The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-12-25
TODAY IN HISTORY
ChrIatmas Day.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25.

OF the year. The question or whether
December 20 is really the anniversary OF
the birth OF Christ was for q long time
mooted one. In the earliest periods OF
which VIC have any record wc find this
feast was observed at various periods.
the LIST and the sth OF January being
the dates on which portion OF the
Christians celebrated II, others doing so
on March 20, the time OF the Jewish
Passover" while yet others selected Sep
tember 80 that being the Feast Of Tab
ernacles."
There wore those rlso who observed
It on April 30. while an authority writ
Christ was believed to have been born on
January d. For long time the Greeks
celebrated our Lords birth on the Feast
Of Epiphary. In a sermon preached by
ST. Chrysostom at Antioch on December
81. in 386, he gays: 1T is NOT ten years
since this day (Christmas. December 25)
was clearly known to us, but IL has been
familiar from the beginning TO those who
dwell In the west Tho Romans have
from the earliest days celebrated Christ-
mas on December rs, and thus from 81
Client tradition transmitted the knowl-
The Standardization sn accepted and
undoubted authority, says that The spe-
cial foast in honor of the Savior's birth
was introduced in the year 354 under
Pope Liberiue, and soon after in Con
stantInope IN 3Ts, but previous to this
the feast was celebrated upon Epiphany.
Chambers names Pope Julius as having
ritual. but II 354. the year named by the
"Kirchenle1ikon' is correct julius could
not have promulgated the office, for he
died In ab2. and Liberius was Chosen as
his successor.
The name given by the ancient Goths
and Saxons to tho festival OF tho win
ter solstice was Jal, or Yule. the latter
designation In the Scottish dialect Of
Christmas and preserved also in the
name OF the fule log. Perhaps the ETY.
greater discussion among antiquarians
The most probable derivation Of the
word Is from the Gothic "gigul.'' or
,,hIul.' the origin OF the modern word
wheel. end bearing the same eignlfi-
canoe. According to this very probable
explanation. the Yule festival received its
name from being the turning point OF the
year. or the period at which the fiery
ORD or day made 81 revolution in its am
nual circuit and entered his northern
Journey. A confirmation OF this view Is
a,Iorded by the circumstance that I'm the
old Clog almanacs wheel is the device
Guletide.
Al Etesent Christmas day. II somewhat
81. snot,, OF us ancient Gloriea and unmarked
by that hoisterous jolIty and cxuberauce
OF animal spirits which distinguished il
IN lhe time OF our ancestors, Is. never
,heIess; the holiday In which. of all others
throughout the year. all classes OF socl-
nty most generally participate. Partak-
Ing OF a religious character. the forenoon
OF the day is usually passed In church.
AFTER which: either at noon or eventime.
the reunited members OF the family as
semble around the Christmas board.
Separated as many Of these are during
the rest OF the year. they will make an
effort to meet together around the
Christmas hearth. The halIowed feelings
or domestic love and attachment, the
pleasing remembrance Of the past and
the Joyous anticlpatons of the future all
cluster around these family gatherings
and In the sacred associations with which
they are intertWlued. and In the active
deeds OF Kindness and benevolence which
they tend TO call forth, a reason may
almost be found OF the angelic message
to the shepherds OF Bethlehem; GLORY
to God In the highest, and on earth
peace and good will toward men"
Amid so many popular customs al
Christmas. full OF so much sweet and
smI0e poetry, there is perhaps none
more charming than that OF the Christ
mas carols, which celebrate In joyous and
Savior. The term Is believed TO be de-
rived from the Latin "cantara," to sing
and "rolai' an interjection expressive OF
JOY. The practice appears TO be as
ancient as the celebration OF Christmas
The decking of churches, houses and
shops with evergreens at Christmas
springs from a period far anterior to the
revelation OF Christianity, and seems
proXlmately TO be derived from the GUS
tom prevalent during the Saturnalia Of
the inhabitants OF Rome ornanenting
their temples and dwellings with green
flowers and green boughs MS a means OF
decora ton is almost instructive In human
nature; and we accordingly find scarcely
any nation, civilized or savage, with
which II has not become more or less
familiar,