Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-12-25
MERRY CHRISTMAS TIME.
The Season of Devotion, Merriment
and SOciabilfty.

Our early LHSlisH dnoooooio OohoiNAo~
Christmas in the double light of holy
commemoration and cheerful festival,
and accordingly distinguished it by devo-
ton, by vacation from business, by merri-
ment and sociability. They were eagerly
bent upon making themselves, and every
body about them happy. Their descendants
in measure initiate their example.
The custom of singing carols originated
in the services of the church, and is today
the prevailing custom throughout Germany
and England. The canticle clubs begin
their rounds as the midnight bells chime in
the new born day and continue until the
approach of daylight.
.'On Christmas eve, the bells were rung.
On Christmas eve the song was sung;
That only night in all the year,
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear,
Then opened wide the parsons hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And ceremony DOTTED his pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage. as to the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down,
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again,
Twas Christmas preached the mghtiest ale;
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale"
The custom of decking our habitations
with evergreen has existed from the very
establishment of Christianity. Polydore
Virgil says:
with hapgings, flowers. boughs and
garlands, was taken of the heather people
which decked their houses and idols with
such array"
The Celts and the Cloths 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
solstice. The Druids, at certain seasons of
the year, especially at Yuletide, or Christ
mas, were accustomed to gather it with
great solemnity, and at the same tia.e
sacrifice two unbroken milk-wbite bullocks.
1t was anciently the custom in Yorkshire
during the Christmas holidays, to dance in
the church after prayers, crying or singing.
Yole, Yole, Yole, etc., and at Christmas
eve to bring Yule log and set it on fire,
lap their Christmas ale and sing, "Yule,
Yule, pack of new cards AID a Christmas
STOOL"
Puttingham, 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 gambol of various sorts, and
som etimes the Squire and his family would
minge in the amusements, or retire to the
tapestried parlor, and lease the hall to the
more boisterous ones of his household"
In StovensoD'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 plums and spices, sugar and
honey, square it among pies and BROTH
Now a journeymsn cares not rush for his
master, though he begs his plum porrldge
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 eve. Great is the contention of
holly and ivy, whether master OF dame
wear the breeches; and if the cook do not
lack wit, he will sweetly lick his fingers"
"Poor Richard" in his Almanac for
December 1854, says, pleasantly enough:
"Now come December, after which
January for New Years gifts; February
for pancakes and Valentines; March for
leeks for Welchmen; April for fools; May
for miikmaids and garlands; June for
green peas; July for hay; August for corn;
September 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,
barrels full Of beer, and ovens full of
Christmas pies"
Wassail was the salutation of our an
eestors On occasions OF drinking to each
other, signifyipg, 'health be to YOU" 1t
is Saxon word, ard is now only used at
the time of Christmas. 1t anciently signi-
fed mirtil and festivity; in this sense it is
used in Hamlet and Macbeth.
In the reign of Henry VII, vassailing
took place at the court on the Twelfth
| Night, "when the steward cometh in at the
doors with waasai be must cry three times,
waesail, wassail, wassail, and then the
chaplain was to answer with good
songe."
But we have already given our readers a
sufliciency of the manner in which our
progsnitors celebrated this day. We must
acknowledge they enjoyed its recurrence
as well as ourselves. With what punctual
zeal did they bid ore another Merry
Christmas!-The great hall resounded
with the tumultuous 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 mitigate the hardships of the
winter.
FIGHT BETWEEN A GORILLA AND BULL
DoG.-An imported thoroughbred bulldog,
weighing forty ponds, and a young Arr