The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-26

babe who was TO be the Savior of the
world. II this was on the 18th OF Decem-
her the shepherds were in an uncuvlable
position for at that time occurs the rainy
season OF Judea.
II Is not 20 be wondered at. however,
that IN all these centuries there has been
IA considerable mixing OF dates. and a
large amount OF commlngling Of fact with
sentiment. II has been so III the mattsr
of the form Of the celebrations we'll As
IN tha dates. Same az the orthodox
listous people who viii celebrate Christ
mas with sacred songs ana carols need
not he shocked 70 learn thar many OF
these are the survival Of old pagan drges
that were the accompaniment Of heather
feasts. II Is so with many OF the Gus
toms pertaining peculiarly IN Christmas
such as the giving % presents. the adorn-
ing OF the family Christmas tree with
toys and the illumination OF IL with
candles and lanterns The church IN the
early days aid It's best 80 combat the ten
iency 10 amaigamate pagan customs with
the pure ceremonies Of the church. bat
ta~x would rot ~ kept out and 81 they
have come down 10 us IN sort cs
Christlanizoi form. ana IN thar shape re
csive the Endorsement az all without re-
gard - their origin.
The church has changed the Songs which
She heataen used a. their feastS iata the
grand liturgy Of the Christmas service
and ~ the stead - TIA fares and .easss
nat were tn vogue with TIRE aaeaas htye
substituted the CAy.stm3s cSurch svt~r-
i2inments ard the carols thst rsr AXE
rarity 81 the character - religion ac3
rarity OF a worldly character.
To trace ,he origin cf the Christmas fa<-
t'Tai - - Inception Is difficult matter.
hut. 50 Gar a this has been done. Il would
APPEAR shat TIE Emperor Corsu aodus VINO
presided over he destinles Of Rome during
the years 80 20 is7 A. n. was the er@t
- establish fess, on this day. A han-
Sr@t years later piccletlsn ar anti
Christian ruler - tire Romans vN'e keep
'ng cN'lrt e. Nicomsals. heard th9t the
Christians were assembled IN rnH ~ :Aelr
rhur Z far She celebration - sAe.r an
Doai festival IN COMMUNICATION ot she
hiftA - christ. aat e. Sc ard his court
were somewhat la need e auuspYneH :
'ett would prove a variation - the hfza-
II Favored bar somewhat fncrotoor1s
programme ~ the Roman c-u~t. 20 con
ccfved 80 tiea That & waui3 - g~r3
SPORT - shut ths C~Nrszs.a~s re - .~-y~
temple. sirsr .hs t'eers ca .han. aNS tso~
H-e the ri'-s. while the rcflrt gathe~s 2
around - ees tha f9n AL hear fha - ng
creams - +N~ ~sarfvrz Trz.. NE >sfssn o.
pointed ss 'o t%- e~~r8.rE~~ fer t-e 9shel4-
SEAMS rse' the'r fsss Vs tfN scr-it,Y.se a~i ra~-
tefreA wttAeat "a r1#~-rs;r {~ -, So -
-~rir feaaa'e Th.s 60 r~0 - tsse 81 est
- f1s'e-.sa = 'Ne Pay having heel
rf'rNre'~3 ~ = r~~~~ai festival among
49, rr~tsttsnS 80 tSe sterv - Their fate
stat -ut a. c0e - ths FRS; carts -r4,a =
{rrs3e~'s n see n.s'e~v ~ er~ eAurcA
= Ne>rsee the szshtc~ 'e-er IN have
g~Nrfzt.s@ festivals s11orE 49, r. tea fact
O., tSs y --ia. REF re~}oas feAssS S>nne
rev. scg~s 80 raSt0 fe~sly8as F@rrfstsso-
sset av8 srtSteEe2 hur Un7er a rew
nsnse t~nr-i - tH+.~ wt-kt4nesS sd
evhsA-is:atest I'D as - ~ ~ thera reSr.e>A-
hle fss-tvft$as IRA Er5Ers-t 81 tNeir 9fa-
play. bus free trars The AWsul hoggcrs q.
The Aeashra celebrations
There ss@ras % have hse~ - uniform a.
,serxtsntsaS ~ TIE early axes g, ere
church as - t>e Hafe whc8 tA@ hsrtA ..
tse SAVIOR SAe3s& ~ observed :, wsx lsf-
q tHa discretion ~ th@ leader - tSe Vs.
srs oecrre rst.N.s. some h@}4 49, f.seival
IL May ~ April. vss.e esAers decided ia;