The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-04
The Season OF Devotion, Mer-
rinent and Sociability.
Origin OF Some Of the Customs Connected
with the Ancient Festival

The custom of singing carols orr
yinated in the services of the church,
lnd is to-day the prevailing custom
throughout Germany and England.
The canticle clubs begin their rounds
rs the midnight bells chime in the new
born day and continue until the ap-
proach Of daylight.
''On Chris stmas eve, tie bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the song was sung;
That only night in all the year.
Saw the stoled priest the cha ice rear,
Then opened wide the parsons hall
To vassal, tenant, sen and all;
Power | id his rod OF rule aside,
And ceremony dolled his pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose
All hailed with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings OF salvation down,
England was merry England, when
Old Christians brought his sports again,
Twas Christmas broachcd the mightiest ale;
Twas Christmas tod the melriest tale"
The custom of decking our habita-
tions with evergreen has existed from
the very establishment of Christian
ity. Polydore Virgil says: with
hangings, flowers, boughs and gar
,ands, was taken of the heather peo-
ole which dec,ied their houses and idols
with such array"
The Celts and the Goths we've alike
distinguished for the respectful vener-
alton which they entertained for the
miselto, and for the solemnities, with
which they gathered it about that
period of the year, when the sun ap-
preached the winter solsticc. The
Druids, at certain seasons Of the year,
especially at Yuletide, or Christmas,
were accustomed to gather it with
great solemnity, and at the same time
sacrifice two unbroken milk-whlte
bullocks. 1t was aucientjy the custom
| IN Yorkshire during tbs Chriotmas
holidays, to dance in the church after
prayers, crying or singing, Y ole, Ioie,
Yoie etc, and at Christmas eve to
bring a Yule log and set it on fire, lap
| i,t c1o md Gin ttN Iltp,
Yule, a pacn OF new cards and a
Christmas STOOL
Puttingham, writer of Queen
Elizabeth's days, speaking of country
customs Of keeping Christmas near
that period, tells us chat supper at
Christmas was succeeded by gambol
of various sorts, and sometimes the
squire and his family would mingle
in the amusements, or retire to the
tarestried parlor, and lease the hall to
the more boisterous ones of his house
hold"
In Stevenson's Twelve Months, "
in the year 1861, the author notices
the Christmas customs of that time.
"Now" says he, "Capons and hens
besides turkeys and ducks, with beei
and nutton, must all die; for in twelve
days a multitude of people will not be
fed with little. Now plumbs ant
spices, sugar and honey, square il
among pies and broth. Now jour
newman cares not a rush for his mas
ter, though ne begs his plumb porridge
all the twelve days. Now or never
must the music be In tune, for thu
Young must dance to get themselve!
aheat, while the aged sit by the fir
The country maiden leaves half he
market, and must be sent again if sh'
forgets a pack of cards on Christmas
even. Great is the contention of holl,
and ivy, whether master or dame wea
the breeches; and if the cook do no
lack wit, he will sweetly lick his fin
gers
"Poor Richard" in his Almanac fo
December 1854, says, pleasant.
enough:
"Now come December, after whicl
January for New Years gifts; Febru
ary for pancakes and Valentines
March for leeks for Welchmen; Apri
for fools: May for milkmaids and gar
lands; June fer green peas; July TO
, hay; August for corn; September TO
oysters: October for beer; and Novem
Der for drinking it. After all ther
comes December, with the barns FIJI
of corn. the larder full of beef an
pork, barrels full of beer, and oven
full of Christmas pies"
Wassall was the salutation of ou
ancestors on occasions of drinking
, each other, signifying, "health be
: you." 1t is a Saxon word. and is no.
+ only used at the time of Christmas.
, anciently signified mirth and festivit.
7 in this sense it is used in Hamlet an
| Macbeth.
/, In the reign of Henry VII, wassai
I ing took place at the court on II
Twelfth Night, "when the stewar
!, cometh in at the doors with wassail |
a must cry three times. wassail, wassai
wassail. and then the chaplain was
Z answer with good songe."
h But we have already given our rea
ers a suff,ciency of the manner