The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1917-12-14

er blended with, or part Of, our 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 itn-
Grant musicians and choral singers. At the sea-
son of Advent they come down from the noun
tains 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 was car
penter also. The name Of these singers is
piferari. iatfat
The word carol is really formed upon two
other words: Cantare to sing, and rOla, an inter
lection Of JOY. Therefore, the term 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 case in France.
OF the origin of the Christmas tree, have
many beautiful legends, Of which that Of st.
Boniface is not the least. Unfortunately, 1t is
too long to have more than mere mention of
the recognition that is due 1t in article of this
character. ii
A Scandinavian myth tells of its having sprung
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 It's branches were covered with burning
candles, and ON the top foated vision of child.
Not understanding the meaning of this, he asked
the pope for an 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 connection between
the original Christmas tree and Yggdrasill, the
giant ash tree Of Scandinavian mythology, which
spread its branches over the whole world; others
point to the pine tree used in the Bacchanaa,
which crowned with the image of Bacchus,
and again there are those who speak of the GUS
tom of the ancient Egyptians. who at the time of
the winter solstice decorated their houses with
the branches Of the date palm-these are all re-
ferred to as probable progenitors Of our custom
Of trimming tree and decorating our buildings.
Similar trees were used 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 use Of the trees as we now have
it before the sixteenth century We find it ap-
pearing at Strassburg in Germany, at about that
time and for 200 years it was maintained along
the Rhine. After this period, during which 1t was
gaining strength, 1t suddenly flashed over all Ger
many. This was at the beginning Of the nine
teenth century, in the SO years succeeding this
sudden growth it had struck its roots into all
Christendom.
The preparation of 1t for the eyes Of the young
in Germany, the country where the modern prac-
tce originated, is affair Of great secrecy It is
kept in separate ROOM which is locked, and into
whose mysteries none 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 on 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
over before Christmas eve has passed. Probably
this explains the lassitude that is experienced
the next day-which 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 1t. It
not until the latter part Of the eighteenth
fury that these laws were repealed and after that
1t took some time for 1t to emerge from the state
Of quiescence into which it had been forced.
To our country belong the honor of being the
birthplace Of the Christmas card which, sadly
enough, together with other Christmas remem-
brances, has degenerated In some cases to a mere
business convention. M
The custom first started with the school pieces
which the schoolbOy Of the middle nineteenth
century was to read at the annual school exer-
cises always given at this time Of the year. The
original fourishes Of establishment on these
cards, upon which the pieces to be read were writ
ten. grew into an deliberately designed poem or
maxim, good wishes or 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 q year."
Happy are those who profit by this advice and
more happy those who maintain in some form,
this spirit through the 1854 days which intervene
before another such time returns.