The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-12-31
Old Christmas
Customs


There is no festival so widely cele-
brated as that of Christmas; nor is |
there one which shows greater di-
versity of customs and observances. |
Each country has traditions which are
connected with the day, and though |
many of them have died out, yet some
still remain firmly imbedded in the
life of the people.
It is not to English-speaking people
alone that we look for an observance
of Christmas All over Europe it is
the children's feast, and even in lands
where winter, with it's frosts and
SHOWS, it's unknown, homes are decked
with evergreens, merry songs are sung,
and gifts are bestowed upon friends.
Wherever men and women go, or in
what strange lands thep settle, they
always retain some of the ways Of
their old home, and it is to this fact
that we owe some Of the Christmas
customs which give us so much de-
light.
The Christmas tree, bright with
lights and laden with gifts, has in this
way come down to us from Germany,
where every child looks with pleasure
for the coming of the "Christ-child."
So, too, the holly-which English
homes have been decorated with for
centuries-is, with its red and green,
almost universally accepted as the
happiest emblem of Yule-tide.
Wherever our thoughts may travel
at this gracious season, they should
carry with them cheerfulness and
hope and benevolence and good WILL
and these are emphatically expressed
in this favorite evergreen. Joy and
the glow of giving, telling of heart
warmth that burns all the more
brightly in the darkest and coolest
days of the year, and of life-this is
the lesson of the holly.
The burning of the Yule log has
come down from the Goths and Saxons
the name being derived, it is popularity
supposed, from the solstice festival
called "Jul' or "Yule".
The Yule log was burned on Christ
mas eve, amid laughter and play, and
the event has often been sung of in
old English poetry. 1t was customary
to lay part of the half-burned wood,
keeping it safely until the following
Christmas, when it served to light the
new log. At the same time, the preser
walton of the wood was believed to be
a sure protection against danger to the
dwelling by fire.
Everybody who has read Dickens
will remember the little boy who was
frightened away by Scrooge as he sang
throughout the keyhole Of the door:
God rest you, merry gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay."
The boy was representative of the
waits OF the olden time, who went
about on Christmas eve, as well as on
Christmas morning, singing their
merry songs or carols. The custom is
still in vogue in some parts of England,
and any one who has ever heard the
waits will regret that the old fashion
does not come into general use
The way was for the choristers OF
church to through the village on
Christmas eve, stop opposite the doors
of houses and sing. They always re-
ceived gifts, and they expended any
money which they got in social
merry-making ons Twelfth Day, two
weeks afterward.
The airs to which their carols were
: sung were no less plaintive and me-
lodious than the words and the voices
were often accompanied by instru-
ments.
From time inlmemorial the singing
of Christmas carols was universally
prevalent, not only in England, but in
France, Italy and other countries of
Europe. In our country, too, carols are
sung in thousands of homes, while in
churches everywhere the voices OF
children can be heard piping sweetly
those old hymns, ooh, come all We
faithful" and "Hark! the herald
angels sing"
Children all over the world are firm
believers in Santa Claus, although they
have different names for him, and are
not all agreed to to where his home is
and how he travels.
In Holland, the children hang up