The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1921-12-01
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS
FIRST CELEBRATION WAS HELD
IN THE YEAR 90.
Forty Years Later Before II Was ON
eiaIIy Adopted az Christian
Festival.

NHRISTNAS was FIRST celebrated
vi In the year 90. observes a writer,
but 1t was 40 years later before
1t was officially adopted as a Chris
tian festival; nor was II until about
the Fifth century that the day Of It's
celebration became permanently fixed
on December 20. Up to that time Il
/ had been irregularly observed at vari-
/ Gus times Of the year-in December.
In April and In May, but most fire.
/ quently In January.
! In Rome the Saturnalia, or feast OF
Saturn fell at about the same time as
our Christmas, and II marked the
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
were reconciled. All social distinctions
were laid aside. Work was stopped,
and 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
Christmastide. 1t remains with US,
and will always remain. Christmas
marks the winter solstice. The days
begin to lengthen, and the sea no
longer journeys away from the earth,
but enters upon Its return. II Is a
promise Of renewed hight and warmth.
Of the approach of summer, and men
hailed these signs with every express
sion Of gladness.
When Christianity spread abroad,
men adapted the old customs Of their
ancestors to the new order OF things.
The word Yuletide, used to give
picturesque, oldtime flavor to the
Christmas Idea. comes from Yule, an
old name for Christmas. The term
springs from an English word used to
designate the two months Of Deem
Der and January, one Of which was
called the former Yule," the other
the after Yule." There Is a legend
which relates that 1t was the custom
years ago for every Saxon household
to burn the Yule 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
Yule song, standing on the center Of
the log.
In Germany and other European
countries it was believed by the chill
dren that the Christmas tree glitter
ing with candles and brightness, and
the gifts found beneath the tree, were
the work Of jolly old st. Nicholas, or
Santa Claus. as we know him. This
kindly saint was no legendary char
acter. He lived about 800 A. D., and
was a noted bishop OF Asia Minor. He
was looked upon as a patron saint Of
generosity because Of his liberality.
The idea Of st. Nicholas travelling In
q sleigh drawn by reindeer originated
in the cold northern countries. The
reindeer were the swiftest animals
known, and they must needs fly like
the wind to carry st. Nick the rounds
OF the world In one night.
Almost as important as the gift Civ
Ing and gift receiving on Christmas
day Is the feast Of dainties spread ON
that occasion. But even the Christ
mas dinner has its origin in the dim,
distant past. Feasts were always the
accompaniment Of any festival. In
Egypt, at the winter solstice, every
family killed and ate a goose as a re-
ligious observance. We preserve the
custom Of eating fowl on Christmas,
but the toothsome turkey has more
generally supplanted the goose.