The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-27
YIsu-Kio.qus No. IL. near Grand Hotel and
Kio,ous No 10, Bouisvards des Capuoinss
New Christmas and Old Christmas.

Now Christmas has come and gone, but
q d Christmas Ia number OF days distant.
When one considers how generally Christ
mas Day Ia now celebrated In this country
IL q curious that so few persons should
pause to ask themselves on what grounds
the 25th OF December has been selected t.
commemorate the birth OF JESUS CHRIST.
How could He have been born in December.
which, In Palestine, was coincident with the
rainy season, In which 1t Ia scarcely pos
s,ble that shepherds could have been tend
ing their flocks by night amid the fields
near Bethlehem
As a matter Of fact, It was not until tho
fifth century OF our era that the 18th OF
December was generally accepted a. the
anniversary OF the Saviours birth. During
the first four centuries that anniversary
oppears to have been kept conjointly with
the Fenst OF the Epiphany on the 9th OF
january; that IL to say on Twelfth day.
After Christianity, however. In the course
OF the fourth century, was first tolerated,
and then made the State religion OF the
Roman Empire. n tendency arose to throw
the festival back into the last week OF
December. either from the influence or
some tradition or from the desire, strongly
felt In more than one direction, to supplant
the heather festivals which had fallen In
that period OF the year, such as the Saturn
ALA. AUGUSTINE, who died in A. D. 400,
mentions Dec. 20 az In his time the
commonly recognized anniversary OF the
Savour's birth. while CHRYsosToM, who
died in A. u. iO7. speaks OF the celebration
OF that particular day "a custom imported
from the west of the Adratic within ton
years. Nowadays, not only tho Roman
Catholics the Ep.scopalians and the Lu-
therans, but the Greek and Armenian
Churches, concur in accepting Dec. % as
the date OF the birth Of JESUS.
Most Of the Calvinsts, on the other hand,
on both sides Of the Atlantic, long declined
20 make the day festival, regarding the
commemoraton OF IL as r Pop.sh super
sttion. Native Americans, who are able to
look back some sixty years, can remember
when. in New England, but little heed was
paid to Christmas. the principal holiday ut
that period Of the year being Thanksgiving
Day II is an interesting fact that, up to
the tardy adoption Of the reformed
Gregorian Calendar in England, the day
celebrated for Christmas was about eleven
days too late. and nearly coincided with
Epiphany. on which day, as we have said.
up TO the close Of the fourth century. the
birth OF CHRIST was supposed to have
occurred. Long after the reform Of the
Julian Calendar was accepted In England
the birth Of CHRIST was celebrated in parts
OF rural England on what was called Old
Christmas Readers Of CHARLES READE's
Put Yourself in His Place" will recall a
delightful description Of the ceremonies m
cident to Old Christmas In an agricultural
district. about tho middle OF this CEN
tury.
Before the Reformation, the Christina
holidays lasted much longer in England
than they do now. An officer. the Lord OF
Nisrule lin Scotland called the Abbot OF
Unreason). was appointed to superintend
the revels: his reign hegan on AIl-Hallow
Eve, the evening before Nov l, and lnsted
till Candlemas Day, that is to say. till Feb.
2. We have greatly curtailed the season
OF rejoicing, and not many are now left
who remember that New Christmas Ia one
thing and Old Christmas another.