St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-12-24

AZ ~ y
@ HE twenty-ffth of Deem
.KA, Der, rather the week about
VI n that time has been cele-
NNE brated for many ages with
rejoicing. Long before the
Christian era the pa
San astronomers decided that these
were the shortest days before the sun
returned to northern lands to bring
another spring and seed time and har-
vest The dreary winter was at its
worst. and the coming days would
nave longer hours of light and sun
SHINE and the reawakening of ma
tnre. Therefore sing and be joyful.
The Egyptians held festival in honor
q the birth of their god Horus. The
Romans called It "the birthday of the
lnVlncfble sum-" and dedicated it to
bacchus, rejoicing with him that the
sun was about to return and revivify
the vineyards. The Persians held a
testicai OF uncommon splendor as the
birthday Of Mithras, the mediator.
spirit Of the sun. In the north coun.
Try among the worshipers of Odin 1t
Was nature festival of riotous feast
Ing. because the fast of winter was
approaching its end. 1t has been
time Of universal celebration accord
Ing to ancient written history since
the beginning, and obscure tribes in
remote nations have legends of their
own about what we cali Christmas.
tide the feast Of peace and good will.
Az Christianity brought its blessings
to follow the good of past religions, it
seems only right that the birth OF
Christ should come at time of gen.
eral rejoicing. 1t made 1t easier for
the pagans to turn to the Saviour of
Light. at a time when the returning
sunshine in the skies was symbolical
OF the feeling of brotherly kindness
which was taught in the love of lit
tie child. And SO as early as the sec
ond century the church celebrated
Christmas day when the heather were
h0noring their gods.
The Christmas celebration, as we
know 1t, is but reincarnation of the
Yuletide Of the Anglo Saxon tribes.
Singing is proper way to manifest
Joy. It delights the singer and gives
pleasure to others. The churchly car
OILS were not enough for the hearty
feeling The pagan feasting remains
And so with that divine old carol.
"Adeste Fidelis." are convivial songs
Come hither. ye faithful:
Triumphantly sing;
Come. see the manger,
Our Saviour and King!
To Bethlehem hasten.
With joyous accord!
oh, come ye. come hither.
To worship the Lord!
The contrast lies in "A Carole
Bringing In Ye Bore's Heed"
Capri april defero,
Reddens laudes domino.
The Bore's head in hand bring I.
With garlands gay and rosemary:
And pray you all sing merely.
Outs estils in convivio.
The church of the early days had
some of the wisdom of modern social
service. 1t entertained its parishion-
era In worldly way as well as in
stilled religious doctrine. The mys-
fery miracle plays and mummeries
enacted under the direction of the
clergy rehearsed the scene in the
stable. These plays gave rise to a
number of legendary carols. The
"Cherry Tree Carol was popular In
London in the last century. 1t related
The story Of the Virgin begging Joseph
IN MUCK some cherries for her, and
when he rufusing. the unborn babe
speaks and tells his mother to reach
mt her hand and the tree will bow
before her. and the carol goes on to
say:
Then bespake Joseph,
/ have done Mary wrong" ETC.
another carol of this time is full of
beautiful imagery.
s"As Joseph was a-walking,
He heard an angel sing
The night shall be born.
our heavenly hkh6p
He neither shall be born
In house nor in hall.
Nor in the place Of Paradise,
But In an ox's stall" etc.
This is in the same spirit as our IA
miliar:
.Nhile shepherds watched their focks
by night
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around.
.Fear not" said he flor mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mini;
.f,lad tidings of great joy bring
10 you and all mankind"
xnd who would forget the swing Of
melody. and the charity taught in
..Good King Weneslaus looked forth
On the least Of Stephen"
He saw the beggar gathering fuel
- tbe snow that lay round about"
srd calls to his servants to bring him
,obea and wine and to fetch the poor
man In from the cold.
g the rural districts the nature fes-
t,val lived long after the church had
takan the feast. There were remains
a tree worship and sacrifice 70 70