Evening star., 1901-12-21

church Christmas was called the feast Of
lights" because our Lord, the Light of
all lights was then born. Hence We cele-
brate the holiday of holidays with candles
as well as burning logs.
"Lord of Mfsrulc.''
Not so very long since during the Christ
mas festivities in England the court, each
parish and each wealthy household ap-
pointed it's lord of misrule,' a master Of
ceremonies, chosen with regard to personal
appearance, good spirits and ingenuity for
devising amusements in the way of novel
celebrations for those who came under his
sway. His power was absolute, and he
We'd with lords of misrule of other house
holds in inventing original modes of merry
making. Card playing, theatricals, masks
and feasts all came under his jurisdiction.
His reign lasted twelve days, beginning
Christmas eve.
His first object of course. was to see that
the house or houses under his rule were
properly decorated. For this purpose every
green plant of any significance was pressed
into service. Ivy was used in exterior dec
grafton; holly, cedar ferns and mistletoe
for interior And now a word to you hus-
bands and wives: There are two kinds of
holly, prickly and non-priekly, or he and
she" as the ancient English defined them.
If the husband desires to be monarch Of
all he surveys for the ensuing year he must
see to it that none but the prickly holly be
brought across his threshold at Christmas
tide. But If the wife steal march and
bring in the smooth holly he may depend
until another yuletide
Relic of Druidism.
Evergreen decking at Christmas time is
relic Of Druidism, which prevailed in
England before the Christian church gained
it's foothold. In those days each house,
during December, was filled with green
plants, shrubs and branches that the syl-
van spirits might repair to them and re-
main unnipped by frost and cold winds un-
til milder season renewed the foliage of
their abodes. The ancient Druid priests
held that the oak represented the true god,
and that the mfstletoe, a parasite which
grew upon it, represented mans depend
ence upon him. With the aid of the me-
dicinal properties of the mistletoe the
Druids wrought many wonderful cures. 1t
was adopted as a decoration by the Chris
tians at Christmas time, and was still sup
posed to dispel all evil spirits, as well as
to bring good health to the inmates Of the
house.
The Druids always soughtsthe mistletoe
by the full moon. and when they found 1t
rejoieed and worshiped. After cutting off
it's twigs with a golden sickle they sacri-
feed two milk-white bulls beneath the
tree. The sacred shrub was then immersed
In water, and the resulting concoction be-
came their remedy for all diseases. The
early Christians would not permit the use
of the mistletoe in their churches, because
OF Its heathenish. origin. Consequently il
was hung only within the private abode
and usually in the kitchen. Any maid
caught standing beneath a branch had to
forfeit kiss to the gallant eagerly await
ing his opportunity. With each kiss a
berry was plucked, and when all of the
berries disappeared the bare branch was
useless to the young man who wished to
claim the privilege of thus saluting the fair
damsel thereafter. The mistletoe was said
to have been the original magical shrub or
forbidden tree In the Garden of Eden
The Christmas tree was first heard of in
England about 1444. A tree was then set
up in the middle of pavement and decked
with ivy as well as with other greens.
From this use 1t was finally taken within
the home. decorated with candles and even
tually with anything which glistened and
enhanced its brightness.
Origin of Christmas Dishes.
The lord of misrule, having decorated his
domain. put his wits to work to procure
all of the dainty and symbolic edibles pos
sible for the grand feast of Christmas day
The table was decorated with candles
given by chambers or cardlc-makers to
their patrons and evergreens. In ye olden