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

tr blended with, II part Of our dreams, which
sang the news of Savior born?
The singing of carols is not peculiar 10 Eng
land where il was 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
son Of Advent they 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 carpenters shop In
Rome" 10 sing and play, she questioned them OF
the reason for this. They replied that in that way
they gave honor to St Joseph who car
pentcr also The name of these singers is
pifcrar
The word carol" is really formed upon two
other words Cantare, to sing and rola. inter
lection of joy. Therefore, the term carol need
not he 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 I'm England, as Is
also the case in France.
OF the origin Of the Christmas tree. we have
many beautiful legends of which that of st.
BOniface is not the least Unfortunately, ii Ia
too long to have more than mention Of
the recognition that is due ii In article of this
character.
a scandinavian myth tells or its having sprung
from blood saturated soil, where two lovers met n
violent death, and always thereafter on Christmas
lights We're seen to burn in the branches
On of the French legends of the thirteenth CEN
tury speaks of a gigantic tree which the hero dis
covers Its branches were covered with burning
candles, and on the top hoated 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 the whole world; others
point to the pine tree used in the Bacchanaia.
which crowned with the image of Bacchus,
and again there 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 pam-these are all re-
ferred To probable progenitors Of custom
of trimming tree and decorating our buildings.
Similar ;rees used festive occasions by
the Hndus sometimes artificial and Of priceless
value. being formed Of pearls and other precious
stones
Whatever may be said there is certain
knowledge OF the use Of the trees as have
il before the sixteenth century. We find II ap-
pearing at Strassburg IN Germany, at about that
time, and for 300 years IT maintained along
the Rhine. After this period, during which 1t was
gaining strength, II suddenly flashed all Ger
many. This M the beginning Of the nine
tecnth century, in the 30 years succeeding this
sudden growth it had struck its roots into all
Christcndom.
The preparation Of II for the eyes Of the young
in Germany. the country whore the modern prac.
tco originated. is an affair Of great secrecy II s
kept i'm separate room which Is locked and into
whose mysteries none hut the mother is mi
tatrd
At six o'clock in the evening of the day be.
IL,
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 day-which feeling, nevertheless Is not
solely characteristic Of Germany
America received it's first tree through the Ger
man immigrant, who brought IL with him But
for a long time the festival did not receive recog
milton because Of the laws forbidding It. II was
not until the latter part of the eighteenth
Jury that these laws repealed, and after that
IL took some time for il to emerge from the state
OF quieScence into which II had been forced
70 our country bclane 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.
The custom first started with the school pieces
which the schooboy OF the middle nineteenth
century to read at the annual school exer
ciscs always given at this time of the year The
original louriShcs Of .rnbclshment on these
cards upon which the pi. rs to be read were writ,
ten grew into cIaborately designed poem OF
maxim good wishes or what not
Tusser, In his Five Hundred Points of Goot
Husbandry," said, and wisely too:
AT Christmas play and make good cneer
For Christmas coT.as but once yea--
Happy are those who profit by this advice and
more happy those who maintain In some form
this spirit through the 1854 days which inservses