The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-12-19
THE ORIGIN Of
XMAS CUSTOMS
PROF. BROWNING TELLS SCHOOL
PUPILS HISTORY OF SEA.
SONS CUSTOMS
IS INTERESTING TO YOUNG AND OLD
Christmas Customs Were, for a Long
Time, a Blending Of Pagan Rites
And Christmas Festivals.

On Monday Superintendent Brown
ing gave an entertaining talk to the
school children on the origin OF our
Christmas customs AS this is a SUBJ
ject of interest to old and young alike
at this particular season we print the
talk in full:
Our Christmas customs were, for a
long time, a blending Of Pagan rites
and Christmas festivals.
There were SO many gay and happy
festivals in honor of the gods, which
people Of the early times could not be
induced to give up for the sterner
truth Of the religion of Christ, that the
Christians grated them into their re-
ligion Hence sprang the so-called
Manager Songs" and a multitude of
Christmas carols as we'll as Christmas
dramas. Hence also originated, at a
later period, the Christ-troes, or
Christmas trees adorned with lights
and gifts.
The fir-tree or some specie of the fir
tree Is used for a Christmas tree, be-
the fall of Adam, it was the tree Of
Life. When Eve ate of 1t, the leaves
shriveled up, SO the legend says, and
split apart, becoming the sharp needle
like spines they now are; the tree
ceased to bear fruit and lost its frag-
rance. On the coming of Christ, THE
New Tree of Life," it was restored to
its honor, and the delicate woody
smell OF the tree, now recalls the
legend.
Our idea Of Santa Claus coming
down the chimney, originated from the
common custom the ancient Latins
had of building huge fires and gather
ing round the hearth, while the god
dess of homes and plenty came down
through the roaring flames to whisper
words of peace, plenty and comfort to
all. Little by little, the eight tiny
raindeer, and the load of presents
have been brought into this custom.
From the Druids, we have borrowed
the use of the mistletoe. To them, 1t
meant an everlasting life-not exist
ing of itself, but kept alive by some
unknown power. AS mistletoe will
grow on a tree even after the tree
dies, they had good proof of belief.
The early Christians transplante5 it
into our religion to mea that Christ
is the "True Tree of Everlasting Life"
The use of holly came after the
death OF Christ. The sharp spines on
the leaves represent the crown Of
thorns, and the red berries, the drops
Of blood.
There Is a tree much like our cotton
wood, called the "quaking aspen"
The legend says that the cross was
made from its wood, and from that
day to this its leaves have never
been allowed to rest, but must tremble.
tremble in grief except n hour Of
the year. Then from twelve to one
on Christmas Eve, 1t may rest, be-
cause its wood also furnished the
manger.
From the Saxons came the Yule-
tide. Some accounts say that "Yule"
means "jollity." In the southern
states, the slaves were allowed their
freedom so long as the Yule log (back
log) continued to burn and 1t was our
own ingenious uncle Ned" who
thought Of the plan to soak a green
gum log some days in de creek" be-
fore burning it to lengthen their days
of freedom.
The wassial-bowl held a mixture Of
ed apples. The word itself means,
health be 10 you" The custom orig
mated in England.
Mince pies were eaten as solemnly,
in those days, as bread and wine are
now at our Lords Supper. Each part
of it had its meaning. The crust was
Christ's body which was broken for
sin; the meat was an ox's heart, and
called to mind the oxen in the stalls,
and the manger where Christ lay; the
spices were to represent the offerings
from the Wise Men Of the East, the
Mali. II we stop to think, these offer
ings OF gold, f~rankincense, and myrrh.
were the first Christmas gifts.
A great many legends, also. have
grown up about Christ's birth. You