The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
YULETIDE TRADITION
Meaning of Tree, MistletOe,
Holly, and Gifts.
THE LEGEND OF ST. WILFRID
Holly said to BE the Bush in Which
Jehovah Appeared 10 MOses-Ixiss-
ing Under MistIetOe Relic of
scandinavian Myth-'The story of
of BaIder and Of LOki.

We are apt. most OF Us. 10 observe the
customs and traditions of the Yuletide
with the feeling that they had their birth
with the first of the greatest festivals of
Christendom. The Christmas tree. the
gift-giving. the candles, the holly, and
the mstletoe have become so Identified
with our celebration Of Christmas that
they seem as inherent and peculiar 10 il
as the radiant points to the Star of the
Nativity. And yet it Is to antiquity and
'heathendom that we owe the customs we
observe. the stock phrases We utter, and
event the mince pie, without which no
Christmas dinner is complete. The Ger
mans, the Scandinavians, the Jews. the
Romans. the Goths. and the Saxons have
all contributed TO make our Christian
festival.
Merry Christmas" It is on our lips
from the stroke Of twelve that ends the
vigil Of Christmas Eve until the last can
die has burned out on Christmas night
If we think of it at all. We accept ''mer-
Ey as meaning lively, sprightly, and
gleesome and wonder a bit, perhaps at
its preference. As a matter Of fact, when
the English first used the old Saxon word
IN this connection. spelling it "merrie. -
it meant simply pleasant and agreeable
but we cling TO it in spite Of its changed
character.
Founded on German Legend.
The day before Christmas we bring into
the house a great fr tree that is made
the center Of the festivities It is an old
German legend that has provided us with
this pretty custom. st. Wilfrid the tale
runs, was one day cutting down one OF
the sacred oaks OF the Druids. Presently
a great wind seized il and 1t fell, split in
four pieces. Behind Il St. Wilfrid saw a
young fir tree standing stanch and IN
harmed. pointing a green spire to the
heavens He thereupon proclaimed It a
holy tree and the tree Of the Christ-ehild
because its leaves were ever green and
its majestic spire pointed heavenwaTd.
He asked the people TO gather about it
in their own homes, where it should shell
ter nothing but loving gifts.
On Christmas Eve we illuminate the
tree with many hickering candles. unless
we prefer safety 10 sentiment, when we
make use Of the electric-lighted devices.
One may choose among several pictur-
esque accounts of the origin Of this prac-
tce. In medieval times when the for
ests seemed peOpled with none but sacred
trees, there was a tradition OF particular
holiness being invested in an Illuminated
tree. Then the ancient Jews held Feast
OF Light about Christmas time, in which
candles were an important feature, so
that their use may. oddly enough. have
been thus adopted by the Christians. The
huge Yule candle signifed the coming Of
the light into the world The most beau
uful idea is that our use of candles is de-
rived from the fact that probably when
Christ was born tWinkling lights were
burning in every house
The holly and mistletOe. Indispensable
for holiday decoration, were originally
identified with pagan festivals. There is
a tradition that holly Is the bush IN
which Jehovah appeared 10 Moses. The
misuetOe was an object Of great venera-
ton 10 the DrUids, although only when il
grew upon an oak tree, The propriety
of kissing under the mistletoe is a relic
OF an old Scandinavian myth. It seems
that Balder, the Apollo of the North.
was hated by one Iold because every
thing that springs from fire, air, earth,
and water had given promise not 10
hurt the former handsome gentleman.
Whoever it was had thus coerced all
things OF the earth and sea had somehow
neglected TO mention the matter TO the
insignificant mistetoe.
Little Good II Did Him.
Lod straightway made an arrow OF
mistletoe. and being an unprincipled
chap, induced blind Holder to shoot Bal
der. Little good IL did him, however, for
the gods restored Bladder TO life at once
and presented the mistletoe TO the Cod
dess OF Love to keep. Every one who
passed under il received a kiss to show
that il was the emblem Of love, and not
death. The popularity of mistIetoe was
undated for centuries but one old writ
er says: 'Alistletoe was abandoned in the
Christmas decking of churches, together
with kissing Al the services, because both
We're found TO set the young ladies and
young gentlemen a-reading OF the mar
riage service
And dear old Santa Claus, or St. Mich
Olas, or Kris Kringle, as you prefer
what delightful myths from antiquity
have presented him with his RENDERS
and his whiskers and pack of toys! The
Scandinavian legend relates the coming
of Odin, the winter god, who visited
earth at the time OF the winter solstice
or feast. Odin rode a white horse and.
preceded by wolves and ravens. was sup
posed To lead an army of souls that had
died during the year. AS Christianity
triumphed It was only over the unbap-
tized that he was thought to have power,
and his army came to be composed only
Of the souls Of children TO whom he be
came a friend. Eventually he was said
to bring the toys and gifts TO the chill
dren on earth We are satisfied now to
tell the children that he comes down the
chimney with his pack OF gifts and dis
appears without being beheld by mortal
eyes. IN a little Moravian village in
Emaus. Pa, which is the only place in
this country where the custom Is thus
observed. St. Nicholas, or Peltznickel, Is
yearly impersonated by some villager,
and visits every household on Christmas
Eve 10 distribute gifts
The mince pie is a survival or the i'm
mense pies that the early Christians used
made TO carry out the idea of the man
ger, After several centuries the pies
We're made smaller in size, but were stin
made 10 carry out the idea OF the mang-
ger, in a sort of coffin shape