The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-21
OLD CHRISTMAS
CUSTOMS AGAIN
TO Be OBSERVE
this festival occasion.

Christ 4. Mass" ihdirating the Natiy-I
ity OF Christ and there have been,
found many different ways OF spell
ing the word. Christmas, Krysomas
and Xtemas are some Of the forms
found III early English writings.
There has been an incessant discus
sion among the scientists and critics
whether or not December IS is the
correct period of the year Christ was
born, but It still is a matter OF doubt
One of the contentious advanced Is
founded on the fact that Sir Isaac
Newton in his Commentary on the
Prophecies OF Daniel. asserted that
the Nativity feast, like practically all
other ecclesiastical anniversaries was
fixed originally at cardinal points OF
the year without reference to the
dates of the incidents which they COM
memorated, and by which, through
the lapse of time, 1t was impossible to
ascertain. y,
Thus the Annunciation of the
Virgin, the Feast OF Saint Michael and
the birth Of Christ were set, the lat
ter at the time OF the winter solstice.
In other words Christmas was fixed
at the time of the year when the most
celebrated festivities of the ancients
were observed in honor of the return
OF the sun, which ut the winter
solstice begins to regain power grad
ually.
Yule Festival.
The Saxons and other Inhabitants
of the north at this season held a fes-
| tival in honor of Thor, at which time
there was much festivity aud relig-
ious rites. This occasion was term
cd Yule, or julie, a primitive word
| the idea OF the return of ola Sol The
Bacchanalia and Saturna1ia Of the
i Romans was a festival similar to that
held in the north, and presents were
exchanged just as they are today. &
That the Nativity of Christ was OBJ
served as carly us the first century
| is shown by the writings on the rock
In the hewn totnbs of the early Chris
tians. From that time Christmas has
hbeen celebrated in some form by the
Christian. nations.
King Henry II was the father Of the
elaborate Christmas dinner, and ii
was this king, too, who personally
brought the boar's head to the table
and placed il before his son. the
! young prince. Whether this was an
original fdea with King Henry III is
mot known, but it was carried out for
! many years, Queen Victoria following
lit and having q real boar's head sent
from the continent to tie palace each
( year. For the most part, However,
I the boar's head was really the head OF
I a pig, prepared ina manner similar to
/ that used with pigs feet now. 81
Sssy Both Improved.
Mince pie and plum pudding came
on the Christmas table centuries ago,
but neither was so delicious as that
/ to be found on the festal boards at
! this time, for the plum, spelled
plumb at that time, was merely a
coarse porridge to which some dried
fruit had been added. while the pie
was usually made Of tough boiled
beef, suet, apples and poor quality
OF liquor. Both have improved by evo-
luton.
The Yule log originated with the
Saxoi1s and Goths, who burned the log
at the festival OF the winter solstice.
lin England even today [a1though II
Is not now attended with so much
ceremony as in ancient times) the
! Yule log is brought in on Christmas
eve and burned. During the Eliza
bethan period the Yu1e log was al
4 ways the massive. rugged foot OF q
huge tree. 1t was drawn in triumph
from its resting place in the forests by
several servants dressed in grotesque
costumes, and when they reached the
great hall where 1t was to be burned
they sang the Yule song.
Community Christmas.
Much has been written about the
Lord of Misrule, a figure in England
at Christmas. After all, this man wat
merely a person selected by royalty
to direct the Christmas festivities. al
one time the custom became SO popu'
lar that many OF the mobiles had their
own lords Of mIsru1e. This position
was somewhat akin to being the
chairman of a committee OF com.
munity Christmas tree at present.
The origin or the Christmas tree Il
attributed to Martin Luther. It mad
its FIRST appearance IN the United
States with the German irnmigrapt
fsSMli61 bfods this altifiil custom
with him from the Fathkrl2ud. III,
changing Of the 5uigtief on II ns 4 sDrfidfl