San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-20
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.

The date at which Christmas began to be
kept, as a holiday, cannot now be accurately
fixed, but it was doubtless in the second or
third century of the Christian era. In its
origin, it was religious hOlday-a season
of grateful joy and fervent thanksgiving for
the birth of Christ the Savior of sinners,
but eventually its religious character was
lost sight of, and it became a season of
boundless hospitality, festivity. dancing
and wassail. In the days when Eng
land was called and deserved TO
be called, 'Merrie England Christ
mas was observed with unbounded
hospitality and good feeling, by prince and
peasant, rich and poor. As CHANGER quantity
says: 1T showed of meate and drink" at
this season, and good humOr, good feeling
and kindness reigned supreme. The feS-
tivitieS were prOtracted for the space of a
week. But when the PuritanS obtained
supreme power under Cromwell, they de-
clared war against Christmas festivities,
May day celebrations and shut up the
theatres To eat minCe pie at Christmas
festivities was, to the PurltanS, but little
short of bowling the knee to Baal. AuSteritv
of manners, gravity of face and SOlemnity
were in the estimation of the PuritanS, the
best proofs that men and women were sin
cerely religious, hence they cOndmned mirth,
gayety and feStivity.
The Ultilitaran spirit of modern times
and the disposition of the rich to affect social
exclusiveneSS and to hold themselves alOOf
from all not as rich as themselves, has done
more to put an end to Christmas hospitality,
good will and good cheer thap the Puritans
were ever able to accomplish. What will it
profit me, to keep open house and dispense
hospitality, is the way in which Thomas
Misery looks at the matter, consequently,
he envelopes himself in the folds of selfish
ness and refuses to be thawed out even once
in twelve months. 1t is great pity that we
cannot lay aside seltishness, churlishness
and penuriOuSneSs a few days in the year,
and endeavOr to add to the stock of the gen.
eral happiness by the practise of kindness,
benevoence and hOspitality-this would be
the appropriate manner of celebrating the
anniversary of the birth day of the Savior of
sinners; "a heart benevolent and kind, most
resembles God" In the sight of God, Jay
Gould is no better than the homeless tramp,
and Vanderbilt is no better than a decrepid
pauper at the Door house. Riches are but
dross and dust in the sight of God, and are
not invested with the least particle of meri-
tOriOuSneSS. Why then should the rich
imagine that they are not sinners, and hold
themselves to be abSOlved from the Law of
kindness" and the duty TO be benevolent?
Christmas should be season of happiness
and brotherly feeling. The poor should be
remembered, and their wants should be gen
erously supplied. Santa Clause should visit
their narrow homes, with baskets heaped
and running over, and supply their wants.
1t needs very little to render people happy.
But drunkenness and riot quarrelling and
fighting are sadly out of place on the ami
versary of the birth day of Christ, the
Savior of Sinners" Mirth and innocent
gayety, are allowable and proper. ToNEI.