The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-15


Christ, first found in 1888. and
"Crfstes-messe" in 1131. In Dutch it is "Kerst-
misse;' in Latin, "Dies Natalis;" in Italian, I'll
natalie" and in German, 'Weinachtsfest.' These
are, of course, based the Christian celebration
of Christmas the birthday of Christ.
We are told that the pagan countries of the
world held festivals before the birth of Christ
and that as Christianity spread the early church
sought to replace these pagan festivals with
Christmas festival. The old pagan nations of an
tquity had tendency to worship the the
giver of light and life These festivals took place
near the winter solstice the shortest day in the
year. This holiday called Saturnala by the
Romans and celebrated with s.eat merr4merit.
Among the people of the nOres great fires were
kindled to Odin and Thor and sacrifices of
and cattle made The ancient Goths and
Saxons called this festival Yule, which is pre-
served today in the Scottish word for Christmas.
The early Teutons celebrated by decorating giant
fir trees celestial trees. The lights repre-
sented the flashes of lightning overhead; the gol-
den apples, nuts and balls symbolized the sun,
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 % was 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 cee-
brated December % before 354; in the East, at
COnstantinOple not before 379
AS christianity Supplanted paganiSm, OF
the old customs were carried along to be handed
down through the ages We have distinct evil
dences of Christmas celebration in ''Merrie old
England" in the Anglo-Saxon days of Alfred The
holiday season then began December IS and ended
January 6. With the rise of Puritanism the
fstence of Christmas for time threatened.
And this extended to this country with those
Puritans who brought an anti-Christmas feeling to
New England.
- By degree of the ROundhead parliament in
1643 and the general court of Massachusetts, in
1859, the observance of Christmas was officially
banned by England and the New England colon
lists But the restoration of English royalty
brought about the restoration of Christmas and
In 1851 Massachusetts repealed the law of 1859.
And so Christmas has remained through the
turtles and is celebrated through the entire
civilized world.
Always, but particularly at Advent, the Nor
wegian makes much of hospitality. On Christ
day, if you were to call to see him. his first
courtesy would be to offer you pipe of tobacco,
and at dinner, which is usually simple than
that of other races. national hymns sung be-
tween the courses.
In Sweden, where in truth it is evident that
cleanliness is next to godness," the industrious
housewife has the entire house renovated for the
festival. Nor do they forget their friends,
for before they sit down to their dinner a
sheaf of corn is fastened to q pole and placed
in the garden. This is done in order that the
birds may not be without their share of the
1oyment.
Another beautiful custom in Scandinavia is
that of placing in q pair of shoes belonging
to each member of the household. This is done
on Christmas eve, and signifies that they will
live together in harmony for another year.
When Christmas comes in Germany the whole
family prepares to go 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, it makes a very pretty
effect to see them appearing one by until they
have spread over the entire church. With this
service the season is supposed to begin. In every
house the tables 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 eat when they
pass.
Some of the superstitions are very quaint and
beautiful One existing in parts of Poland
and elsewhere is that the night before Christ
the heavens open and the scene of Jacobs
ladder is enacted, this however, being visible only
to saints
Candles are put in the windows in certain parts
of Austria so that the Christ Child may not STUN
bic il passing through the village.
In Bulgaria they have q curious custom. No
one Will, if it possibly be avoided, cross a
strange threshold on this day. 1t was early
custom among these people to put corn 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 then taken and put in the
fire, and wishes would then be made for the fam
ily for house, for the cattle and for the crops
brand was saved from the fire and placed in the
notch of a tree, that assuring them of plentiful
harvests for the coming year.
maiden in Suaba, in order know some
thing of the appearance of her future husband,
would draw from bundle of sticks if it
were short he would be short; if it long
he would be tall; if it crooked-and so on
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