The daily sentinel., 1909-12-17

Few probably know Just how De-
S,-ember 25 originally happened to be
-0xad as Christmas day
About $40 A. ID. st. Cyril made
4ztreful inquiry as to the date of the
birth of Christ and reported Decem-
her 25 as the correct date. Pope Ju-
iius accepted this. and some years
saier established the festival at Rome
an this date. Before the close of the
century 1t was accepted by every ma
zion in christendom.
The actual year of the nativity is
unknown. and 1t is certain that the
month and day can never be recov-
-szred They were absolutely unknown
20 early fathers of the church. Crit
ios generally accept b. C. as the
probable year. There are only two
known dates to work with. Herod
.he Great died ia years after the
founding of Rome: that Is to say, he
died b. G. as we know 1t. We know
that there was an eclipse of the moon
IN March IL, 4 b. c., on which night
Herod ordered some Jewish rabbis to
oe burnt for melting their pupils to
Lear down the golden eagle. We also
know that Herod was dead before the
passover, which took place on April
W, b. c. Christ, therefore. must
the year 4 B. G.
Tradition says that Christmas was
nrst observed in 9S A. d., and was
ordered to be held as a solemn feast
os Pope 'relesphorus in 1877 A. D.
The first traces of its observance are
found about 140 A. ID. II is not
ssnovn who first celebrated It, nor
where. nor how. There is no record
of any commemoration of it during
1he life of Christ. as the early Chris
tians looked upon the celebrations of
birthdays as heathenish. and even
abe celebration of the Lord himself
sras not excepted.
The custom of making presents at
Christmas was derived from the Ro-
mans, who made gifts to one another
during the great winter festival, the
Satnrnalia. The early Christians
made presents to their children on
christmas morning under the pre-
sense that they had been dropped by
the Christ Child in passing over the
house at night.
The words Santa Claus" are an
English perversion of the Neither
lands name "Sinter Klaas,' meaning
ST Nicholas. the patron saint of chill
sfren. The name is also used to des-
Netherlands is celebrated on Decem-
ber s.
The real st. Nicholas, II is said.
vas the bishop of Myra in Lycia, who
died about 326 A. ID. His personal
history is almost entirely unknown:
buJ numerous legends show him to
have been a most generous and kind
~ man,
In no q of 80 M gYt 1
a custom for someone to dress up as
a bishop on st. Nicholas eve and dis
tribute presents to the children. The
custom, however. is practically OBJ
aoletc St Nicholas having been su-
perseded by Santa Claus,
Why Santa Claus is always repre-
sented MS an old man no one knows.
some writer's claim that II dates back
10 the Priapus of Virgil and Petroni-
ns, who held in his capncious bosom
an manner OF ruits and dainties Il
rs more probable, however that the
jolly kindly character OF Santa Claus
Us easier to show as an old man with
white hair and ruddy face.
In some parts of Germany Santd
Claus is called Pelsniohol (NieholAs
OF the Furs) from the fur cap and
coat which the impersonator wore.
snd 1t seems to have been the custom
for many years to associate Santa
Clans with the north.
1t was formerly the custom to have
someone impersonate Santa Claus and
distribute gifts to the children in per-
son. Gradually this custom died out.
and the presents were left for them
on the hearthstone. AS the giver
was no longer seen by the children,
some explanation was necessary. and
the little ones were told that Santa
Claus had come down the chimney,
left their presents and departed the
same way. Undoubtedly the poem
. Twas the Night Before Christ
mas" published in the United States