The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-12-12
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS.

While the exact date Of the origin of
the Christmas celebration is not known.
1t probably had its beginning in the
reign of the Roman Emperor Anto-
minus Plus ~(13s-161 A. d.. The first
trace Of such a celebration. however,
is found at the time Of the Emperor
Commodus Q80-192 A. Do. Later in
h reign Of Emperor Diocletian (284-
805 A. d.. we are told that a body Of
Christians who had assembled In q
church to celebrate the birth Of Christ
were locked in and the building burned
to the ground by order Of the en-
peror.
The modern Christmas celebration
grew out Of nj superseded certain
earlier popular festivals which occurred
about the time of the winter ~solstice.
The Norsemen had held q celebration,
Of which we have record, in the second
century. called the Yule feast GUILE
probably coming from the same root
as the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to
make merry, or keep festival), which
lasted from the 18th of December to
the 9Th Of January. and was in COM
memoration of the FIERY sun wheel"
The Romans also had a nature festival.
the "Saturnalia," which lasted seven
days. from December II 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 auspiciousness Of this change, very
Joyous.
The Roman church, finding this
"~saturnalia" festival deeply intrenched
the same time altered 1t In intention and
observance, adding to it a grander
liturgy. It was no longer to be ma
tural delight at the prospect f spring
the conquest OF the sun over cold and
barrenness-but peculiarly Christian
- - t. ~ A. - - H. Ga -
ness with universal life and warmth,
which the feast set forth. The day was
put at the close Of the heather fes-
ttval and the presents were e to
symbolic h "unspeakable gift OF God
the Savior"
not been determined. but there is rea-
son to believe that 1t is not the pres
ent date upon which Christmas is OBJ
served-December 25-for this was the
height OF the rainy season in Judea,
and shepherds could hardly nave been
However, the authority had example
Of the Roman church, and perhaps the
Inconvenience Of celebrating two such
different events as the birth and mani
hesitation Of Christ upon the same day.
caused the Eastern church. as early as
the latter part Of the fourth century, to
separate the events and keep the birth
OF Christ on the 25th Of December.
The custom Of decorating houses and
churches with evergreens. as we'll 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 a GENTLE
man to kiss q lady discovered beneath
the mistletoe Dough Is a very old cus-
tom, which has descended from feudaI
times, but whose real origin and sig
n%ifcance are lost.
The use of holly mi the Christmas
tree seem to be traceable to the Rom
an "Saturnalia,' the latter probably
having first been imported into Ger
many with the c%onquering legtons of
Drusus. Holly has been long used for
decorating purposes because Of its
beauty, he bright scarlet berries
against the dark persistent leaves bro
ducing a fine contrast, and also BECAUSE
Of its availability at this season Of the
year.
Santa Claus originally introduced
by the Dutch settlers OF New York. is
the American representative of the
German "Knecht Rupert" FORMERLY.
and still In some of the smaller villages
OF north Germany, the presents made
by parents to their children were tsent
to some person who, arrayed In high
boots. white robe, a mask, an {nor-
nous flax wig. ETC.. becoming known as
"Knecht Rupert" would go from house
to house, be received with great dour-
tesy by the parents. call for the thil-
dren. and bestow upon them tha in
tended gifts according to the character
which ne heard from tho parents. after
severe 1nQu1rieA