Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-01-04


:, "cristps Maesse" the Mass of
Chri,t first found in 1O38 and
"cri.tes.messe" in 1131. In Dutch 1t Is "Kerst-
untsSe :, IN Latin, "Dies Natalis;" in Italian, I'll
"taI and in German, "Weinachtsfest." These
- If course based on the Christian celebration
~ christmas as the birthday of Christ.
We are told that the pagan countries OF the
uorI6 held festivals before the birth OF christ
md that as Christianity spread the early church
sought to replace these pagan festivals with
CHRISTMAS festival. The old pagan nations of an
faulty had tendency to worship the sun as the
piyer of light and life. These festivals took place
moor the winter solstice, the shortest day In the
roor This holiday was called Saturnalia by the
Romans and celebrated with great merriment.
Among the people of the north great fires were
knded to Odin and Thor and sacrifices OF men
and cattle were made The ancient Cloths ana
Sayons called this festival Yue, which Is pre-
served today in the Scottish word for Christmas.
Tbe early Teutons celebrated by decorating giant
fir trees as celestial sun trees. The lights repre-
sented the flashes of lightning overhead; the gol-
don onples nuts and balls symbOlized the sun,
the moon and the stars, while animals huhs IN
the branches sacrifices
1t is related that Christmas was not among the
early festivals Of the church. The first evidence
of the feast according to churcn historians IS
from Egypt. And December % WAS not the DAY
celebrated with any uniformity in the early days
of the church. The celebration of December 70
spread to most parts Of the East In the fourth ana
fifth centuries. At Rome the Nativity was cele
brated December % before 1854; in the East, al
ConStannope. not before 319.
As Christianity supplanted paganism. many OF
the old customs carried along to be handeo
down through the ages. We have distinct evil
dences of Christmas celebration In 'Merrle oiu
England" in the Anglo-Saxon days OF Alfred. Inc
holiday season then began December 10 ana ehdeu
January g. With the rise of Puritanlsm the ex-
istcnce of Christmas for time was threateheu.
And this extended to this country with those
PuritanS who bl,ught an anti-Christlnas feeling 10
New England
Fv degree of the Rountlhead parliament IN
1919 and the general court of Massachusetts IN
1859, the observance of Christmas was oHlclahS
banned by England and the New England colon
lists But the restoration of English royalty
brought about the restoration of Christmas, ant
in 1851 Massachusetts repealed the law OF 1909
And Christmas has remained through the cen
turtles and is celebrated now through the entire
civilized world.
Always. but particularly at Advent the Nor
wegan makes much of hospitality. On CHRIST
mas day If you were to call to see him, his mrs
courtesy would be to offer you pipe or tODacct
and at dinner, which is usually more simple ina
that of other races, national hymns are sung pe
tween the courses.
In Sweden where in truth it is evident tina
Cleanliness is next to godiiness," the industrlou
housewife has the entire house renovated FOR IN
festival. Nor do they forget their annual frlehu
for before they sit down to their own dinner
sheaf Of is fastened to a pole and place
In the garden. This is done in order that Il
birds may not be without their share OF the e
joyment.
Another beautiful custom in Scandinavia
that of pa"ng in pair OF shoes belongl'
to eoch member of the household This Is 90
on Christmas eve and signifies that they
live together In harmony for another year.
When Christmas comes in Germany the VINO
family prepares to go to church. Ihey form
line, probably in the order of their ages, al
armed with lighted candles, march to the serVl
AS the edifice has other light than that II
nished by the candles, it makes a very pre-
effect to see them appearing one by one until tn
have spread over the entire church. With I
service the season is supposed to begin In eV'
house the tables spread with all sorts OF &C
things, and the lights are left burning the ent
night This is done in order that the virgin
the angels will find something to eat when Il
pass.
Some Of the superstitions are very quaint
beautiful. One existing In some parts or FOL
ana elsewhere is that the night before Chr
mas the heavens open and the scene OF Jac
ladder is enacted, this, however, being visible {
to saints
Candles are put in thu windows in certain p
OF Austria, so that the Christ Child may not st
Die IN passing through the village.
III Bulgaria they have curious CUSTOM
one will, if 1t possibly be avoided, eros
strange threshold this day. 1t was an
custom among these people to put corn IN
stockings. The head of the family would spri
some in front of the door, saying, Christ IS D(
una the reply from the family was, HE IS
4 ueed' More was then taken and put IN
hre and wishes would then be made for the
II ny, FOR the house, for the cattle and for the G
i brand was saved from the fire and placed II
notch of tree, that assuring them or pier
n "9rVpstS for the coming year.
u maiden in Suabia in order to know
hihS of the appearance of her future hus
would draw one from bundle OF sticks;
We're s-Irt, he would be short; If 1t were
ne would be tall: II it were crooked-and S