Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-12-13

blended with, a part of, dreams, which
sang the news of Savior born?
The singing Of carols is not peculiar to Eng
land, where it introduced by the Puritans.
In France they are similar in character to those
of the nation across the Channel, and called
noels- In Italy the Calabrian shepherds itin-
Grant musicians and choral singers. At the sea-
of Advent they come down from the noun
tans to the cities singing their peculiar hill
music. Lady Morgan gives an interesting account
of the piety of these shepherds Having seen them
stop every year in front of a carpenters shop in
Rome, to sing and play, she questioned them Of
the reason for this. They replied that in that way
they gave honor to st. Joseph, who a car
penter also. The name of these singers is
piferari.
The word carol" is really formed upon two
other words Cantare, to sing, and rola inter
lection of joy. Therefore, the carol need
not be confined to Christmas music although that
is the general use of the world.
In Wales and Ireland the custom of singing
carols is better preserved than in England, as is
also the in France.
Of the origin of the Christmas tree have
many beautiful legends, of which that Of St.
Bonface is not the least. Unfortunately, 1t is
too long to have more than mere mention of
the recognition that is due it in article of this
character.
A Scandinavian myth tells of its having sprung
from bloodsaturated SOIL where lovers met a
violent death, and always thereafter on Christmas
eve lights were seen to burn in the branches
On of the French legends of the thirteenth CEN
fury speaks of gigantic tree which the hero dis
covers Its branches were covered with burning
candles, and on the top hoated vision OF a child
Not understanding the meaning of this he asked
the pope for explanation. The pope's reply
was that the tree represented mankind; the child,
the Savior; the candles. good and bad human be-
ings.
Some writer's have found a connection between
the original Christmas tree and Yggdrasill, the
giant ash tree of Scandinavian mythology which
spread its branches the whole world; others
point to the pine tree used in the Bacchanalia.
which crowned with the image of Bacchus,
and again there are those who speak of the GUS
of Tho firr1o of
the winter solstice decorated their houses with
the branches of the date palm-these all re
ferred to as probable progenitors of our custom
of trimming a tree and decorating buildings.
Similar trees were used on festive occasions by
the Hindus sometimes artificial and of priceless
value. being formed of pearls and other precious
stones
Whatever may be said, there is no certain
knowledge of the of the trees have
it before the sixteenth century We find it ap-
pearfng at Strassburg, in Germany at about that
time and for 200 years 1T maintained along
the Rhine. After this period, during which it was
gaining strength. it suddenly flashed all Ger
many. This at the beginning Of the nine
teenth century. in the so years succeeding this
sudden growth 1t had struck its roots into all
Christendom.
The preparation of it for the eyes of the young
in Germany, the country where the modern prac-
tce originated is affair of great secrecy. 1t is
kept in separate room, which is locked. and into
whose mysteries but the mother is ini-
tiated.
At six o'clock in the evening of the day be
fore Christmas the door is opened and in the
children rush to receive their presents which are
hung and spread all about the tree. Then the
children present their gifts to their parents, and
then to each other and the whole surprise is
before Christmas has passed Probably
this explains the lassitude that is experienced
the day-whch feeling, nevertheless, is not
solely characteristic of Germany.
America received its first tree through the Ger
man immigrant, who brought 1t with him. But
for long time the festival did not receive recog
milton because of the laws forbidding it. 1t was
not until the latter part of the eighteenth CEN
fury that these laws repealed, and after that
1t took some time for 1t to emerge from the state
of quiescence into which it had been forced
To country belong the honor of being the
birthplace of the Christmas card, which, sadly
enough, together with other Christmas remem
brances, has degenerated In to a mere
business convention.
The custom first started with the school pieces
which the schoolboy of the middle nineteenth
century to read at the annual school exer-
cises always given at this time of the year. The
original fourishes of establishment these
cards, upon which the pieces to be read were writ
ten, grew into deliberately designed poem OF
maxim, good wishes what not.
Tusser. In his Five Hundred Points Of Good
Husbandry." said, and wisely, too:
AT Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once year."
Happy those who profit by this advice and
happy those who maintain, some form
this spirit through the 364 days which intervene
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