Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-12-18
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1s, 1918.
Significance Of the
Christmas Candles.

We three kings of the Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain
Following yonder star.
Oh star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still preceding,
Guide US to Thy perfect light.
Christmas Hymn.
Our Christmas visions of glowing
trees and Yuletide cheer is conferred
in light-in the burning Christmas
taper that typifes to our almost un-
conscious thought the Star OF Bcthle-
hem, the first Christmas candle light
ed for the Christian world-that ra-
diant star about which angels cluster
ed in robes of light, while Heaven
and earth thrilled to the song OF
"Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace, good will toward men,"
Wherever the traditions of Chris
tan observance of Christmas are found
they are associated with the lighted
candle. Always the star-like waxen
taper is associated with the celebra-
ton of the nativity of Christ, even as
the cross of faith is symbolic of the
Redeemer's death and resurrection.
In rural Russia on Christmas Eve,
as soon as the evening star appears,
feast is spread that begins with the
distribution of the blessed wafer and
later all the humble tenants of an es-
tate repair to festal gathering at the
mansion of the noble land owner,
where again the Christmas star is re-
flected in a great tree cleaning with
myriad burning candles.
In certain parts of Austria, house
owners place, upon Christmas Eve,
lighted candles in the windows OF
houses that the tender Christ Child
may not stumble through the snow
in passing through the village. Also
in Scandinavian villages Christmas
Eve vigil is kept with the reading OF
the Bible and the observance of fam
lily worship in every household and
candles are left burning in windows
all night, to give light and guidance
to the Kristine who brings good gifts.
In Spain on Christmas Eve only
blood relations gather to eat and drink
together beneath the family roof and
every home lights up its tiny oil lamp
and every image of the Virgin is IL
lumined with a burning taper. In
Ella, near Cordova, Spain, there is a
beautiful belief that upon Christmas
Eve as the clock strikes II the Virgin
bringing with her gifts, visits every
house where she can find an image or
portrait of her Son, and many trust
ing girl kneels down in robes of white
before her humble picture of the Babe
and prays and hears rustling in the
room and thinks the Queen of Heav-
en- is come to bestow a Christmas
benediction, and turns and 10! it is
her mother and the Virgins blessing
is the mothers kiss"
In olden times in Tenby, Wales,
at 4 o'clock on Christmas morning,
it was customary for the young men
to assemble with torches to escort the
rector from his residence to the church
and at Quainton, Buckinghamshire,
England, in 1853, when effort was
made to substitute the new style cal
endar for the old, 1000 persons went
upon the night Of December "a with
lighted candles and lanterns to view
a blackthorn bush blossom, because
the bush was known to be slip from
the famous Glastonbury thorn that
always budded upon December oath,
was full blown upon the day follow
ing and shed its bloom by night. No
bud was found upon the bush and it
was agreed by all that December %
(new style) could not be the right
Christmas day and so vehemently re-
fused to honor the day in accordance
with accustomed rites that the min
listers Of the neighboring villages thot
it expedient to give notice that old
Christmas Day now known as Twelfth
Night, should be as holy as before.
The famous hawthorn tree of Glas-
tonbury Abbey was supposed to have
sprung from the staff of Joseph of
Aramathea, who, visiting England in
his latter years, fixed the staff in the
ground with his own hands upon