The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-12-25


| Old Christmas broughtshissports again,
| The custom OF decking our habitations
with evergreen has existed from the very
establishment lofl Christianity. Polydore
Virgil says: with hangings, flowers
boughs. and garlands, was taken Of the
heather people which, deckedEt their houses
and idol with such array
The Celts and the Goths were alike dis
tinguished for the respectful veneration
which they entertained for the mistletoe.
and for the solemnities, with which they
gathered it about that period Of the year,
when the sun approached the winter sol
stice. The Druids, at certain seasons of
the year, especially at Yuletide, or Christ
m as, were accustomed to gather it with
great Solemnity, and at the same time sac
riice two unbroken Imilk-white bullocks.
1t was anciently the custom in Yorkshire
during the Christmas holidays, to dance in
the church after prayers, crying or sing
ing, Yole, Yole, Yole, etc., and at Christ
fire, lap their Christmas ale and sing,
"Yule, Yule, a pack of new cards and
Christmas STOOL
Puttingham, a writer Of Queen Eliza
beth's days, speaking of country customs
Of keeping Christmas near that period,
tells us that supper at Christmas was sue
ceeded by gambols of various sorts, and
sometimes the Squire and his family
would mingle in the amusements, or retire
to the tapestried 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 Christ
mas customs of that time.
Now says he, '.Capons and hens, be-
sides turkeys and ducks, with beef and
mutton, must all die for in twelve days
multitude of people will not be fed with
little. Now plumhs and spices, sugar and
honey, square it among pies and broth.
Now a journeyman cares not rush for
his master, though he begs his plumb.por-
ridge all the twelve days. Now or never
must the music be in tune, for the young
must dance to get themselves aheat ..while
the aged sit by the fire. The country
maiden leaves half her market, and must
be sent again if she forgets a pack of
cards on Christmas even. Great is the
contention Of holly and ivy, whether mas
ter or dame wear the breeches and if the
cook do not lack wit, he will sweetly lick
his fingers
''Poor Richard, 2 in his Almanac for De-
cember, 1854, says, pleasantly enough:
Nov come December, after which Jan
uary for New Years gifts; February for
pancakes and Valentines March for leeks
for Welchmen April for fools May for
milkmaids and garlands June for green
peas July for hay August for corn Sep
TENDER for oysters October for beer; and
November for drinking it. After all there
comes December, with the barns full Of
corn, the larder full of beef and pork, bar
rels full of beer, and ovens full of Christ
mas pies.
Wassail was the salutation of our an
cestors OH occasions of drinking to each
other. signifying, "health be to YOU" 1t
is Saxon word, and IS now only used at
the time of Christmas. 1t anciently sig
nilied mirth and festivity in this sense it
is used in Hamlet and Macbeth.
In the reign of Henry VII, wassailing
took place at the court on the Twelfth
Night, ''when the steward cometh in at
the doors with wassail he must cry three
times, wassail, wassail, wassail. and then
the chaplain wits to answer with good
songe.''
But we have already given our readers
sufliciency of the manner in which our
progenitors celebrated this day. We must
acknowledge they enjoyed its recurrence
as we'll as ourselves. With what punctual
zeal did they bid one another u Merry
Christmas THE great hall resounded with
the tumultous joy of servants and tenants !;
and the gambols served as amusement to
the lord of the household and his family,
who. by encouraging every act conducive
to mirth and entertainment, endeavored
to soften the rigor Of the season and miti-
gate the hardships of the winter.