The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-12-24
Christmas.

pS'Hu0o schllehah Calieu christmas, VINO
used to be familiar guest in the households
OF rich and poor, assuming all sorts of fantas-
tic shapes to suit the taste of his friends
Appearing in splendid attire at royal festi-
walls, and in more modest garb In humble
homes, his coming was everywhere welcomed
with joy.
This pathetic inquiry suggests its own
answer. The Christmas of those early DAVIS
is figure of the past. Centuries ago he dis
appeared from his accustomed haunts. He
will not come at the call of our modern
sirens, sing they never so sweetly. Attempts
to revive the customs of those early days re-
mind US of theatrical tournaments. No car
pet-knghts with their tinsel finery can cheat
our fancy with visions of the Field of the
Cloth of Gold.
Christmas, indeed, keeps its hold on hui
man interest with strength which time has
not impaired, but the modes of its celebra-
tion have changed with the changes of mod
ern society. 1t is interesting to recall its
early observances; they throw light on the
dim, distant past and bring us into nearer
connection with the olden time.
Among the most interesting observances
of an old-fashioned Christmas was the burn
ing of the Yule-log, which still blazes In many
English homes at this season. When the
big log was drawn from its forest.home to
the huge fireplace in the old baronial hall
here were greatr ejocings, for its CHEEKY blaze
was believed to burn up ancient feuds and
animosities, and kindle fires of affection and
goodwill among all classes. The Yule-log
was lighted at Christmas-eve, but the blazing
ire, with its accompanying festivities, was
often kept up till the I'd of February-Can
dlemas. The wassail-bowl, flowing with
speed liquors, was thought to drown all care,
luminosity and sorrow in its steaming flood.
AS no records are preserved of the headaches
and heart-burnings which naturally follow
these deep potations, we cannot say how far
the result justified these antcipations, though
we are inclined to believe it would have fur
nlshed strong argument in favor of the
temperance movement.
Among the dishes that graced a Christmas
table in feudal times, the most important
was the boar's head 1t was carried into the
oanqueting hall, we are told, on platter of
gold or silver, 10 the sound of merry min
strelsy, while stave in English and Latin,
sung by the bearer of the cherished trophy,
celebrated its savory charms. Garnshed
with bays and rosemary, with an orange
between its foaming tusks and sauce of
mustard thick around it, the "brawners
mead" was tempting object to the not over
delicate palates of those days According to
tradition this custom originated at Queens
college, Oxford, in commemoration of the
Valor of a student. While walking in Shot
over Forest, reading his Aristotle, O wild-boar
rushed at the collegian with his mouth wide
open. Nothing daunted, the Oxonian, ex-
claiming "Grucuna est" rammed the philoso-
piers ethics down his assailant's throat, and
having choked the savage with the sage,
went back in triumph to his hall. The office
OF boar's head bearer was considered one of
great Importance. A historian of those
times tells us that Henry ii. of England per-
formed this service at the table of the young
prince, his son.
The next dish of Importance was the pea.
cock. Great care was used in preparing this
gay and festive fowl; the skin, with the
plumage adhering, being nicely removed be-
fore the stuffing and roasting processes COM
menced. When those were over, he was
clothed once more in his natural covering,
and in this comfortable condition was
brought upon the table with his beak gilt
1t was considered great privilege to serve
this bird, only ladies distinguished for birth
or beauty being permitted to bear it through
the banquet hall. There were also other
fowls in great profusion, but the turkey was
conspicuous by his absence, the benighted
Europeans not being favored with his COM
pany till early in the sixteenth century,.
Mince pies were also in high favor, but that
delicacy, as well as plum porridge, the pro-
genitor of plum pudding, was regarded by
the Puritans as popish, idoiatrous and treas
enable. Sir Roger de Coverley thought
there was some hope for dissenter when
he saw him enjoy his plum porridge at the
hall on Christmas day.
Among the beautiful customs that have
come down to us from the oden time is that
of decking our churches and houses with
evergreens at Christmas. The favorite plants
for church decoration are holly, bay, rose
mary and laurel. Ivy is rather objectona-
BILE, from its associations, having anciently
been sacred to Bacchus. Cypress, we are in.
formed has been sometimes used, but its fune-
real relations render it rather out of place at a
festive season like Christmas. One plant, the
mstletoe, though hung up in houses at
Christmas, is excluded from churches. 1t is
relic of the days of the Druids. On their
sacred anniversary the ancient Britons gath
cred the mystic parasite, which, besides its
claim to religious vcneration, they believed
to possess wonderful curative powers
Their barbarous ceremonial, with its sacri-
fees of bulls and often of human beings, has
happily passed away. One interesting re-
minder of those days remains, but few of the
merry youths and maidens who give or take
the kiss under the mistletoe spray at Christ
tiae uio"m 'n"S they ure perpeiuatinB GUS
tom of the painted savages who inhabited
England before its conquest by the Romans.
A quaint old writer thus spiritualizes the
practice of Christmas decorations. $50, our
churches and houses decked with bayes and
rosemary, holly and laurel and other plants
which are always green, winter and summer,
signify aud put US in mind of His Deity, that
the Child that now was born was God and
man, who should spring up like tender
plant, should always be green and flourish
ing, and live forever more"
This brings us from the consideration OF
its social and festive aspect to the true mean
ing of Christmas. Tile Hgis in its Christ
mas greeting to its readers cannot hope to