meaning the mingled bush in-
tertwined and growing among foliage dis
similar to its own"
The Christmas season is proverbial as
one OF popular activity among the Eng
lish people and the Italians have pro
verb expressive of this in the sentiment
"He has more business than English
ovens at Christmas" The season is well
known throughout Protestant Europe as
"The Children's Festival" Christmas
cards are very popular in England, and
the postmen in London and other Eng
lish cities are busily engaged in deliver