The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-15
,,- origin OF CHRISTMAS:
,..b Of December Was Originally
he ~' Roman Saturna1ia.

1Ne the Roman Saturnal1a.
r.. celebration of Christmas as tho
IE Of Jesus is universal among
trtlasa t,s Of every sect, and as such it
Chn'.l nrdod throughout Christendom as
: resa aotest hottest of all holidays. And
BE- BE- ss sbe long mooted question, Is Dec: %
fbn In uirersary of Christ's birth9 we have
De eau. apr TO do. For it matters nothing
loDns If was on this particular
F1s'u't tbot the Christ Child first
DC N Bethlehem's lowly Manager.
i the day that has been &C
ID ,, ond will be celebrated to the end
na9t tne It will be of interest to most
5 n however, to note that it was not
na s +ba Third or Fourth century that
lr resent date was agreed upon, and
~ Y. Ian I'm /. Jan. 6, March 20 and Sept.
~ cara variously observed during the
.r.r centuries by various bodies OF
s sIstions The fixing of the date seems
OI sara been accomplished by Julius 1,
=. nr.sided as pope or bishop of Rome
Inn So to 359 A. D.
rSristmas is not alone among Chris
). boidavs in being the follower of a
nsrbat similar holiday among the pa
W. In Rome it was called the Satur-
n, And the observance of the winter
a.; now Christmas, was not confined to
4, Romans. The holiday appears to
Ire been kept by the Scandinavians, the
pNans and the PhRnicians, and per-
hs BY many other people. All these ma
ana wOrshiped the sun, under one form OF
rbar as the giver of all life. Each gave
A deity different name. At Rome he
rswmshiped under one of the characters
rbuted to Saturn, the father of the
ois, among the Scandinavians as Odin, or
|Tol,1 the father of Thor; with the Per
aHas Alithras, probably the same as the
la NIithr, and with the Ph9nicians his
nnrWas Baal or Bel.
Al these nations chose about the same
artOr this feast. This is supposed to
Ire been caused by the feelings of de-
Inexperienced shortly after Dec. 81, be-
aa the days then begin 10 lengthen.
LIN the sun begins his upward course,
hprlng and summer are approaching.
lrNmeWhat similar reasons the pagans
th held great midsummer feast at or
Aut June q.
The midwinter festival of the Satur-
Ha WIS observed for several days in
Il most unrestrained manner; every
b! tasted and work was quite sus-
N.d. Even the slaves were allowed
1gete liberty for the time being.
lusS and evergreens were everywhere
-gayed, the same as now, and gifts were
managed, and there were especial greet
igi0r the season. In the north these
SgHlgs were carried on in some
That ruder fashion, but were en-
sd into with not less hearty
l.hu'iasm. Fires were everywhere kin
N, both indoors and out, in honor of
Inland Thor; the Druids gathered the
-ied mistletOe, and both men and cattle
TIE sacrificed to the savage divinities.
hanCent Persians also burned immense
il1feS at this season, and between them
lthe Druids of western Europe some
rd relationship existed
Athe later days of the Roman empire
least of the Saturnalia deteriorated
10 gross debauch-so gross, indeed.
al few historians have cared to defile
Ill pages with its details.
Twas for the purpose of counteiac+ing |
evil Influences of tie Saturnalia, to |
cele0ration of which the young Of both |
As We're very prone, that the early |
Isran teachers in Rome sought to |
A9I Inc rites of heather rejoicing and
1uVt mem subservient, instead of an
-sV.S'c, to the cause Of religion. Ger
~ NftlS OF amusement were forbidden
!. u'lerS not so gross were substituted,
y Was long time before the people
- y Tue clergy were Of one mind regard
! Ie ooservances of Christmas.
u Britain there were other modif,ca-
n, 10 the modified Saturnalia were
r .+u lFst some of the Druidical rites and
..s ~ and, after the arrival Of the
1.- some of the ceremonies of the
y, Germans and Scandinavians. Of
4 we're the burning of the Yule log
Zoe bOugh. " '
- : Al5G'nd the burning Of the Yule log
- t El"ce Christmas eve. In feudal
n W. we bringing in of the ponderous
N, uu turning it on the wide hearth
sobs sleaV chimney of the baronial hall
!, 5 .oVlHed with the greates reioicings.
M ssh OF the Yule from the forest
f,., uasue was an elaborate ceremony
u III l.; ana as it passed, every wayfarer
No r I-s i,aI Tor well he knew that its
t, ruaiu light up scenes of feasting
ropi 5n H Of old wrongs, and that
YrIs oi;O O quaint ditty, apropos of
M H. . supposed to have been written
r., ,Ie reign of Henry VI:
E.i corne be be thou, heavenly King;
EeIeOIa.ee porn on this morning: {
W w Thon we shall sing; \
II, welcome Yule.
Feic00nnlee be ye Stephen and John.
Welcome rTnllocents every one;
W IN'' martyr one, <
n, welcome Yule. =
TejcooInnlee b be ye, good New Year.
EeiccooT,uee Twelfth day, both in fere.s
' WaIs loved and dear;
Eecoo[nae be We, Candlemas. 0
Eecorrn,ee pe ye, queen of bliss:
MILO GSn 70 more and less; !.
Necor,o -
Nec oa5c l 69 ye that are here: ~. "
Welcome s oil ana make good cheer: q
vi ~, another year; o
Snpany. '''ome Iule. q
lray s 'I b1 English the mistletoe Dough a
b On lung over the center Of he
: eitS Srrl S Eve, and anv da Ia sa1 c
rs herse,tG by chance or on purnose A t
'y Of elf, beneath it has to p pay tbs
ne pre oelng kissed by all the psy m ,eo
e her se none of the fair sex ava, 5
lie stor ssit unda~ the mistletoe w WITH
's'aoS=ht ~ Will