Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-13
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.

While the exact date Of the origin OF
the Christmas celebration is not Known.
it probably had its beginning in the
reign of the Roman Emperor Anto-
minus Plus 03S-l61 a. Do. The first
trace of such a celebration. however.
is found at the time of the Emperor.
Conlmodus lSO-192 A. ID. Later I'm
the reign of Emperor Diocletian t2S4-
305 A. ID. We are told that a BODY of
Christians who had assembled in II
church to celebrate the birth OF Christ
We're locked in and the building burned
to the ground by order of the en-
perOr.
The modern Christmas celebration
grew out OF and superseded certain
earlier popular festivals which occurred
about the time OF the winter solstice.
h Norselnen had held "a celebration,
of which we have record. in the second
century, called the Yule feast lYule
probably coming from the anne root
as the Anglo-SaXnn word meaning to
make merry, or keep festivaD, which
lasted from the 18th of December to
the 9th of january. and was i'm com
nemoration of the fiery sun wheel"
The Romans also had a nature festival.
the 'Saturnalia.' which lasted seven
days. from December IL to 24-the time
during which the year was said to turn
from the death of winter to the life OF
spring. and which Was. on account OF
the a-uspiciOusness of this change. very
joyous.
Tho Roman church, finding this
"Saturnalia' festival deeply intrcnched
in popular enteem. adopted 1t and at
the same time altered 1t In intention and
observance, adding to it a grander
liturgy. 1t was no longer to be ma
tural delight at the prospect f spring
the conquer, of. the sun over cold and
M gro N ar q - If,t 4..ss IL.
Joy in the rise of the Son Of Righteous
ness with universal life and warmth,
which the feast set forth. The day was
put at the close OF tho heather fes-
tival and the presents were meant to
sNrnbolize the ",inspeakable gift of God
the Savior"
The exact date OF The nativl.y has
not been determined. but there is rca-
son TO believe that it is not the pres
ent date upon which Christmas is OBJ
servcd-Deoember 25-for this WAS the
height of the rainy season in Judea.
and shepherds could hardly have been
watching fOcks by night i'm the field..
However, the authority a exampl.
of the Roman church. and perhaps the
Inconvenience Of celebrating two sucf,
different events AS the birth and mani
festation Of Christ upon the same day.
caused the Eastern church az early as
the latter part OF the fourth century. to
separat" the events and keep the birth
of Christ on the 18th Of December
The custom OF decorating houses and
churches with everyreens. as well as
the use Of mistletoe at the Christmas
season. is derived from practices of the
ancient Druids. to whom the latter
was sacred. The right Of Il gentle
man to kiss n lady discovered beneath
the mistletoe bough is a very old Gus
torn, which has descended from feudal
times. but whose real origin and sig
n%ificaEce are lost.
The use Of holly and the Christmas
tree seem to be traceable tc the Rom
an "Saturnalia.' the latter probably
having first been imported into Ger
many with the conquering legions OF
Drusus. Holly has been long used for
decorating purposes because OF its
beauty. the bright scarlet berrie.
against the dark persistent leaves pro-
ducing u fine contrast, and also beca,lse