The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-12-29
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
The 25th Day of December
Fixed as the Day of Nativity
in the 4th Century.

Christmas is festival of the Christian
observed on Dec. 25th, as the anni-
vsrsary of the birth of the Savior. Its in
stitution is attributed to Pope Telesphorus,
who died A. d. 1873, and since that time has
been one of the most noted Christian solem-
mites. At first it was one of the most NOV
able of the christian festive days, many
times being confounded with the Epiphany,
and celebrated bv the eastern churches in the
months of April and May. In the 4th cen
tury an order was obtained from Pope Julius
I, for an investigation to be made in regard
to the day of Christ's birth. The result, af'
ter careful inquiry, was an agreement up
ON the 25th day of December. The chief
grounds for such decision were the tables of
the censors in the archives of Rome. To
many there appeared to be no authentic
proof of the Identification of the day, but it
was generally accepted, and since that time
the nativity has been celebrated on the same
day. There has also been tradition that
Christ was born in the middle OF the night,
and in Roman Catholic countries 1t has been
the custom since the 9Th century to usher in
the day by the celebration of three masses,
one at midnight, one at early dawn and the
third in the morning. The day was consid-
cred in the double light of cheerful festival
and holy commemoratioa. and was accord.
ingly celebrated by devotion, msrriment and
vacation from business. The custom OF sing
ing carols, recalling the songs Of shepherds
ut the birth of Christ, dates from the time
the common people ceased to understand
Latin. The bishops and lower clergy often
Joined with the people in carolling, and the
songs were usually enlivened by dances, and
by music of tambours, guitars, violins and
organs, in which fathers, mothers and chill
dren Joined. Many of these old carols are
still preserved. During the last days pre-
ceding Christmas it is still the custom for
Caiabrian minstrels to decend from the
mountains to Naples and Rome, saluting the
shrines of the virgin mother with their wild
music, under the poetical notion of cheering
her until the birth.tim of her infant at the
approaching Christmas. In the painting by
Raphael he has introduced shepherd at the
door playing on a sort of bagpipe. Prepara-
tory to Christmas the bells are rung at mid.
night throughout England and the continent;
and after the solemn celebration of the mass,
for which the churches of France and Italy
are magni6cently adorned, it is usual for the
revelers to partake of a collation. that they
may be better able to sustain the fatigues OF
the night. Among these Christmas revels
were the so.called feasts of fools and others
which were often termed December iber-
lesqued, interiors personifed their superiors
great men became frolicsone, and illustrated
the proneness of men to occasionally reverse
the order of society an1 ridicule its de-
cencies.
It was formerly customary in England
to begin their festivities on Christmas eve,
and were often continued till Candlemas
(Feb. 2.) every day being a holiday till
twelfth night (Jan. 6.) In the houses OF
the noblesa ''lord of misrule" or "ab-
bot of unreason" was appointed
whose Office was ''to make the rarest pas
times, to delight the beholders and his do
minion lasted from "All hallow eve" (Oct.
3l), till Candlemas day. The larder was
well stocked with capons, turkeys, pies,
puddings, etc. A glowing fire was made in
the hall where the attendants were enter
tanned, made of great logs, the principal
one of which was termed the ''yule log,
or Christmas block, which might be burnt
until Candlemas eve. During this period
the abundance of eatables was shared
among the participants and generous bowls
Of punch were served which had the effect
of adding materially to the hilarity OF the
occasion. The favorite and first dish served
ON Christmas was a soused boar's head,
which was borne to the principal table with
great state and solemnity.
The common custom of decking the house
and churches at Christmas with evergreens
il derived from the ancient druid practices
10 was an old belief that sylvan spirits
might flock to the evergreens, and remain
unnipped by frost till milder season.
The holly, ivy, laurel and mistletoe furn-
ished the favorite trimmings which were not
removed till Candlemas The last memor-
able appointment of lord of misrule was
in 1927, when he was called "a grand cap
taipe of mischiefe." The poems Of Her.
rick contain many descriptions of old Eng
lish Christmas celebrations.
In the United States since the Puritans
were at first stern opponents of Christmas
pastimes, the day has been less generally
celebrated in New England than in the
middle, southern and western states. 1t is
q legal holiday in many OF the states and is
generally observed by religious services and
by making presents and not unfrequently
by trimming houses and churches with ever.
green's. It Is also very generally observed
by initiating the German custom of Christ
mas;trees.
ITS OBSERVANCE IN CORVALLIS.
Appropriate Christmas services were held
in all the churches on Sunday and IN most
of them special music was rendered both
morning and evening. The festivities be-
gan Saturday evening with Christmas tree
at the Presbyterian and Christian churches.
At the former the decorations, while not SO
elaborate as IN former years, were very
tastefully arranged. Recitations in keeping
with tho occasion were rendered by Minnie
Prichard, Mildred johnson, Amy Vaughn,
Lola Wilkins and Walter Hufford. Pres.
Bloss and DR.. Thompson delighted the child
rem for q few minutes with Christmas
story. After well rendered solo by Ms.
F. M. johnson began the distribution of
presents. The trees were well laden with
gifts for the little folks and gave no signs of
the present financial condition of the
country. The music was we'll selected and
added much to the enjoyment of all.
AT THE CONGREGATIONAL.
The services on Monday night commenc-
ed by singing No. Sc, Penticostai hymns,
after which Rev. Kantner offered short
prayer followed by an anthem by the
choir. Having had the literary exercises of
the Sunday school on Sunday evening be-
fore, the committee began to distribute the
presents at once. The tree was decorated
with candles and long threads of popcorn
hung in festoons from the branches. Back
Of the tree hung punches of mistletoe nicely
arranged about the wall producing q very
pretty effect.
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