The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-12-07

is "Cristes Maesse" the Mass of
Christ first found in 1898. and
"Cristes messe" in 113l In Dutch it is "Kerst-
misse; ; in Latin. "Des Natalis;" in Italian, I'll
natalie and in German, "Weinachtsfest" These
are, of course, based on the Christian celebration
Of Christmas as the birthday of Christ.
We told that the pagan countries of the
world held festivals before the birth of Christ
that Christianity spread the early church
sought to replace these pagan festivals with
Christmas festival The old pagan nations of an
tiquity had n tendency TO worship the the
giver of light and life. These festivals took place
the winter solStice. the shortest day in the
year. This holiday called Saturnaa by the
Romans and celebrated with great merriment.
Among the people of the north great fires were
kindled TO Odn and Thor and sacrifices of men
and cattle made. The ancient Goths and
Saxons called this festival Yue, which Is pre-
served today in the Scottish word for Christmas
The early Teutons celebrated by decorating giant
fir trees as celestial sun trees The lights repre-
sented the flashes of lightning overhead; the gol-
den apples, nuts and balls symboliZed the SUM-
the moon and the stars. while animals hung In
the branches sacrifices
1t is related that Christmas not among the
early festivals of the church The first evidence
of the feast, according to church historians, is
from Egypt. And December 25 not the day
celebrated with any uniformity in the early days
Of the church. The celebration of December -
spread to most parts Of the East in the fourth and
fifth centuries. AT Rome the Nativity was cele-
brated December % before 354; in the East at
CoEstantinople, not before 80.
AS Christianity suppanted paganisn. many Of
the old customs carried along to be handed
down through the ages. We have distinct evi-
dences of Christmas celebration in "Merrie old
England" in the Anglo-SaXon days of Alfred The
holiday season then began December 16 and ended
January 6. With the rise of PuritaniSm the
iStpnpp 81 threatened
And this extended To this country with those
Puritans who brought anti-Chrstmas feeling to
New England.
BY degree of the Roundhead parliament In
1543 and the general court of Massachusetts in
1859, the observance of Christmas was officially
banned by England and the New England colon
ists But the restoration of English royalty
brought about the restoration of Christmas, and
In 1881 Massachusetts repealed the law of 1859
And so Christmas has remained through the
turies and is celebrated through the entire
civilized world.
Always, but particularly at Advent, the Nor
weglan makes much of hospitality On Christ
day, If you to call him. his first
courtesy would be to offer you pipe of tobacco.
and at dinner, which is usually more simple than
that of other races, national hymns sung be
tween the courses.
In Sweden where in truth il Is evident that
cleanliness IS next to godliness," the industrious
housewife has the entire house renovated for the
festival. Nor do they forget their annual friends,
for before they sit down to their dinner
sheaf of corn is fastened to n pole and placed
in the garden. This is done in order that the
birds may not be without their share of the
joyment.
Another beautiful custom in Scandinavia is
that of placing in a pair of shoes belonging
to each member of the household This is done
Christmas eve and signifies that they will
live together in harmony for another year.
When Christmas comes in Germany the whole
family prepares to 90 to church. They form In
line probably in the order of their ages, and,
armed with lighted candles, march to the service.
AS the edifce has other light than that fur
nished by the candles, 1t makes very pretty
effect to see them appearing one by one until they
have spread over the entire church. With this
service the season is supposed to begin. In every
house the tables are spread with all sorts of good
things, and the lights left burning the entire
night This is done in order that the Virgin and
the angels will find something to eat when they
pass.
Some Of the superstitons very quaint and
beautiful. One existing in some parts of Poland
and elsewhere is that on the night before Christ
mas the heavens open and the scene of Jacobs
ladder is enacted this however, being visible only
to saints.
Candles put in the windows in certain parts
of Austria, so that the Christ Child may not STUN
BILE in passing through the village.
In Bulgaria they nave curious custom No
WILL if II possibly be avoided,
strange threshold on this day. II early
custom among these people to put in the
stockings The head of the family would sprinkle
In front of the door. saying, Christ is born,
and the reply from the family was, He is, in
deed" More corn was then taken and put in the
fire and wishes would then be made for the fam
ly for the house, for the cattle and for the crops
brand was saved from the fire and placed In the
notch of q trae. that assuring them of plentiful
harvests for the coming year.
maiden in Suaba, in order to know some
thing Of the appearance of her future husband,
would draw from bundle Of sticks; II II
were short, he would be short II II were long
be would be tall; II II were crooked ind 50 on.