Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-12-15
THE EVOLUTION OF CHRISTMAS
By HENRY If. VERDE

-,a days ,one need but 10 point to tho evolution in the manner of Christmas celebrations to substan- +;ate the assertion that as We grow wiser we grow better, for in no way does any people, country, state or nation reflect the true inwardness of their own spirit more than in the ob- seryances of popular customs and holidays.
 If matters not that the Christ mas tree sprung from pagan cerc- mEzal that ante-dated the birth of Christ; that the holly and mistletoe- so freely used in Christmas decora- tions are surviyals of ancient Druid ical worship; the Christmas carol born of the hymns of Saturnalia; and that it is not known whether December 25 is the correct date Of the Christ child; or that people in Russia and in other countries celebrate in all earnestness and sol entnity another day as Christmas day, so strongly grounded is the Christmas belief, and so widespread has become the desire for a fitting observance of the day that the old forms have lost their pagan signifi- canoe like the holly and the mis- tletoe, which though once part of the heather rite, are now used al- most wholly for decorative effect. Few there are who know that the mistletoe was an object of special veneration among the Druids, and that it was gathered with great cer- emony; that the Yule log, since subject for poetry and a theme for song, was originally burned in hon or of Thor. the mythical god Of war. But this would not change our custom.
 The tendency has been forward steadily, to sane observance of the day, and from the riotousness of the celebration in King Albert's time when the Danes surprised hin> and cut his drunken army to pieces on Christmas night to the routing of the Hessians by the Continentals "a page from the history of the Revolutionary war-there were. and have been since, strong efforts mada to give greater somenity and rever- ence to the day instead of feastins and merry-making.
 -Ile ribaldry, licentiousness, and "nckedness which accompanied the Christmas celebrations so incensed the Puritans in England that it's very existence was threatened. They held that the rites practiced wera largely of pagan derivation (which 7 Turks and infidels would abhor to practice. An so great was the feeling against the Christmas GUS toms of the time that Round-head parliament abolished the three grand festivals of Christmas. East CT and Whitsuntide But this -ac- ton was met by riotins. and those who tiouted the holiday were rough ly handled. It was not until twelve years thereafter that Christmas again became holiday. The re- turn of royalty to power again brought back the festivities and ju bilees.
 And what was true in England was equally cogent in America. The anti-Christmas feelings came with the Puritan in the Mayfiower, and as early as 1921 it is recorded that Governor Bradford rebullel 'certaine lusty yongs men" who re- fused to Work on Christmas day would play at ''stoole ball" and pitching ye barr" In 1859 the bCAcI al court Ol MdSSdCIl uScliS lOJ- lowed in the wake of the parliament and by statute imposed fine on any one who observed Christmas day in any manner. The statute was repealed in 1881, but the Puri- tans continued their campaign against it's observance until the ea"- ly part of the nineteenth century.
 Even the Christmas tree has been shorn of all it's mystery and has no especial significance with the little folks for whom it is illuminated and bedecked other than as very pleas ing arrangeent upon which to hang the glittering toys. The "evergraen tree" of pagan origin has also un- dergone a process Of evolution The illuminated lever green tree was used in pagan festivals before the time of Christ At that time it