The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-24
ORIGIN OF NAME
OF FEAST DAY.
Celebration Of Mass by the
Early Christians.
ORIGINALLY NOT A FIXED DATE.
Reasons for Discontinuance Of Mid
night Observance in Churches.
Gift-Giving and Hist ricaI
Customs Of the season.

1T IS most peculiar how little people
know about the origin OF the word 'Uiif isl
mas said an old gentleman at the Con
gressiona1 Library, last night I have
been reading up on the subject and
most interesting study it is. assure you.
Christmas, he continued, gets its
name from the mass celebrated in the
early days of the Christian Church in
honor Of the birth OF Christ. its first sol
cmHtzation being ordered by Pope Teles-
phorus- THIS must have been some time
prior to the year 198, for in that year
Pope TeIesphorus died
At first Christmas was what is known
as a movable feast, just as Easter is
now. and, owing to misunderstanding
was celebrated as late as april or May.
In the fourth century an ecclesiastical IN
ve5tigation was ordered and. upon the
authority OF the tables Of the censors in
the Roman Archives. the 18th OF
December was agreed upon as The date of
the Saviour's nativity Il must be con-
fessed that even in those early DAYS the
authenticity of the proof furnished as TO
the Identification of the day was called
/ birth IS about midnight, and this led to
the celebration of a midnight mass ia all
the churches, 4 second al dawn and q
/ third in the later morning.
Many of you viii remember con-
tI1ded the old bCokwoFm. when midnight
{ masses were publicly soIemnized in this
and other cities. 1t was discontinued TO a
very great extent owing to abuses of
which It vas the innocent cause, some
young folks making, attendance upon the
midnight service an excuse for being from
home late, and the b0isterous carouser
+ OF these modern times too frequently
made the unusual service the scene OF
/ disorderIy behavior In partial observ-
/ auce OF the old custom. however. every
( priest IN the Catholic church is required
( TO soiemnize mass three times on Christ
( mas Day.
Following Wise men's Example.
OF course, you need net be told OF the
/ origin OF presenting gifts at this season
/ of the year The three wise men who fol-
lowed the Star until it remained sta
! tionary ever the stable at Bethlehem, and
/ who, entering the bowel wherein were
! the Cow and the ass. kHeIt down before
the beautiful babe in the Manager and
( placed before Him presents OF gold
/ frankIncenSe. and mFrFh- Their example
IS the example that you follow TODAY.
/ 1901 years after the Aagi made obeisance
10 the CHILD Jesus And then you place
presents before the little ones VINO are
: made IN tie image of the Divine Babe
you are doing what was done BY the
Eastern Kings. But remember that TO
carry out their example TO the full the
babes IL the hangers, the little ones IN
| novels. must not be forgotten
Myths OF the Season.
Many OF our Christmas customs come
from the Germans as well as from the
i English.
Kris Kringle or what is the proper
German word. Christ Kindchen. Is a
legendary myth, whose origin is involved
in much doubt Formerly in the small
villages of Germany the presents made
by all the parents were seat 10 some one
person, who, in high buskins, a white
robe a mask. aud an enormous fax wig
and known as knecht Rupert. went from
house 10 house. He was received by the
parents with great reverence, and calling
for the children. resented the gifts Ia
them according tt the report OF JheiI
conduct received from the parents i
appears as highly probable that this Gus
tom gave rise TO our present iHnumeTable
legends about Santa Claus
Decorations and Feasting-
The custom of decking houses ana
churches with evergreens is a relic Of
ancient DruidicaI practices. The good
cheer and dinner-giving and turkey eatin:
and plum pudding stufing that also dis
tinguishes Christmas Day had their be
ginning in England, where men general!
put their stomachs forward as the mos
important consideration in life Still, N
one viii quarrel with the English fol
teaching Us to have merry time and t.
make others merry on the greatest holi
day of the year
well. that's all there's to 1t so far q:
I know Merry Christmas to YOU