The Alaska daily empire., 1918-12-24
CHRISTMAS.

The origin of the observance of December 25tl as Christmas the Mass Christ, the festival of the nativity of Christ, is shrouded in more or less controversy and mystery. In the beginning there was dispute as to whether the celebration was in tended as observance of Christs birth in the fesh or whether it the anniversary of his baptism There has less dispute as to the actual dates of his birth and his baptism For several cen turies the 25th of December celebration had rivalry wthathe 9th of January as the proper date TOT the festival There were very strong contenders for March 26th as the proper date for the celebration, both of Christ's birth and of his baptism
 The truth of the selection of December 25th as the occasion of the Christmas festival is probably due to the fact that the day had been pagan holiday The association in the early controversies of Decem Der 18th with the 9th of January and March 26th would to add weight to this conclusion LKe- wise, the charge frequently made when December 25th was beginning to be recognized as Christmas, that 1t was heather day-a Sun Worshipers holi- days corroboratve of this theory. Ages before the birth of Christ, Egyptians blessed the Nile on Janu- ary 9th because of the returning sun and days At other places December 25th was observed for the December 25th was observed in British Isles long before the introduction of Christianity as the day when it first observed that the sun had started northward and was mount ing higher each day. Likewise was March 26th ob- served in many places the day marking the dis
 
 as the coming of spring with its vegetation and flowers and song birds.
 To there seems something appropriate Tn the thought that Christmas is a converted, a reborn a spiritualized pagan holiday. The occasion was a very happy for a holiday. because it was one that suggested life. The returning sun brought new life in its path Its touch caused the trees to bud the grass to grow the birds sing Its coming sgnifed another period of growth and life-giving. It meant that another harvest would come that granneries would be reflled. that animal life would be perpet- uated.
 So the coming of Christ meant new life-spiritual life-lfe everlasting
 The conversion to Christ of appropriate customs of the races along with the conversion of the races, themselves was a natural and pleasing consequence
 It is not material therefore. whether it is the actual anniversary of the physical birth of Christ or of his baptism of either of these, December 26th is Christmas and to the people of all lands 1t is as- sociated with the fact of the appearance on earth of the lowly Nazarene bringing peace and good will and a newer. fuller life and purpose to mankind.
 There time in the history of the world when the teachings of Him whose birth will be eel ebrated tomorrow-his precepts and the examples of his life on earth-meant more to mankind than now. The results of the great that has just been brought to a close the results of the peace that commissioners about consider depend for their upon how nearly are applied the great truths of Christ.
 traditions and teachings of the day. let us bring gifts to the little once. the Wise Men of the East brought gifts to the child in the manager. and let us give thought, also to the immediate need for the application of the Christian principles to world problems of today