Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-12-17
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS
FIRST CELEBRATION WAS HELD
IN The YEAR 50.
Forty Years Later Before II Was on
eialiy Adopted as Christian
Festival.
MHRIsTMAs was first celebrated

~ HRISTAAS was first celebrated
w In the year IS, observes writer,
but it was 10 years later before
q was officially adopted as a Chris
tian festival; nor was Ii until about
the Fifth century that the day Of its
celebration became permanently fixed
Oh December %. Up to that time il
lad been irregularly observed at yari-
Gus times Of the year-in December,
IA April and In May, but most fire.
quentiy in January
In Rome the Saturnalia. or feast Of
Saturn fell at about the same time as
greatest festival Of the Roman year.
The city abandoned itself TO gayety.
Universal mirth was the order OF the
day; friends feasted friends. and foes
We're reconciied. All social distinctions
were laid aside. Work was stopped,
aud no war was ever entered upon at
that time
One by one other legends and Gus
toms have been disproved and over
thrown. yet none has dared attack the
legends and the customs sacred to
Chrstmastide II remains with US,
aud will always remain. Christmas
marks the winter solstice. The days
begin TO engthen. and the sun no
longer journeys away IRON the earth,
but enters upon its return. II is
promise Of renewed light and warmth,
q the approach Of summer. aud men
hailed these signs with every express
sion Of gladness.
When Christianity spread abroad.
men adapted the old customs of their
ancestors 10 the new order OF things.
The word Yuletide, used TO give
picturesque, oldtime flavor TO the
Christmas idea. comes from Yule. an
ola name for Christmas. The term
springs from an English word used 70
designate the two months of Deem
her and January. one Of which was
called the former Yule," the other
the after lule," There is a legend
which relates that ii was the custom
wears ago for every Saxon household
70 burn the lule log on Christmas
eve This was a great gnarled root or
Tree trunk cut the day before Christ
mas and brought into the hall on
Christmas eve with great ceremony
and accompanied by music. Each
member Of the household would sing
4u|e song standing on the center Of
The log
ln Germany and other European
countries 1t WAS believed BY the chill
dren that The Christmas tree glitter.
5nE win candles and brightness. and
the gifts found beneath the tree. were
fhy work Of jolly old ST. Nicholas. or
santa Claus. as we know him. This
kindly saint WAS no legendary char
aater LIE lived about 800 A. D.. and
Was noged bishop Of Asia Minor. He
WAS looked upon as q patron saint Of
generosity because Of his Hberality
THE idea of ST Nicholas travelling IN
8 sleigh drawn by reindeer originated
in the cold northern countries The
reindeer wera the Sw.ftest animals
known and they must needs ny ike
the wind IL carry st. Nick the rounds
q Jhe uo%id 10 one night.
Almost as important as the gift Civ
Ing and gift receiving on Christmas
DAY Is the feast Of dainties spread Oh
that occasion But even the Christ
mas dinner has It's origin in the dim.
distant rasJ Feasts were always the
accompaniment Of any festival In
Ez5pt "a the winter so}stice. every
family Killed and ate a goose as re-
ii2Ious Observance We preserve the
custom Of eating fowl on Christmas
bur the toothsome turkey has more
generally suppIsnted the goose