University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1913-12-19

never sere,
Old Christmas comes to close the
year."
In that solemn midnight centuries
ago, when the heralding angels pro-
claimed peace on earth, good will to
men," great gift was made to hu-
manity. Not, however, until four
hundred years later was the signifi-
canoe of this wonderful gift commem-
GRATED by the church.
The exact date of the birth of
Christ is not known. After Christi
anity was established, prejudice
against the custom of birthday cele-
brations died out. Pope julius I, di-
rected Saint Cyril to ascertain the
correct date. He reported that the
Western churches observed Christmas
on December 25, while other churches
kept it in January, March, April, May
or September. Pope julius then set
December 25 as Christmas Day, and
our observance of that date has come
down to us from that decision.
In all the year there is no day which
fills the world with such joy and
tenderness as Christmas. 1t is the
time when the fire of generous impulse
burns high the time when our bet
ter selves express their ideals. What
ever may be said of the danger of
Christmas giving degenerating into a
commercial "give-and-take," it is still
a real pleasure to thousands who love
children and pity the poor to give in
the spirit of Him whose birth the
day celebrates.
Pagan Rites First ChristmaseS.
The earliest Christmas festivals
were modified forms of pagan rites or
customs In the Middle Ages, Christ
mas was celebrated with great pomp
and ceremony. Music, pageantry and
Celebrations characterized the cele-
brations. But a reaction followed,
and the Christmas festival lost its
sacredness. Then came the lords of
misrule, who made a riotous, bolster
Gus affair of this once holy day. Drink
ing, gambling and dancing took the
place of impressive ceremonies.
Later, in the days of the Reforma-
ton, the Calvinists and the Puritans
opposed the observation of Christmas.
But the festivities could not be abol-
ished. The Christmas spirit ruled, and
today all Teutonic peoples celebrate
the nativity of the Babe of Bethlehem.
Christmas is observed in different
countries according to their own ma
tional characteristics. The Norwe-
gians make much of the virtue of
hospitality. Their first courtesy is to
offer a pipe of tobacco. At their din
ner which is simpler than in other
countries, national hymns are sung.
Patriotism is a Norwegian's strong
trait
In Sweden, where cleanliness is
nearer godliness than elsewhere,
houses are completely renovated for
the Christmas festival 1t is the Gus
tom there to tie a sheaf of corn to a
pole and place it in the garden for the
birds Christmas dinner.
Urn OF Fate,' Italy's Christmas Tree.
Italians prepare for themselves
sumptuous banquets. Fish takes the
place of the American turkey. The
urn of fate" is to the Italian child
rem what the Christmas tree is to
young people of other countries. Child
ren and friends, in order of age, are
hidden to put their hands into an urn
and draw their lot.
In old England it was the custom
for the serfs to carry load of wood
into the hall and their dinner lasted
as long as the wet wheel" burned
This wet wheel was green wood and
increased in size each year. The
bringing of the Yule log came to be a
principal part of English Christmas
ceremonies Each member OF the fam
lily proposed to toast on the log be-
fore it was lighted. Part of the log
was preserved carefully to light the
Yule log of the succeeding year and
to insure good luck. A Yule candle
of enormous size was always placed
on the table. A plum pudding, served
in alcohol flames, is even now an alb
solute essential to an Englishman's
Christmas menu.
The boar's head is also essential to
well regulated English dinner. 1t is con-
sidered not only good to eat, but also
The origin of this dish
is as follows: A student of Queens
College, Oxford, is said to have been
walking in Shotover Forest. studying
A boar rushed out at him.
but with great presence of mind he
crammed the book down the beasts
throat and choked it. The student
then applied some principles of philos-