The times., 1900-12-23
HOLLY, BAY, AND LAUREL.
Favorits Ornaments for Church Dec
Grafton at Christmas

The decking of churches, houses. and
shops with evergreens at Christmas
springs from a period far anterior to the
revelation of Christianity, and appears to
be derived from the custom prevalent dur
ing the saturnalia Of the inhabitants of
Rome ornamenting their temples and
dwellings with green boughs. From this
latter circumstance we find several early
ecclesiastical councils prohibiting the
members of the Church to initiate the
pagans in thus ornamenting their houses.
But in, process of time the pagan custom
was. like others of a similar origin, in
troduced into and incorporated with the
ceremonies of the Church itself. The
sanction of our Saviour likewise came to
be pleaded for the practice, he having
entered Jerusalem in triumph amid the
shouts of the people, who strewed palm
branches in his way.
1t is evident that the use of flowers
and green boughs as a means Of decora-
tion is almost instructive in human ma
ture; and indeed, there is scarcely any
nation, civilized or savage, with which it
has not become more or less familiar.
The Jews employed it in their Feast OF
Tabernacles, in the month of Septem-
ber; the ancient Druids and other Celtic
nations hung lip the mistletoe and green
branches of different kinds over their
doors to propitiate the woodland sprites,
and a similar usage prevailed in pagan
Rome. In short, the feeling thus so uni
versally exhibited appears to be one of
natural religion, ard therefore not to be
traced exclusively o any particular creed
or form Of worship.
IT.. III
vey of London" says that against the
feast of Christmas every mans house, as
also their parish churches, were decked
with holme 1.-THE evergreen oak), ivy,
bayes. and whatsoever the season of the
year afforded to be green. The conduits
and standards in the streets were like
wise garnished; among the which | read
that in the year 144+, by tempest of thun-
der and lightning toward the morning of
Candlemas-day, at the Leadenhall, in
Cornhill, a standard of tree being set up
in the midst OF the pavement, fast in the
ground. nailed full of holme and ivy, for
disport of Christmas to the people was
torn up and cast down by the malignant
spirit (as was thought, and the stones of
the pavement all about we're cast in the
streets, and into divers houses, so that
the people were set aghast at the great
tempest"
The fayorite plants for church decora-
tion at Christmas are holly. bay, rose
mary, and laurel. Ivy is rather objec-
tionable from its associations, having
been anciently sacred to Bacchus and en-
ployed largely in the orgies celebrated in
honor of the god u wine. Cypress has
been sometimes usel. but its funeral re-
lations make 1t rather out of place at a
festive season like Christmas.
A quaint old writer thus spiritualizes
the practice of Christmas decorations:
so our churches and houses decked with
bays and rosemary, holly and ivy. and
other plants which are always green, win
ter and summer. signify and put us in
mind of His Deity. that the child that
now was born was God and man, who
should spring up like a tender plant,
should always be green and 1ourishing,
and live forevermore. Festive carols
were, in the olden days, chanted at
Christmas in praise of the evergreens, so
extensively used at this season. The fol-
lowing Is a specimen:
HOLLY.
Here comes holly that is so gent,
To please all men Is his intent.
Alleluiah!
whosoevor against holly do cry,
In rope shall be hung fun high,
Allelujah!
whosoever against holly do sing,
lie may weep and his hands wiring.
Allelui9hi
The decorations remain in the churches
from Christmas till the end of January,
but, in accordance with the ecclesiastical
canons, they must all be cleared away
before the I'd of February, or Candle
mas Day. The same holds goods as q
custom with regard to private dwellings,
superstition in both cases rendering it
a fatal presage il any of these sylvan
ornaments are retained beyond the period
named