The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-23

The Christmas FESTIVAL mas Hot Ill
ways been observed at the same time
nor in the same present-day manner,
but, like nation or a person, has had
it's own individual history, and its
own experiences of elevation and hu-
initiation.
The customs of Christmas, aside
from those directly bearing upon the
birth of Christ, are, like SO many OF
our festive rites, adapted from the
pagans, for the pagans, when they
were Christianized, did not entirely
abandon their former habits. When
Pope Gregory sent ST. Augustine to
convert Saxon England, he told HIM
to accommodate, as far as possible.
Christian TO heather ceremonies, that
the people might not be startled; and
in particular he advised him to allow
them on certain festivals to kill and
eat "a great number of oxen, to the
glory of God the Father" as they had
done in honor of the devil. On the
Christmas next after the arrival of
St Augustine he baptized many hun
dreds of converts, but permitted the
usual celebration, only prohibiting the
intermingling of Christians and pagans
in the dances.
Many of the Christian practices were
taken from the Roman feast of Sat
urn. The feast was held in December
and at first only one day was devoted
to it, but later it occupied seven days
of license. 1t was only natural and not
at all detrimental to the Christian
faith that some of the customs of Sat
urnalia should be transferred to the
Christmas feast. The Saturnalia lasted
~ of Nhyfc =
mas twelve. The twelfth night
made famous by Shakespeare Is Jan
uary 6, which is the feast of the Epiph-
any. or manifestation of Christ to the
Gentiles.
The traditional plants for Christmas
are the box, fir, holly and mistletoe.
There is a Saxon couDlet that runs
thus:
whatsoever against holly do cry
In rope shall be hung full high
Alleluia"
The ancient Druids went In solemn
procession to the annual cutting OF
mistIetoe on the sixth day of the moon
nearest New Years. The officiating
priest, clad in white robes and carry
ing golden sickle. cut the plant
which was received on a white cloth
To add to the impressiveness bulls and
even human, victims were offered In
it's honor The mistletoe was supposed
to keep away evil.
The yule-1og is a remnant of the
JUL. when the Scandinavians used to
kindle large fires in honor of theil
god. Thor. In some parts of England
the bringing in of the yule-log is the
principal ceremony of Christmas eve
The following verses in honor of the
log are thought to be of the time oil
Henry ":
Welcome be thou. heavenly King,
Welcome, BARN, on this morning,
Welcome. for whom we shall sing,
Welcome Yule.
Welcome be We, Stephen and John,
Welcome innocents, every one,
Welcome Thomas martyr one,
Welcome Yule.
Welcome be We that are here,
Welcome all and make good cheer;
Welcome all another year.
Welcome Yule.
The log was drawn by servants into
the hall where each member of the
family, sitting down on it in turn
sang a yule-Song and drank a cup OF
spiced ale. The log was then cast OF
the fire with prayers for the safety
and happiness of the household until
next yuletide. A part of the log was
preserved to light the yule-log of the
succeeding year. 1t was believed that
piece of the log in the house was q
security against fire.
In Queens college, oxford, England
there is an old custom still kept OF
Christmas eve, called the bringing in
Of the boar's head. The legend is that
a student of that college was walking
in a neighboring forest, studying Aris-
totle, when a boar rushed out at him
The student was cool-headed and i'm
mediately crammed the book down the
boar's throat and choked ii. Being a
lover of good books he wanted his
Aristotle back, so he cut off the boar S
head and after dislodging the book
took the animals head to the college
where is was roasted and eaten.
Today many people enjoy spending a
part of Christmas day at the theatre
This is by no means a new custom