The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-02


,ery likely derived the practice either
from the Celtic nations or from the
Saturnalia of the Romans, possibly from
both. Wherever Druidism existed the
houses were adorned with evergreens, SO
that the sylvan spirits might find there
safe shelter from the wind and the frost.
The oak mistletoe, an essential element
in the bloody ceremonies of old magician
priests, has become tenderly significant
Of the happiness and love that should
abound at the joyous Christmas season.
When st. Augustine arrived in Britain
he was wise enough to utilize
the Pagan customs by giving them a
Christian significance, preserving such
parts as were innocent in themselves,
and thus it is probable that the practice
of decorating the homes and temples was
continued. Such method has been fol-
lowed successfully by modern mission
aries, notably in the Sandwich Islands,
and travellers tell US the delight with
which these fower-loving children bring
their tropical berries and flowers to help
in the beautifying of their humble
churches. We think it is unquestionable
that the wise spirit of accommodation
shown by Augustine, in adopting va lous
Pagan ceremonies to the use of Christian
worship, was not only the cause OF his
success as a missionary, but also the
reasons why, especially, we twine at this
season the holly and the bay, and turn
winter into summer.
1t is an historical fact that the Roman
SaturDalia were celebrated at the same
time of the year as the feast of Christ
mas, but whether the former had any
thing to do with the latter, by way of
cause or common origin, it is not easy to
decide, nor, indeed, essential. The
Saturnalia began late in December, and
when we compare the Christmas orgies
and mummeries INDUCED in up to com.
paratively recent times, the resemblance
between the two feasts Is striking, even
in particular details.
The time came, however, when in the
strife for the ascendancy, Christianity
determined to fight paganism with the
latter's own weapons, and the customs
and rcvelries were carried to such an ex-
treme that several early church councils
forbade, among other things, the decora-
ton of private houses after the manner
of the Roman Saturnalia. But the prac-
tice of adorning churches with flowers
was nos condemned, as extracts from the
writings of the early Christians will
show. In his work "De Civitate DEL"
the African Augustine speaks of floral
decorations, and of miracle wrought
by flowers brought from the shrine of
St. Stephen. Gregory of Tours praises
the holy Confessor Severns for having
been in the habit of decorating his
church with lilies. Venantius Fortuna
tus, pnet of the fifth century, sending
to Rhadcgund and Agnes now and then
o bunch of violets, cluster of rosebuds,
or o spray of lilies, is severe i'll his con-
tra,t between men who crowd their
houses with exotics, or women who deck
their breasts, and the more devoted and
pious who bring their choicest floral Of
ferings to Gods house. And this con-
trast is very evident in these days of ours,
when vast sums are lavished on flowers
only doomed to wither in the hot air of
the ballroom, or to mingle their fra
GRANGE with the odors of the dinner.
table.