St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-12-22
CHRISTMAS--HISTORY
AND CUSTOMS.

suggested. January 9th was OBJ
served by the Eastern churches be
fore the time of julius, Bishop OF
Rome, A. ID. 337-s52; but ut tua'
time the Eastern churches were per-
suaded to change their practice
and adopted the same date as the
Western churches. On this account
it is sometimes said that Bishop
.yulius established the date Decem-
her 25th; but the fact is, that West.
ern Christians had already long
celebrated that date, and it seems
probable that the Eastern churches
were persuaded by records then eA-
tant at Rome to accept the date
since received by all the world.
The ancient celebration Of Tue
return OF the sun,' when the days
begin to lengthen after the winter
solsuce. and the roman Saturnaiis
coming at the same season, have
given something Of their character
both of general rejoicing and OF re-
Yelling and license to the celebration
OF Christmas.
..rhe old name for Christmas was
Yule, still found in literature COM
ing from the word meaning wheel.
Th,s wheel was the zodiac, tue path
OF the sun.
.In northern Europe there was
an ancient celebration in honor Of
the god Thor, called 'Yule,' and
Christmas came to be called 'Yule'
tide The .Yule-log' was burned
on lie Christmas hearth, and the
mistletoe OF the British Drnids be-
came q Christmas emblem.
..Yule was survival Of pagan sun
worship. Among Greeks, Romans.
Persians. Indians, Aztecs, American
Iudiaus and North Sea Islanders,
has prevailed for ages mid winter
festival Of rejoicing at the return "i
the sun and the beginning OF the
coming days OF spring.
"Among the Drulds who were sun
and fire worshippers this vas the
great festival Of the year, as II
marked the retreat of cold and dark
ness before their solar diety. Al
this season among all Northern peo-
pls the fire Vt Baal was rekindled
aud every thing connected Will II
was sacred, even 70 the ashes. A
remnant Of this primitive feeling
is seen in the supelstltious reverence
still felt for the Goals and ashes OF
the Yule-log, which in the folk-lole
Of Northern Europe are powerful
guards sgaiusl the malevolent in
tiuences of witches and fairies.
s.Chistmas has taken the place ID
The Roman SslurIalia festival, cele-
brated with the greatest extrava-
gance in honor Of Saturn. On the
10Th Of December candies were III
il his temple as offerings to him III
Mace of tue more ancient human
sacrifice. :,
.When Christianity haa changed
the temple into 3 church and the
statues VI the gods into martyrs
many Ut the old healh-rn customs
were retained. The wreaths and
gsrlands OF the Satufnalla became
the symbol, Of Christian rejoicing,
and the sacred fire Of The Roman
offering was kept in the candle Of
ferings OF 20 iay aud in the Yule
fires lighted with pieces from the
log Of the Christmas before. The
gifts Ut our Christmas are perhaps |
q survival of the Saturnalian gifts Of |
the Romans.
s.The joyful shouts of Bona
were the precursors OF
Dur Merry Christmas Tie CEN
trail feature Of Pagan celebration
vas some deity or demigod. The
Germanlc feasts were presided over
by Thor, long-bearded and venera
BILE as Saturn. Saturn, the most
Of the deitles. was es-
tablished as St. Nicholas.
1.-The mistletoe was . fsvorite ct
festivals With Greek, Roman, Druid
and Celt. A. late as the severn
teenth century il was worn about the
neck as a guard against the witches.
AS we would expect at times Of
gsiety and rejoicing, music has al
ways been part OF Christmas cele-
bration.
''Chris,mas has always been a
time for conviviaiity aud good cheer.
The Nortkmen drank their festal ale
out OF tue skulls of their enemies
killed in war, and, although the
skull disappeared, the wsssail bowl.
its direct descendant, has remained
in use to This day in many families. i
In these bowls II brown ware or
silver was placed, in the