Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-12-23

Christian Church some communities
Of Christians celebrated the festival of
Christmas on the LIST OF January,
others observed it on the 9Th of that
month. In some OF the Eastern churches
1t was kept about the time of the
Jewish Passover, near the end of
March. There is also some evidence
Of its having been observed on the 10Th
of September, being the Feast of
Tabernacles. ln the year A. ID. 1876,
when the Emperor Constantine legally
established Christianity in the Roman
Empire, Christmas was observed al the
beginning of the new year. while in
the Eastern Church it was celebrated
on the 9th of January. Pope Julius
eventually effected compromise and
the 25th day Of December was estab-
lisbed. These historical statements
have been called in question by some,
but John Chrysistom the eloquent
preacher at Constantinopls, in the
fourth century, confirms them.
1t is curious circumstance that
some difficulty has been found 10
accepting the date of December 25th
as the probable day on which Christ
was born. because the close OF Decem-
her being usually the height OF the
EhihJ ncusou III Ouuod ~ 10 Hhlu luub
neither flocks nor shepherds could have
been at night in the fields of Rethle-
hem. This strange OBJ lection is cou-
sidered of such importance that il is
incorporated into almost every ency-
clopedia and dictionary which treats
of Christmas. Ii is one of the curiosi-
ties Of literature. Tho present writer
has been in those parts at this season
OF the year, and has found no difficulty
in keeping watch by night" in the
open fields OF Palestine. What is pos
sible for a Western traveller, unused 10
living in the open air, in the nine
tenth century, must have been far
easier for a band of Eastern shepherds
at the beginning Of the Christian era.
In Christian countries all over the
world the recurrence of Christmas has
been celebrated with festivitiea of
varioss kinds. In none, however, has
it been more ioyfully welcomed than
in old England. In that country il
was the custom on Christmas Eve,
after the usual services in church were
over, to light large wax candles and to
throw On the hearth huge log of
wood, called the Yule or the Christmas
Block. AT court and in the houses OF
the wealthy az officer, named the Lord
of Misrule, was appointed to superin-
tend the revel, ana in Scotland SINH
lar functionary used to be appointed
under the title of the "Abbot OF IN
reason." In the year 1856 these Offices
were abolished by an act of Parliament.
The reign OF the Lord Of Misrule"
began on A Hallow Eve and lasted
until Candlemas Day. The favOrite
pasti1es over which those functionaries
presided were gaming, music, con-
juring, dancing, blind mans buff and
dipping for apples. In these festivities
the people went TO great excuses, and
we find ST. Bernard Of Clairvaux, in
the twelfth century. Eternly reproving
the people for giving so much attention
to the festivities of the season and very
littls to its solemn commemorations.
And later, in ths year 1864, Morley,
Bishop OF Winchester. rsproved the
merry monarch, Charles H., and his
court for desecrating The day by gam
bling.
In olden times the favorite dishes
for Christmas dinner were the pea-
cock, the boar's head with an orange
in the mouth and set off with rose
mary, plum pudding and mince pies.
Gradually the peacock made way for
the goose. and now the goose seems to
have abdicated in favor of the turkey.
For many centuries tho bringing in
Of the boar's head' formed the chief
+ ceremony az a Christmas dinner. And
until recently the ceremony was OBJ
lerved at Oxford, where at Queen IS
College, heralded by jubilant flourish
OF trumpets and accompanied BY strains
of merry minstrelsy, the boar's head
was carried in a silver dish into the
nanauetlng haIl by a serving man,
VINO, as ne advanced az the heaa Of
stately procession OF tutors, graduates
undergraduates anu ladies', sang;
"Capnt apri defero
Reddens laudes Domino.
The boars head in hand bring !,
win garian1s gay and rosemary,
pray you Qua az synge merr'iy'
w. e'''' - '0'i''''o'
The boar's head understand.
Is the chief service in the land,
Loos Wherever u be found
'els''e Gum oau''eo.
AT Cambridge similar custom wal
opHefVeu, Out tne carol was less CLASH
cal. Itran something in this strain;
The hoare 10 dood
See. here is his head.
What man could have done more
Than his head off to strike,
Meleager like,
ana prlhg az doe' peioref
Plum pudding is the universal ON
blem Of Christmas and it il strange
that amid all the antiquarian research
which has been devoted to the hstor,
OF Christmas We do not fluid the leas
light thrown upon the invention O
plum pudding. Every school boy