Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-12-07

er blended with, or part Of. our dreams, which
sang the news Of Savior bornf
The singing Of carols is not peculiar to Eng
land, where II was introduced by the Puritans
In France they are similar In character 70 those
Of the nation across the Channel. and are called
nOeIs. In Italy the Calabrian shepherds irin-
Grant musicians and choral singers At the sea
son Of Advent they come down from the mOu1
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, 10 sing and play, she questioned them Of
the reason for this. They replied that IN that way
they gave honor 70 St Joseph, who was car
penter also. The name OF these singers Is
piferari-
The word carol" is really formed upon two
other words: Cantare. 70 sing. and roa, 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. We have
many beautiful legends OF which that OF St
Boniface Is not the least Unfortunately, II is
too long 70 have more than mere mention Of
the recognition Tat is due it in article Of this
character.
A Scandinavian myth tells Of its having sprung
q
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 a gigantic tree which the hero dis
covers Its branches were covered with burning
candles. and the top fOated vision Of q child
Not understanding the meaning OF this, he asked
the pope for a 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 Yggdrasin, the
giant ash tree OF Scandinavian mythology. which
spread its branches over the whole world; others
point TO the pine tree used in the Bacchanalia,
which was crowned with the image OF BaechuS
and again there are those who speak OF the Gus
tom Of the ancient Egyptians. who ar the time Of
the winter solstice decorated their houses with
the branches Of the date palu-these are al re-
Terred 10 as probable progenitors OF our custom
OF trimming = tree and decorating our 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 use OF the trees we now have
it before the sixteenth century We find ii ap-
pearing ar Strassburg. in Germany, AZ about that
time. and for 200 years it was maintained along
The Rhine After this period. during which il was
gaining strength it suddenly flashed over all Ger
many This was az the beginning Of the nine
teeuth century in the so years succeeding this
sudden growth il had struck It's roots into al
Christendon
The preparation Of IL for the eyes Of the young
in Germany. the country where the modern prae-
tee originated IS an affair OF great secrecy. It IS
kept in separate room. which IS locked. and into
whose mysteries none but the mother is faf-
tiated.
At six o'clock in the evening OF the day be-
f,r=S~ il 81 nd IN he
children rush to receive their presents. which
hung on and spread all about the tree. Then the
children present their gifts TO their parents and
then 70 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 IL with him. But
FOR a long time the festival did not receive recog-
milton because Of the laws fOrbidding IL. 1t was
not until the latter Fart OF the eighteenth cen
fury that these laws repealed. and after that
IL took some time for IL 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 10 4 mere
business convention.
The custom first started with the school pieces
which the schooboy of the middle nineteenth
century was 70 read At the annual school exer-
cises always given at this time OF the year. The
original hourisheS OF embellishments these
cards upon which the pieces to be read were writ
ten. grew into elabOrately 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 geld cheer.
For Christmas comes hut once yesrr
Happy are those who prodt BIZ this acytce. and
more happy those who maintain. in some form.
this spirit through the S64 dayS which interviews
before another such time returns.