Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-12-23


A few facts about the historical Christ
mas may not be out OF place. Probably to
most persons, and in q sense ii is true, the
origin of Christmas was st thst time
"when shepherds watched their Gocks by
All seated on the ground"
when
"The angel OF the Lord came down
And glory shone around"
But the observance OF the day as festi-
val of the Christian church is attributed
to Pope Telesphorus, who died A. ID. l5s.
At first ii was q NOVA BILE festive day,
that is, in date; but in the fourth century
the urgency OF st. Cyril of Jerusalem OBJ
tanned from Pope Julius ! an order Tor an
investigation to be made concerning the
day of Christ's nativity. The result was
the esta Bills hment of December Is, being
the date agreed upon By theologisns of
that day both in the East and West.
The custom OF celebrating three masses
in the Roman Catholic church - one at
midnight. one st early dawn and the
last in the morning, dates from the sixth
century.
During the middle ages the day was
celebrated by the gay fantastic spectacle
of dramatic mysteries and moralities per-
formed by persons masked and dressed in
singular costumes.
The custom of singing eanticles or
carols dates from the time the common
70
songs were enlivened by dances and by
the music of tambours, guitars, violins
and organs q don't quite understand
their using violins at that date, rs it has
been stated violins are of more modern
make. Someone, msybe will explain about
that OF the oldest collection of carols
but a single leaf remains, containing two.
This is preserved in the Bodleian library
with date OF 1921.
The ways OF celebrating Christmas in
different countries may be interesting to
notice briefly. Ii is still the custom
for Calabrisn Ministries to descend from
tie mountains to Naples and Rome saiut-
ing the shrines of the virgin mother with
their wild music.
AS Germany is mentioned the horrors
OF war will almost eclipse this festival
season. as you read of their customs. In
the Protestant districts OF Germany and
the north OF Europe, Christmas is often
called the ''Children's festival, and
Christ mas eve Is devoted to giving and
receiving presents by means of the So
called Christmas trees. Sometimes, in
north Germany, the presents were sent
to some one person who 10 high buskins
q white robe, q mask, and an enormous
fax wig, goes from house to house and
bestows the gifts. Doubtless this was
the origin of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus
In England, Christmas is always q re-
ligious, domestic and merry making festi-
val. The bells are rung at dead midnight
and the celebration used to continue until
Candlemas day, Feb. 2, every DAY being
holiday until twelfth night, Jan. 8.
Here is the story in verse.
son Christmas eve the bells were rung:
On Christmas eve the mass sung:
That only night in all the year
Saw the stolsd priest the chaIice rear.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all.
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
nd ceremony DOTTED his pride.
The heir with roses in his shoes.
That night might village partner choose.
All hailed, with uncontrolled delight
And general voice, the happy night
That to the cottage, as the crown.
brought tidings Of salvation down.
England was Merry England when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
Twas Oh ristmas preached the mightiest ale.
Twas Christmas told the merriest tale:
A Christmas gambol oft would cheer
A poor mans heart through half the year.
The common custom of decking the
houses and churches at Christmas with
evergreens is derived from ancient druid
practices. 1t was an old belief that sylvan
spirits might flock to the evergreens and
remain unnipped by frost till a milder
season. Holly. ivy, rosemary, bay, laurel
and mistletoe furnished the fsvorite
trimmings.
To come nearer home, in the United
States, since the Puritans were at first stern
opponents OF Christmas pastimes, the day
was for long time less generally observed
in New England than in the middle
and southern states. Santa Claus was
originally introduced by the Dutch
settlers in New York. and from the Ger