The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-22
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.
ITS INSTITUTION Attributed TO
POPE TELEsPHORUs,
And Dates Back TO the Second Century.
Something Abcus It's Celebration In
Ancient and Modern Times

] want TO say word about the origin
OF the Christmas festival. Its observance
IL an ancient custom. and its institution
is attributed by the decretal letters 10
Pope Telesphoi US. v no died A. ID. 10. Al
first II was often cOnfounded with the
Epiphs ny end was celebrated By the
Eastern churches in the months OF April
and May. 1t was not until the fourth
ctntury that December 9th was settled
upon by the theologians of the East ana
West as tho day OF Cbrists nativity.
During the middle ages Christmas was
celebrated by the gay. fantastic spectacle
OF dramatic mysteries. and moraiities
performed by percentages in grotesque
masks and singular costumes
The custom OF singing canucles at
Christmas called carols. dates from the
time when the common people ceased
TO understand Latin. The songs were en-
livened by dances, and by the music oi
tamborecns, guitars, violins and organs.
Fathers, mothers, sons, and daughterS
mingled freely in the canoe, II at night,
each bearing u lighted taper
Preparatory TO Christmas bells were
rung at midnight throughout England
and the Continent, ana after the solemn
celebration Of the mass, for which the
churches in France and Italy were mag
jewellers TO partake OF a collation. that
they might be able TO sust5in the IA
tcue OF the night Among tho Tcvels OF
the Christmas season were the so-called
feasts Of fools and OF asses, grotesquo
saturnalia IN which everything serious
was burlesQued, dignity was cast TO the
winds. men Of high position made mon
KEYS OF themselves. and everybody cur
up Jack"
THE CHRISTMAS-TREE.
Tho Christrnas-tree is not only Amer
ican The Germans and other European
usople have their ysw boughs hanging
with sweetmeats, candies, nuts, toys ana
the like. and go through with many SUI
perstitlous and interesting antics rased
upon ancient legendary love. In Eng
land the Christmas season Tor eauhs
reached such a point that the Italians
have the following proverb: he mas
more business than English ovens at
Christmas" The English probably 90
more eating Christmas than any other
people. Roast mutton, beef, turkey anu
other meats. all manner Of puddings
and pastries, fruits, candles. and dainties
are consumed in great quantities. The
big log fires, the mistletoe with its pref
ty significance rarely put into eNecu-
ton. according TO the women; the music,
riddles. jokes, laughter, repartee, dances'
and merry-making, are all famillar 10
Christmas celebraters. Punch-no"ls'
holly. evergreens, jays, and essnog-lnuEs
all come in at Christmas times, ana ire
various legends, supersttions, ghost-sto-
ries, fairy-tales. and goblin-stories are
all closely interviewer with our IDEAS OF
Christmas.
In England the Christmas celebrations
have largely lost their primitive bolster
Gus character, and family reunions ana
evergreen trimmings are nearly all that
remain of the various rough merriments
which formerly marked the festival.
AMERICAN CHRISTMAS.
In the United States, since the Puritans
were at first stern opponents or CHRIST
mas pastimes. and nearly everything else
that did not flavor of witch-chosing, tho
cav was for a long time less generally
celebrated in New England than in the
Middle and Southern States Even now
Christmas is observed in New England
only in a quiet way. Gifts are eXchans-
ed. church services are attended, ana en-
terta.nments given in quiet way. Sell
dom are laundering sounds from pom
derous explosives heard, and matters
Bacchanalian are not so much IN EVIL
dence. In the Southern states the sea-
son is set aside by thousands at tlme
in which 10 get drunk and raise Cam.
Policemen have 10 come 10 the rescue OF
law-abiding, orderly citizens quite ire
quently and hundreds and thousands OF
Jagged celebrators become exceedingly
boisterous and disagreeably obstreperous
Santa Claus was originally introduced
by the Dutch settlers of New York, and
his age now makes him none the less
popular among all who have not grown
old and sceptioal enough to be "on TO
him"
In Richmond the most popular fea-
lures of Christmas are eggnogs, hot Tom
and ferries, explosives, and general noise.
This year will be no conspicuous eXcep-
ton unless the Chief of Police succeeds
in suppressing tho pop-cracker and tin
horn nuisance