The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1906-12-14
THE MEANINe OF cHRIsrMAs.

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THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.
Christmas Is the festival Of the
Christian Church observed annually
in memory Of the birth of Christ.
It begins with the evening of the
cath Of December, called Christmas
eve, and continues until the sixth
day of January which is Twelfth
Day, the whole period being called
Christmas-tide. The 25th of De-
cemher is Christmas Day, observed
throughout Christendom by religi-
ious services, by social festivities,
by the interchange of gifts between
relatives and friends, and by the
distributing of TO and clothing
among the poor.
Twelfth Day was called Epiphany
by the ancient church because up
on that day Christ was manifested
to the Gentiles in those wise men
who came to worship the infant
child, and its celebration was quite
as important as the natal day. We
are accustomed now to hear this
spoken of as Old Christmas and its
observance as a holiday has long
since passed out Of memory. With
US to-day the Christmas season and
the holidays u ended with the close
Il New Years Day.
We are apt to forget, in looking
forward to Christmas and in pre-
pairing for the festivities incident
thereto, that 1t IL in commoration
of the most important event in the
worlds history that we set this
season apart as the time OF all 9TH
ers for decking our homes and as
sembling ourselves together for pleas
ant recreation; that 1t Is because
a savior for all mankind has come
into the world that we rejoice, and
that love for one another and good
will towards all should prevail. We
are apt to lose sight of the true
spirit Of the event we celebrate in
an endeavor to meet the supposed
requirements Of the occasion. Christ.
mas Is a time for love and Joy
and happiness not an occasion
for ponderous display and extrava-
CANT gift-giving. 1t is a day for
peace and quiet rather than for ca
rousala nd dissipation. 1t is a day
for feasting, but not for wasting. j
is a time, too, for rest and reGe-
alton and 1t is a mistaken idea tc
make Of it week distress and wor'
ny The giving of gifts on Christ
mas morning Is one OF the most
beautiful customs which has CONT
down to US through the ages, ant
the thought and preparation neces
sary beforehand to their proper Sc
lection or manufacture, but adds L
their value and makes OF this par
eason the iOy-time of thu
year. 1t Is not necessary that 6
gift in order to be appreciated SHOULD
be worth great many dollars o
should be something so fine tina
1t is practically worthless to tn
one receiving II. The appropriate
Gift and the one which may easil.
be afforded is the one most valu
able. and IL we know that wehav
chosen something which has beef
wished for there is an added salts
faction and pleasure.
Unristmas Is the children's time
Every child should be made just a.
happy as it is possible for him Il
be on Christmas morning. 1t Il
because a little child was born, re
remember, that Christmas is ours
So let US make of II great anC
glorious Children's Day and In Sc
doing find our own best happiness
1t Is criminal TO disappoint a chile
at Santa Claus time. and It Is pitt
full, indeed, when young expectan'
creature finds only an empty stock
ing when its faith for other things
is unbounded. The little one that
looks up to US for care and protec-
ton needs something more than
the mere material things of life and
have known a new doll or a jack
knife to be more effective than
medicine or catechism. Food and
clothing are due all the year around,
90 let Christmas mean something out
Of the ordinary snd above the SIM
pie necessities AUNT JANE
NECESSITY OF WATER DRINKING