The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-12-13
SCOTLAND NECK, n c., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1906.
The Meaning Of Christmas.
A GREAT SEASON.
The True Spirit to Maintain;


Christmas is the festival OF the Chris-
tian Chuch observed annually in men,
cry nl the BIRTH ot Chtist. 1t begins
with the evening OF the 24th OF Decefh-
ber, called Christmas eve, and contin-
ues until the sixth day of January,
which is Twelfth Day, the whole period
Chrlstr sstide. The 25th OF December
is Christmas Day, observed through
out Ch.istenduth by religious services,
by social festivities, by the interchange
Of gifts between relatives and friends
and by the distributing OF food and
clothing among the poor.
Twelfth Day was called Epiphany by
the ancient church because upon that
day Christ was Manifested to tbs Gan
tiles in those wise men who came to
worship the infant child, and its cele-
hratlon was quite as important as the
natal day. We are accustomed row
to bear this spoken of as Old Chrirtnas
and Its observance as holiday has
long passed out Of memory. With as
today the Christmas season and the
holidays are ended with the close OF
New Years Day.
We are opt to forgst, In looking for.
ward to Christmas and in Preparing
-. A.. fo,uu;t;o. iooidopf fharafo
that it Is in commemo grafton of the most
Important event In the worlds history
that We set this season apart As the
time OF all others for decking our homes
and sembling ourselves together fot
pleasant recreation that 1t Is because
a savior for all mankind has come into
the world shat we rejoice, and that
love for one another and good will
toward all should prevail. We are
apt to lose sight OF the true spirit OF
the events we celebrate ih an ehdeaver
to meet the supposed requirements OF
the occasion. Christmas is time for
joy and happiness not an occasion for
ponderous display and extravagart
xift-gIvins. 1t is day for peace and
duiet rather than iof csfousal and
dissipation. 1t is day for feasting but
not for wasting. 1t Is time, too, Tor
rest and recreation and 1t IL mis-
taken idea to make Of it week OF
stress and worry. The giving OF gifts
on Christmas morning Is ono OF tie
most beautiful customs whieh has
come down to US through the ages,
and tho thought and preparation nec-
essary beforehand to their proper &C.
lection or manufacture but adds to
their value and makes OF this particu-
lar season tho joy-time OF the year.
It is not necessary that a gilt In
order to be appreciated should be
worth a great many dollars or should
be something 80 fine that 1t Is prac-
tically worthless to the one receiving
it. The appropriate and the one
which may easily be ff,rded is the
one most valuable, and ii We know
that we have chosen something which
has been wished for there Is an added
satisfaction and pleasure.
Christmas Is the children's time.
Every child should be made just as
happy as 1t Is possible for him to be
on Christmas morning. It Is be-
cause a little child was born, remem-
ber, that Christmas is ours. So let
US make OF it great and glorious
Children's Day aud in 90 doing tird
our own best happiness. 1t is crlmi-
nal to di.appoint a child at Santa
Claus time, and 1t Is pitiiul, Indeed,
when a young e1pectspt creature
finds only an empty stocking when
its faith for other things is unbounded.
The little one th at looks up to US for
care aud protection needs something
more than the more material things
of life and have known new doll
or a jack-knife to be more effective
than medicine or catschism. Food
and clothing are due all the year
around, so let Christmas mean some
thing out of the ordinary and above
tho simple necessities.