The Columbus journal., 1883-02-21
Christmas Eve.

The origin of the celebration of Christ
mas eve IS hidden behind the misty veil
VIII ch obscures the dark ages and its
history from the gaze OF the people Of
the present day. In Germany Christ
mas v is for children the most joyous
night in the yesr on that evening. Then
they feast their eyes on the splen-
doris OF the Christmas tree and enjoy the
presents it bears for them. The tree is
arranged by the senior members of the
family in the principal room Of the
house. and with the coming OF evening
the children are assembled in an adjoin-
ing apartment, when at agiven signal the
door of the great room is thrown open
and the children rush in eager and hap
py. There On a long table In the center
of the room stantS the Christmas tree,
every branch glittering with the little
lighted tapers, while ali sorts of gifts
and ornaments are suspended from the
branches, and sometimes other presents.
too cumbersome and heavy for the
slender boughs. are lying on the table.
properly labeled with the names
Of the respective recipients. The
Christmas tree is q very ancient
custom in Germany, and is prob
ably q heritage Of the luminous and
fanciful pageants of the dark or middle
ages. 1t is only within the last twenty
years. ana apparently since the mar
riage of Prince Albert and Queen Vic
toria that it has been introduced into
England. previous to which time it was
unknown.
IT. COleridge. in a letter from Ratze-
burg. in North Germany. published in
the Friend. and quoted by Hone. gives
the following description of Christ
mas = customs as practiced there:
There is q Christmas custom here
which pleased and interested me. The
children make little presents to their par
and each other and the parents to
the children. For three or four months
before Christmas the girls n busy
and the boys save up their pocket
money. What the presents are to be Is
cautiously kept secret. Then. ON the
evening before Christmas-day. one of
the parlors is lighted up by the children
into which the parents must not enter;
q great yew -bOugh is fastened on the
table at a little distance from the wall.
q multitude Of little tapers are fixed on
the bough but not SO AS to burn it until
they are nearly consumed, and colored
paper. etc. hangs and tiutters from the
twigs. Under this bough the children
lay out the presents they intend for
their parents. still keeping those intend
ed for each other in their pockets. Then
the parents are brought in and each
presents his little gift. They then
bring out the remainder one by one
from their pocke's and present them
with kisses and embraces. On
the next day in the great parlor. the
parents Law out on tho table the presents
for the children and q scene of more
sober joy succeeds; as on this day, after
an old custom. the mother says private
ly to her daughters. and tho father to
his sons. that which he has observed
most praisewOrthy, and that which was
most faulty. in their conduct"
In our own land the Christmas eve Is
the most ENJOYABLE event Of the season
and the custom of the Christmas tree
still retains its prestige In the greatest
splendor. The little ones are taught
to remember the festivities are in com
of the birth Of the Savior.
So far as a be learned the custom
IF celebrating the day commemoratins
the birth of the Savior had its origin
the dark ages. Of which time his
IOry fails to inform Us Of the complete
Of events. Suffice II to say that
he origin Of Christmas eve. Kris Krin-
gle or Santa Claus. Is to be sscribed to
From that n nation the
has become widespread until
every nation in christendom OBJ
serves the day. and Christmas eve 10
the day for general rejoicing.