Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-22
THE GREAT HOLIDAY.
Hcy Il Is Observed In the Southern
States.
rr,ToMs OF MERRIE ENGLAND.
-,,u,rIantcd TO This Country and
pcrpctuatcd by virsinians In the
sonta of tho New American World.
The Crcolcs.
written for tire Dispatch)

inion We will find them In the customs
and traditions which have come down
q, them from Virginia, the State OF the
south which has sent forth immea-
snrably tie largest number Of people
,o colonize and lay the foundations OF
che populations OF the other Southern
states.
As the communities through the
south have followed chiefly the obser-
vanccs OF Virginia ancestors OF Colo
NAL days IN celebrating the Christmas
tide. so did the Virginians Of the seven
toenth and eighteenth centuries bring
With them 10 the new world many. If
not an. Of the customs OF England. But
an their transplanting in the soil of the
Colony some of the most striking OF the
old English customs in celebrating
rrristmas-Day and Cnristmas-Eve were
abolished or materially modified. For
Instance. the Lord Of Misrule" and the
"Ahbot Of Jnreason" were left TO the
English people. and so. also. were the
"yulo-log" OF Christmas-Eve. and the
great Bears Head" which for more
fran three centuries had been the most
conspicuous object that eraced the pol
ished oaken tables Of the English manor
houses during the reigns Of Elizabeth and
nf~ successors down 10 the time when
fha rising of an opposing public opinion
ana the changes In religious sentiment
and obscrvances. which spread with the
Establishment and growth OF the various
simpler forms OF religious sects. put an
end 10 these coarse and turbulent-indeed.
20 may be truly said. irreverent and
irreligious-customs. which. savoring OF
nsrbarism. had marked the periods Of the
annual reign OF the Lord Of Misrule'
and the Abbot OF Unreason" in the
DAYS when those rabild roystcrers ruled
over court and hovel alike.
ALL THAT WAS BEST.
But. II the Virgnians Of old did not
bring with them from England the noise
AMI obnoxious hilarity Of the English
Christmas. including even the "cakes and
aie." they brought all that was best
NJ the Christmas times-all that most
fen1crly testified 10 the sacred associa-
lions Of the hour. most of those tradi-
tons OF the creature comforts OF a
Christmas-dinner. which give such
favor 10 the English records concerning
Christmas week. and those afectionate
family sentiments which in the South
g. Christmas seem TO glow and burn with
reioubled heat. These family gather
lnrs around the Christmas dinner-table
may be said 20 constitute. together with
faithful attendance at the church ser
vices on Christmas-Day. and the making
az presents and the giving of gifts, the
chief elements Of the celebration or
Christmas among the southern people IN
town and country. for what Thanksgiv-
iu--Day IS. especially to the people OF
New England and the North. generally.
~hrstmas-Day is to the population OF
DE South
Members OF the established Church Of
England. principally the earlier Of Nir-
ziuia Colonists. could not indulge at
Christmas owing 10 the small number
Of churches Of that denomination which
were in the Colony. in those religious
observances so intimately connected with
the season in England when, on the
morning OF Christmas-Day. chimes were
rung from belfry and steeple. and the
congregations assembled to worship and
sing hymns Of praise and rejoc-
ing because OF the advent OF
the anniversary OF tho birthday
Of our Saviour Moreover. the Puritan
influences in the home country, which
so materially had altered the social
smusements and the religious ceremonies
Of the English people, helped 10 tone
down the public demonstrations Of the
joy and merriment that the season in
spired So was IL that the Christmas ca
rol died away. the waits and the num-
rers vanished. and the morrice-dancers
ceased 70 dance.
FAMILY GATHERINGS.
In time. however. the churches became
more numerous. and then the Nrginians
or the last century. as do the Nirginians
and their kinfolk throughout the South,
brought evergreens branches of the pine
and cedar 10 decorate their churches.
T1ls employment is one Of the most In
feresting features of Christmas in the
South TO the ladies' OF the congregations.
whose special task is TO beautify and
slorn the church edfices for Christmas.
Attendance az church on Christmas-Day
IS general among the southern people.
s. other denominations than the members
~ the Catholic and Episcopal churches
have learned 10 appreciate the day as a
chIrch-festival.
Many families in the South among
those whose traditions from the Colonial
period have become firmly fixed by habit
from generation TO generation make II
point TO assemble all their members,
men. women and children, II possible.
a. the Christmas dinner given by the
parents. OF parent. OF the elders. If
either or both are living. These family
gatherings always occur II the members
~ the families reside within reason
able distance Of one another. But very
often. and most frequently when long
intervals OF time have elapsed since
brothers and sisters have sat together
al a Christmas dinner under the eyes OF
Their failing parents. those who belong
fp the family group viii make IL convent
ont 10 come from long distances
journeys Of a day or several days-to eat
tae Christmas turkey and the Christmas
Ilm-pudding, and mince-pie 10 drink the
CHRISTMAS eggnOg and the Christmas
wine FOR the last time. perhaps, with
ner loving fathers and mothers.
When the different members of fami-
ly some married, perhaps. and with
wives and children living. reside in the
same neighborhOod. then does Christmas
Day find them. children and ell, gathered
about the parental board. Great stores
Of taris. minneapolis. homemade cakes.
AMI candies are provided for the feasts
ana the days Of reunion. which extend
F9netimes into a week Although IL
may be- said that the southern country
Christmas dinner Of to-day is not as
grand an AFFAIR as the same festive oc-
css.0n was In the Colonial days OF Nir-
fr.a. Maryland and the Carolinas and
Georgia. and as II was even in the days
before the civil war, waen the southern
planter had the means and the habits.
q, Well as the inclinatlOns 81 the grand
ff'gneur, and was most liberal TO his
family and to his poor neighbors and TO
DIS slaves. yet the traditions Of those
Gays survive throughout the South, and
ihe influence the Christmas season In
Tie manner Of observing Christmas-Day.
BEFORE THE WAR.
Before the civil war Christmas-Day
was preceded by several features OF plan
tau0n life which the changes brought
about BY the abolition Of slavery have
made aIrpaaf ~ a1f0U4fbGr obeOlefQ
a few days before Christmas was the
lI..-IlnnaI lhna- klllinl, firnn - when the