The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-12-14

christ. nrxt found ia IO8s. md
eCfissrs messea IN 1871. III Dutch II ID "Kerss-
misse Ia latin sDles Natallss III Italian IN
natalie and IN German eWelnachtafests These
ars ~ eogrse, haEsd on the Christian celebration
u Christmas as the birthday ~ Christ
w ARE told THAI the pagan countries u the
world held festivals before the birth " Christ
and That - Christianity spread the early church
sought To Ferlace these pagan festivals with
chrNmas festival The cid puenn nations N an.
Equity bad tendency 70 worship the sun a. tho
giyer q lleht and llfe These festivals took place
near the winter salstlre, the shortest day III the
year Ilis holiday Wa called SAnrnalia b. the
Romans and celebrated with great merrlment
Among the people 81 the north great ires werc
kindled % 0dln md Thor aud sacrifices ii men
and cattle we're made. The ancient Coths and
saxans called this festival Ynie. which h pre-.
served to-day IN the Scottish word Tor Christmas.
The eafly Teusona celebrated BY decorating giant
tr trers as celestial sun trees The lights repre-
secuted the flashes Of lightning overhead the gol.
den apples, outs and balls symbolised the sun,
fhe moon ana the stars. while animals hung ia
fha branches were MS sacrifices
Il 4 related that Christmas was not among the
eaFT festivals If ghe church. The first evidence
uf ths feast. according 20 church historians, is
ff8m Ewypt. Aud December rs was not the dny
celebrated with any uniformity "a The early days
q tie church. The celebration of December ~
Ffreaa 81 mes parts az the East Ia the fourth and
hrated December "a before a54 10 the East, AZ
Censtanfinople not before $40
Az Christianity aupplnntcd paganism, many Of
ths ea eastoma weFr carried along 90 be handed
euMn through tiaa ages. We have distinct eyi.
fonepa ~ Christmas celebration In 'Marrie old
TnsianaH ID tie Anglo saxon days II Alfred, Tho
holiday season thrn began December 1e aud ended
Jaanarg q with The rise of purltanlsm The ex-
isteues ~ Christmas for q time was threatened.
And fills extended 20 this country with those
Puriiana who brought an anti Christmas feeling 70
New England.
~ degree og the Rouadhead parliament in
16a8 and the general court 81 Massachusetts, In
1913. the observance Of Christmas was officially
banned By England and the New England colon.
lists. Bat the restoration of English royalty
brought about the restoration 81 Christmas aud
Ia 1851 Massachusetts, repealed the law OF 1850.
And 70 Christmas has remained through the CEN
furies sud II celebrated now through the entire
civilized world
Always but particularly at Advent the Nor
weglAR makes much ~ hospitality On Christ.
mas day, II son were 20 eaIi TO SEQ MIN, his FIRST
courtesy would be 10 0fer sou Pipe 81 tobacco,
ana ii dinner which II usually more simple than
that ag other races national hymns are sung be-
tween the courses
In Sweden where 10 truth Il Is evident that
cleanliness Is next % goodness" the industrious
housewife has the entire house renovated Tor this
festival Nor 10 they forget their annual friends,
shear cf corn ii fastened 20 3 pole aud placed
Ii taie garden aa,tB Is done IA order that the
birds may not be without their share 81 the en-
joyment.
Another beautiful custom ID Scandinavia Is
that ~ placing IA row pair o. shoes belonging
10 each member ~ the household. This Is done
on czrisnnns eve and signifies that they VIII
live together IN harmony for another year
When Christmas eongs IA Germany the wholt
fasnliy prepares 20 80 % church. They form "a
line. probably In the order of their ages, and
armed With lighted candles march 10 the service
A. tire sdlace has no other light than that fur
nGshed by the candles. 4 makes very pretty
eject to see thea appearing one by enc until they
have spread over the entire church. With TIL,
service the season Il supposed 70 bewin. In ever
house the tables are spread with an sorts os good
things. and the lights are left burning the sntirs
nixht This IL dene Ia order thar the Virgin hnt
the angess win end something 70 eat when they
some Or me sEpsrstitions are very quaint and
beMutsfal Onn existing al some parts o. Polant
and elsewhere Is that on the night before Christ
mas the hrarens ppen Rnd the scene % jacobs
LADDER ls enacted this hpWeYes being visible only
10 SasEts.
Candies are pas A the windows 10 certain part,
~ Austria - thAr the Christ calid may not stun
his III passing through ne viiisge.
II Bulgaria they have . curious custom, M
,De viii IN II can possibly BE- avolded cross /
strange threshold on this Gay. II was an early
snston amonK these pspps 70 put cora 10 m
4oekgnKs TIE bead II the family would sprinkle
sosne ID front ~ ne door saying sChrist Il born
and the rsply fron the faTniiy was. ~Hs Is, in
Be4d~ Mere corn waa thea taken and put 10 IN
Ire and wfrhes wpuid fhsE be made Tor the fam
w. Tor fhe house for tie eRttie and FOR the crops
4 brand wss sassa from tbc Gre and placed ia III
ssateh OF fxee that hsSuriag them OK plentiful
hasveass Tor fhe eosHing year
A hauiaen in snabia, 10 order 70 know some
ss8uR ~ che Rppeersacs - her fusure husband
.s0aId draw ere ffosa a bundle ~ Sticks; II !
yeye short. b. would b. short II Il were lone
~ s0uta ~ tall II Il ~srs eFooked--ana 50 %