New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-25
MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN.
ALTHOUGH FALLING ON MONDAY. THE
SIGNS FAIL AND JUBILATION REIGNs.
soMY QUAINT oLDTIME CUSTOMS AND SUPER
sTITIoNs-LEGENDs THAT ACCOUNT FOR
THE USE OF THE EvERGREENs,


While battles they shall multiply
And great plenty Of beasts shall die
Notwithstanding the direful prophecy uttered In
me foregoing old English rhyme the Gradgrnds
have found the atmosphere of the season altogether
intolerable TO them and have packed themselves
of with their facts. and the genial warmhearted
spirits Of Christmas past" Christmas present"
and Christmas yet 70 come in undisputed
possession Of the city. The Christmas greeting Of
Tiny Tim GOD bless US. every one" accompanied
By many a substantial token, is being echoed by
generous hearted men and women. girls and boys
ell the city, and many discouraged one who
had all but fallen by the way beneath the heavy
burdens OF wearisome life will take heart again
because Of the Chr1stIke deeds that are done in
His name to-day.
Jubnation has swept with a force Of a never 10
be forgotten blizzard from Washngton-st. and Null
berry Bend. where the little Italians set out their
shoes for the Christ Child to fill with fruit and
candy, TO the very outermost parts OF the ultra
fashionable world. where baskets OF flowers and
fruit that represent small fortunes, and Jewels and
GENE that stand for large ones. will be added TO
the possessions OF the rich The branches Of Ar
trees are bending low with their weight Of wonder
fu fruit, and bulg1ng stockings have long since
been rihed TO their very depths by Santa Claus's
boys and girls
The general nerrymakng and decorations Of
evergreen are all that left OF the great Yule
tide festival Of England which lasted until Twelfth
night January and even in some cases extended
10 Candleuas Day, on February T.
The first Christmas of the Pilgrims in America
IS thus described IN old record 'Munday,
the 18th day, went shore. 10 fell
tyrnber some saw, 10 rive. and some to
carry; so no rested all that day" The mem
bers OF the little colony were opposed 20 pagan
rites" as they called the celebration Of Christ
mas and other festival days. but the women
piled their tireless needles that dreary day. on
the lonely shore doubtless many thought few
across the seas to an ancestral home where roar
ing fires and gay feastng were rife, where
All hailed. with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That TO the cottage. as the crown.
Brought tidngs Of salvation down
England was merry England when
Cd CHRISTMAS brought ms rs SPOTS sis;
Twas Christmas tod IT. the o merF cSstr faie'
poor mans heart through half the year
A big FIRE lots 10 drink and big feast were
the features Of the Christmas in OLD England The
boar's head was the first dish served al the dinner
and with an apple in the mouth ana decorations Oh
rosemary and bay It borne 10 the feast, pre-
coded nv cborsters ninstres and merrymakers
The christmas pye" was sometimes baked IN
c,lriously shaped dish that intended 10 rep
resent the Manager but which bore striking re-
semblance Z a coffin. II was from this Klho OF
..pve" that Jack Homer is supposed TO have drawn
forth the historical plum. The OATH by COCK ana
r,,e sir is a relic from the days Of the peacock
.pye." in which the shape Of the bird was pre-
served as naturally was possible. Inc talI was
srread 10 the widest and the bill was giIded. Little
IMAGES az the infant Jesus were mace OK paheo
dough and served not only to the chiloFeh o1' ~
the srownups. and were oiteh AeP' a.
from year 70 year: -,
Tie Teasing Of the day became proveroiaI uh'
an overworked person in Italy was characterized
as one who mas more business than bheHSh
overs Al Christmas" Every laTder was peo ms
with turkeys ducks. geese. hens capoHS' Oo'i,
nation pork buildings, pies. plums, nuts sueei
and honey or such proportions OF them as inc
One Of TIE largest Christmas feats on recoro, hs
great warming after he had resioIeud a nTe7
n aSlt ., AZ army %. OF "a z;y 40 guests
The gvnsias nave a legend that the Ivy. hoIy
and pine refused TO tell 'wnere tne eTeen all the
year and are used FOR Christmas decoTatohSd ne
me ash and the oak told where HJ ne Vinter
For this reason the gypses burn a nre OF ASH "0'1
on every Great Day, as they call christmas
UNDER THE MIsTLEToE.
According to an old superstition, a maid VINO was
MOI kissed under the mstletoe would not oe nc ma
RED during the year As a berry was @" 49,
p-acked on at every kiss the maidens OF ye ~ =,
time saw % IL that the branches did NOT lali %
plentiful supplies Of fruit
legend that brings with II a breath from l"0
Northland accounts for the origin Of the Chris'nia
tree on this wise. 'Harken. ye sons Of the ioieS,'
No blood shall flow this night save that "hch
pity has drawn from a mothers breast f9T Ii oS
ls tAe Dlrh night OF The white Christ, the SCH ~
the All Father. the Saviour Of mankind strel
) lie than Baldur the Beautiful; greater s sIan
T0o4i me wise khder IMAM Freya me O9oI.. .3hnr
de has come sacrifice is ended The dark IhV a.
on whom ye have Valny called, is dead DeeP "a
lHe SHADES OF NlIeIhelm he is lost Forever ~ ~
now this Christ night ye shall begin 70 i've
This blood tree shall darken your land no mo I,
an me name OF the Lord ] Will destroy, Iccr.onT
sIasped the broad axe from the hand OF GREGG
ben be s6e H %o6 DER Peg7H 70 e
~~ For. IS the bright blade eircIed ABOVE ME