Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-01-03

God rest you, merry gentlemen!
May nothing you dismay,
For Christ, our Lord and saviour,
Was born on Christmas day.

CHRISTMAS Is q feStlNal IN the Chris
tan church in memory of the birth of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The exact
date of his birth is not known, some Of
the eastern churches keeping the 9TH
OF January. but it is certain that it did
not occur III December, us that was
the rainy season in Judea, and the
shepherds could not have been keep
ing their tiocks at night, or have seen
the star.
1t was not until the fourth century
that Christmas was kept at all, the
Church only keeping the deaths of the
saints.
We all know the story of the first
Christmas eve how when the men
We're out in the fields mindng their
ttocks they heard sweet music, and
saw angels coming down from heaven.
who told them that Christ was born.
They then left their hocks and went
to the city of Bethlehem, where
they found Jesus in u stable surround
ed by cattle. Some wise men also fol-
lowed star which they saw in the
east and came to find Jesus.
There is very pretty story about
cattle on Christmas eve. which some
people believe At midnight on Christ
mas eve they say all animals lie down,
or "bow the knee"
Some say the Star of Bethlehem is
still seen, and is known by its bright,
white light.
Apart from the religious meaning to
/ Christmas, it is a great holiday and
feaSt-day for the children. They firm
~ believe IN IA person whom they call
st Nicholas" or Santa Claus who
gives them presents. The probable
origin OF st. Nicholas is, that. in an
eastern town long ago, there was a
good man named Nicholas, who would
90 the poor peoples homes aud leave
IL present, Knocking at the door and
running away. Bat the people found
1t out, and after ms death they called
HIM the. Good st. Nicholas" The
nuns and other kind persons kept up
this custom, leaving the present III Il
bag hanging on the door with note
saying FROM st. Nicholas" This is
the way hanging up the stocking be-
gan, when at hrSt was always put out
slae the door
Inc custom or giving presents at
CHRISTMAS was taken from the old
homah feast TO ooI, me sun as WAS
also the selection or the Zoth OF Decem-
per Tor CHRISTMAS day
III all cl\lllAeu countries CnflStmHS
mas neeh Kept win some klhd OF 90
SerFahce' otlt III none SO hluch as lii
England Wnefe some OF tue o!d Gus
toms are sun kept up On Christmas
eFe' aitef 'he usual utVotiohS were
over large cahd'eS were Ill., ana u
large DOCK was 'HroWh on the lte,
cameo th ne, y4le-io&' or ChfistmaS
pl :'T II ne houses were "ecor'lGu
M L l'"l'S' t Tnu aiso 'i'' a-'a'S Ill ''l9
i i',''. L;-L - "'no 'e'
t in ue'o ', "''IiS' 10 "u''n - 1'Ee"u mas
To,i "''''''''" S'n'o INC ""S' "L 'h1
H., tLo ,lla,, t;,,, EI1
On II! '"0 o'"o" ''''tT'' III IA iSi1h",
| christmas began on Christmas eve ana
/ lasted until CaudlemaS. the second OF
| February. every day bpinu a holiday
| r,,;I ~ ,.olfth' Nr;rL+ I,,,,- ~
| I =, N'@"'' H""'S ''c
S'A'u'
=, III HoHie ol 'he ''2ute'Hei' h"oSeS IN
bolt OF UnreasOn," was appointed to
| from All HaUowe'en TO Candlnm.,s
day.
A very pretty custom which is kent
to this day Is for the children to 90
from house to house SINGING, their