Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-25
Christmas in Old New York.
How Our Dutch Ancest~rs Celebrated the
Ynletide Festival.
Malta ). LAMB IN THE MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN
HISTORY.

HISTORY.
Among the first settlers of New York religion
was as much recognized necessity as food
and drink. The Dutch emigrated from a land
where the very atmosphere of mems lives was
practical fusion of theology and politics.
The conflict with Spain had certain sense
overthrown religious tyranny. But schisms of
every kind and degree hourished upon the
wrecks of popular decisions, even among the
Professionals; and fierce hostility ragged between
the ancient and reformed churches, keeping
the clergy in perpetual wrangle, and the pub
lie mind i'll a ferment. Meanwhile religious
convictions were the rule; in the early wears of
emigration from the Dutch Republic an unde-
yout man was almost an unknown phenome-
non. In coming to New York, the Dutch pio-
neers left politics and war in the back
ground; thus the Reformed Church and the
true religion" became dearcr than ever to
their homesick hearts Christmas had long
been observed in the Dutch States as relig-
aous, social and merrymaking festival. The
first positive footsteps of the Christian Festi-
val OF the Nativity are met with in the Second
century, during the reign of Emperor Con-
cordius; but the decretal epistles furnish ira
ces OF its more remote origin. An event so inn
portant In itself was undoubtedly commemora-
ted among Christians annually from the days
of the first apostles who survived our Lords
resurrection. The hymns in honor of Saturn
were tue ItoHlan representations OF the modern
carol, and presents passed from friend to
friend as Christmas gifts do in our day. In
the Northern nations of ancient Europe the
same period of the year as the Roman Saturna-
liza was celebrated by festival in honor of the
God Thor, which was distinguished by the
song, the dance and the feast, mingled with
the barbarous rites of their own religion. At
ter the establishment of Christianity its earl-
est teachers seeing the lmpoSsibllty of doing
away with the pagan commentators, which
were deeply rooted in the constitution of socie-
ty, sought to purify them and adapt them to
the uses Of the new faith.
No people We're more thoroughly imbued
with the sentiment of the age in relation to
Christmas observances than the Dutch. We
are told that the image of st. Nicholas pre-
sided as the tigure-head of the first emigrant
ship that touched Manhattan Island and was
esteemed the patron saint of the infant city,
The records prove that the little colony was
never renlss III the performance of the religious
duties of the day, even while their only place
of worship was i'll the loft of windmill after
which the Christmas dinner and the Christmas
sports were enjoyed Ill the hcartiest manner.
AS the little dorp unfolded into a town of suf-
tcient size to be honorcd with municipal priv
3leges the annual celebrations were Endorsed by
the Government, and the whole business of the
community suspendcd-not only for one day,
but for several days in succession even all I'M
necessary household work was laid aside until
the holiday season was concluded. Houses
and churches were trimmed with evergreens
for the Christmas festival, and usually not re-
moved until Candlemas. The City Fathers
distinguished themselves by retiring altogether
from municipal legislation during the period
of Festivities.
The following is indeibly registered in an
old manuscript volume in the City Hall:
Dec ii, 1654.-As the winter and the holi-
days are at hand, there shall be no more orclin-
airy meetings of this Board (the City Corpora
tiOno between this date and thrpn wenls oft
Christmas. The Court messenger is ordered
not to summon any one in the meantime
Excessive hilarity was the fashion, and the
old and the young, the grave and the gay,
joined in all manner of cheerful games as well
as bolsterous revels. Among the quaint rec
ords of the Burgomastcrs and Schepens are
several paragraphs showing that the dignifed
and courtly Governor Stuyvcsant frowned upon
some of the ''hcathenish practices" in vogue;
on one occasion he absolute refused to allow
some of the people who applied for permission
to ride the goose at one of the annual fcasts.
But the family reunions, exchange of presents
and the home frolics, were never omitted, even
in the great Governors household. And while
We have no authority for declaring that he re-
Trained because one of his legs was wooden
from joining the children sin merry dance"
like his wise and stately contemporaries, we
have every reason to give our faith to the ira
dition that he lifted his voice in the CAROLS and
cheered by his presence, his genial sympathies
ana Kindly nunlof, those periodical aWahenlnSS,
which did so r.uch to keep alive the flame of
charity, and to perpetuate precious memories
during the roll of years.
The ''Santa Claus" of New York was I'M
known to the neighboring colonies for many
decades. To the Dutch children he was a sa-
cred parsonage, driving tiny reindeers, drag
ging sleigh full of toys over the roofs of the
houses for their special benefit stealing down
each chimney in the dark to fill with gifts the
stockings of the sleeping good.
In addition to their usual devotions, the
night before Christmas the children were ac-
customed TO chant, as theyswere,, retiring to
their beds, the Dutch lines:
Stint Nicholas, good hellig man,
Trekt I'M boston Tabbard an,
En- rcist daarmee naar Amsterdam,
Van Amsterdam naar Spanje,
Woar app9lon Won granaten,
En- aplelen Won granaten,
Rollen door dc Stratcn.
Saint Nicholas, myn OGDEN vriend
TX heb Ii alty,l wei gediend,
Ais gy my I'M wat wilt geben
Fal ik Il dinen ais myn loven.
The Christmas Tree originated in the Pro-
testant districts of Germany. 1t was adopted
in New York long before its appearance i'll any
other American colony, and soon became one
of t}:o great treasures of the Christmas festival
Ma, =; the Dutch, however, had been educa-