The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-12-28
CHRISTMAS.

and TO throw dSiuc our cdEts tct
season, and give vent to the lighter
emotions OF our natures, il is Christ
mas. which for centuries has been
celebrated as the day ON which the
Savior was born.
AS 10 the exact date of the Savior's
birth, there is, a0d has been ia ages
past. considerable speculation. II has
been contended that the Nativity
could not have taken place in Decem-
Der, for at that season of the year
Judea has her rainy season. and the
Chepherds could not watch their fiocks
at night. In the earlier centuries the
day was considerably mixed with
heather feast days, but by the fifth
century the 25th OF December was
settled upon as the birthday of Jesus.
Since then il has never been changed,
and during the last thirteen centuries,
through all these hundreds of years,
the world has lifted up its voice IN
praise and adulatioD, in mirlh and
gladness, upon the merry Christmas
morn. Though continents have been
drenched in blood and Kingdoms and
nations have tottered aud fallen, and
upon their ruins others have risen
to fall in turn; though the whole earth
has been steadily undergoing that
progressive transformation towards
human perfection, and men, matters
aud institutions have given away be-
fore its onward march; though the
centuries have been notched each by
lis own characteristic features, and
history is yearly charging ills archives
as time aud change add to lis pages,
Christmas has never changed. Its
place has been forever settled, and
until the end of time civilized nations
will hail from year to year that event
full morn, when above the manager in
Bethlehem the eastern star hung sus-
pended, guiding the wise men-yea,
the world, unto the Great Redeemer.
The exact time when Christmas
pastimes aud pleasure, were intro
duced is not known; nor is it known
how the idea of general Jubilee be-
came engrafted into, or rather fol-
lowed, the more serious religious
aspects Of the day. Suffice it to say,
in civilized nations it has from time
immemorial almost been the custom
to celebrate Christmas not only with
worship, but with all kinds of worldly
amusements aud merry making.
The Observation-Disclosures speak
ing Of Christmas day, says:
"In all civilized countries the annual
recurrence of Christmas has been cele-
brated with festivities of various
kinds. In none, however. was il more
joyfully welcomed than in England
where even still the sold honors" has
not altogether fed. In that country
! it was the custom on Christmas Eve
after the usual devotions were over
to light.large candles and throw on the
hearth huge log, called the Ynlt
| Log or Christmas Block. AT Court
and in the houses of the wealthy, al
officer, named Lord of Misrule, wa'
appointed TO superinted the reyels
and in Scotland similar functionar,
used to be appointed under the titlt
of the Abbot ofUnreason, till the yea
1855, when the Office was abolished BY
the act of Parliament. The REGIME o
the Lord of Misrule began on All
| IIallow-eve, and lasted till Coldwate
day. The favorite pastimes over which
he'presided, were gaming, music, con
juripg, dipping for nuts aud apples
dancing. fool plough, hot cookies ,blint
mans buff, &c; and various christian
preachers las for instance ST. Bernard
have taken occasion TO remonstra,
with their hocks for paying too grea
attention to the festive character o
the season and too little TO its NOR
solemn aspects. The favorite dishe
for breakfast and supper at this seasol
were the boar's head with an apple o
orange in the mouth, and set off wit
rosemary, plum-pudding and mine
pies. The house and churches wer
, deckcd with eyergreens, especially wit
r mistletoe, to which traditionar
sacredness has attached since the day
of the Druids."
But however much we should fet
disposed to the festivities of the occ;
sion, we should not forget il
more sacred aud true signifcancr
e For though reyelry may abound an
| laughter burst her sides, Christina
must be looked upon in another ligf
j in the light of a new era in the worl'
h when fallen humanity awoke to b.
q hold the dawn of brighter day, whe
. the sins of the world were to b
washed away in the blood of the bah
A that lay in His lowly bed in Bethl,
8 hem.
, The popularity of Chamberlain
!, Cough Remedy and the high estee
!, in which il is held leads us 10 belle,