Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10

things, was the result of the workings
of medieval imagination through several
centuries The idea attached to the well
established love q the Bishop of Myra
for the young, and by degrees the myth
| blossomed out into full development In
story and poetry. 1t is the product of the
German mind, and possibly is derived
from some Of the old folk lore ante-dat-
! ing the introduction of Christianity into
| the forests Of the fatherland.
"Yuletide" and the Yule log are Of
scandinavian origin, and were brought
| into England by the Norsemen. The cut
ting Of the Yule log. huge piece of oak,
| was upon Christmas eve 1t was accom-
panied by much frolic and ceremony. The
log was rolled into position in the great
fireplace Of the time and lighted at sun
set. 1t burned for twelve days, and a
piece of 1t was put away with which to
being a perpetuation of the eternal light
which the burning Of the Yule log typi-
fed.
Until quite recent times it was GUS
tomary in England for the court each
parish and sometimes wealthy families
to appoint the Lord of Misrule" in con-
nection with the Christmas festivities.
His appointment was usually on Hal
loween and his rule lasted until after the
New Year. The Lord Of Misrule was
master Of ceremonies at the revels. and
it was part of his duty to provide enter
tainment for the court. the parish or the
household His power was absolute, and
1t was he who, In the guise of st. Mich
olas. distributed the gifts on Christmas
eve. Card playing, pantomimes. mask
dancing and festivities Of every kind
came under his jurisdiction. He looked
after the decorations. In England holly
and Ivy We're the chief materials for the
purpose, and i'm all households there was
good natured rivalry between husbands
and wives to see whether the husband
shC<Ild first bring the prickly holly the
wifi. nal H.
hold, indicating the superiority Of the
one or the other in the family councils
for the coming year.
The use of evergreens in Christmas
decorations came from the Norsemen and
was indicative of the perennial youth of
the god Frey. deity of sunlight and hus-
bandry and the growing forces of nature
The fir tree was the emblem Of the Nor
wegian god.
The use Of the mistletoe in Christmas
decoration was derived from the Druids
of Britain. The custom of decorating the
houses with green plants, shrubs and
branches was observed at the winter SOL
stice, with the idea that the sylvan spirits
were carried in the branches into the
homes of the people, where they We're Sc
cure against frost until the following
spring.
The mistletoe. a parasitic plant growing
sparsely upon the oak tree, was held in
sacred reverence by the ancient Druids.
1t became a part of the Christmas cele-
bration. because of its connection with
the worship of the god Friga, who pre-
sided over the affairs of love and mar
riage. In British houses the hanging mis-
tletOe gave young men the privilege of
kissing their Sweethearts beneath it, and
many were the ruses to bring the wary
maiden of the family beneath the plant.
Legend connects the mistletoe with the
forbidden tree in the Garden Of Eden.
A pretty story is told Of the ORIGIN of
the Christmas tree in Germany, whence 1t
| was brought into England and given to
the rest of the world. 1t is said that
Henry of Wartenstein left his young wife
| Gertrude and went to the Holy Land in
years there and returned. From the story
| it appears that he spent some time in
| Italy. Greece and Asia Minor and 1t is
possible that other eyes seemed as bright
| to him as those of his true wife at home.
! Upon his return to Wartenstein he soon
| became absent-minded. then morose and
| fault finding. His lament was that the
| cold climate of his native land the mar
row outlook Of the valley in which stood
| his castle and the humdrum life Of the
overload were not to his liking. He longed
| for the sunny skies of the south and the
| free life enjoyed there.
fpouring out his heart longings to a. friend
and set about winning back his love and
attention. The Christmas feast was near
at hand, and Gertrude entered into q
conspiracy with the parish priest to give
| the overload taste Of the southern skies
| in his German home. With her own hands
Gertrude cut fir tree, placed it in the
| chapel. adorned it with emblems of the
nativity. covered 1t with candles and
snow roses. gave it a riot of color from
silks and ribbons. and the good priest
| provided lively music for the Christmas
! mass
! Wartensten went with his wife to the
chapel with cynical speech and morose
| temper, while she was dressed like
| fairy and in happier mood than he had
seen her for months. AS he entered the
chapel, glaring with light and Respondent
| with color, while the softest music filled
choir and chancel, his heart smote him
as he discovered what his wife had done
ito bring to him a remembrance of his
| travels in southern lands. Then and there
Wartenstein declared fidelity to fatherland
and marital vows. and went out of the
| chapel on Christmas eve a happy man.
Since that day the Christmas tree has
been part of the Christmas worship in
Wartenstein and throughout all Germany
and has gone outside to the world at
large
| Part of the duties Of the Lord of Mis-
/ rule in England was to provide tooth
some dishes for the Christmas guests.
He was put to his wits to provide some