Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-12-16


1MA " that time has been cele-
SSWNlK brated for many ages with
y-6@s%Eaz- rejoicing. Long before the
Christian era the pa
gan 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
have longer hours of light and sun
shine and the reawakening Of ma
ture. Therefore sing and be joyful
The Egyptians held a festival In honor
OF the birth Of their god Horus. The
Romans called 1t 1.-The birthday Of the
inylncible sum-" and dedicated 1t to
Bacchus, rejoicing with him that the
sun was about to return and revivify
the vineyards The Persians held a
1esucal OF uncommon splendor as the
birthday of Mithras, the mediator, a
spirit of the sun. In the north coun-
try among the worshipers of Odin it
was nature festival Of riotous feast
ang, because the fast of winter was
approaching it's end. 1t has been a
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 call Christmas
side the feast of peace and good will.
AS Christianity brought it's blessings
10 follow the good of past religions, it
seems only right that the birth of
Christ should come at time of gen
erai rejoicing 1t made it easier for
the pagans to turn to the Saviour of
Light, at time when the returning
sunshine in the skies was symbolical
OF the feeling of brotherly kindness
which was taught in the love of a lit
tie child. And so as early as the sec
ono century the church celebrated
Christmas day when the heather were
honoring their gods
The Christmas celebration. as we
know 1t, is but a reincarnation of the
Yuletide of the Anglo Saxon tribes
Singing is a proper way to manifest
Joy. 1t 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 Ffdelis,' are convivial songs
Come hither, We faithful;
Triumphantly sing;
Come, see the manger,
Our Saviour and King!
To Bethlehem hasten,
With joyous accord.
Oh, come We, come hither,
To worship the Lord!
The contrast lies in "a Carole
Bringing in Ye Bore's Heed"
Capri apri defero.
Reddens laudes domino.
The Bore's head in hand bring l,
With garlands gay and rosemary;
And | pray you all sing merely.
Quis estils in convivio.
The church of the early days haG
some of the wisdom of modern socia
service. 1t entertained it's parishion
ers in worldly way as well as in
stilled religious doctrine. The mys
terry, miracle plays and mummerie:
enacted. under the direction of tn.
clergy rehearsed the scene in til.
stable. These plays gave rise to ,
number of legendary carols. TIL,
Cherry Tree Carol was popular /,
London in the last century. It related
the story of the Virgin begging JOSEPH
to pluck some cherries for her. an,
when he rufusing, the unborn bah,
speaks and tells his mother to reac]
out her hand and the tree will how
before her, and the carol goes ON Il
say:
Then bespake Joseph.
/ have done Mary wrong" etc.
Another carol of this time In full @
beautiful imagery.
cas- Joseph was a-walkng,
He heard an angel sing
The night shall be born,
Our heavenly king;
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 {,
miliar:
while shepherds watched their f1ock
by night
All seated on the ground.
The angel Of the Lord came down
And glory shone around.