Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1898-12-21
ChriStfnaStide.
I COMPILED BY H. S. HILLEBOE.

The merry Christmas time has come
again. No other festival has assO-
ciated with it for US so many pleasant
customs, so many curious legends, so
much of reverential JOY and it may be
interesting to note some customs that
belong to the celebration of Christmas
in other lands and in other times as
we'll as our own.
In the middle ages Christmas festi-
walls were survivals OF the Koran
Saturnalia, period of II days, DUR
ing which the greatest license was per-
mitted. It was the very intent of this
Pagan festival to turn things upside
down. The slaves Toasted and their
masters waited upon them. It was a
season of the widest revelry, of un-
thinking mirth, when the bondsman
forgot his claims, and the debtor the
memorable oblig ations that were draw
ing him to the dungeon of his creditor.
These follies fit only for a land peo-
pied by tyrants and slaves, had been
slightly vanished over with Christian
forms, but gradually these feasts be-
gan to resemble the old Saturnalian
banquets and were dropped in Eng
land, France and Germany. In Eng
land they were changed to laughter
provoking comedies and gambols of
decent character. A Lord of Misrule
Was appointed and Societies of Un-
reason represented the comedies.
These societies became the rage in
many countries, and were dearly well
coined everywhere, because through
the parody with which they COM
menced: there pierced a spirit of sa-
tire of abuse. treated in the theatrical
style and comic vein. Satirical dra-
mas were enacted, in which political
matters of the gravest nature were
freely discussed and the highest per-
sonages were handled without gloves.
England was Merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again:
Twas Christmas preached the mightiest ale,
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale.
Christmas gambol oft would cheer
poor mans heart through half the year."
Bands of singers used to roam
through the streets singing Christmas
carols, and these were called ''waits'
but the practice has dropped off until
those who sing are bawling nuisances
and their carols were doggerel.
Christmas is not now the merry festi
val it Used to be when carols were
singers: that is tenorS. baritones and
bassos and their carols were admir-
able compositions. They were for the
most part of Welsh origin. Much of
the jo]lity that fingers in the memory
OF man in England comes from the
Irish and Welsh elements in the pop
ulation.
Among the Germans the celebration
is confined almost entirely to Christ
mas eve. Special pains are taken to
make it childrens FEAST Each fami-
~ has a Christmas tree which is made
as picturesque as can be by means of
little candles, whose Illuminating
power is multiplied indefinitely by lit
tie triangular mirrors. The flashing
rays from these hidden away in the
dark green needlelike foliage of the
tlr tree are repeated by glass balls of
metallic luster. Hidden away in the
recesses of branches are various little
packages which contain presents for
members of the family. But as the
presents that children most desire and
usually receive are of a bulky nature
they cannot be tied to the tree, and
have to be placed somewhat igno-
miniously upon adjoining tables,
marked by most unromantic labels.
1t is usual for the German father to
say few words to the children about
their. conduct before they are admitted
to the room with the Christmas tree
After the presents have been distri-
buted the little ones go to bed and the
family set down in the best room to
receive callers, who are treated with
punch, coffee, cakes and other pro.
ducts of the household pastry art.
All those who have no trees of their
own NJ AXE a point of visiting those
who, have and of seeing their trees.
All M0se Who lire III E6y WY known