The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1922-12-21

Mass Sc Dhrist 5 ~srtne The
sfman t.ile for christmas Is
MeiAaaeht msanme Hobs
Nlsht ln Ffeneh Tee term S
Nrs derivation from the
l.ata Naial.s. mesnne Natal
Das The term Nolrilsle
ailsn eiuplQyed d cover The en-
Ii.r Christmas seasoa Is Angle.
saxon from tn meaning
roIse of feast
C6uxmss was fr>f celebrated
as the anniversary 81 TIE hlrib 81
Christ in the sec0nd century hN
erpr 81 Teiesphores bishop of
Rome HI pre.chrstIan iuncs.
snd an alo the early christian
centuries ffe Festival of the
winter salsiiec. celebrating The
icaeiheniug of the DAYS was held
an the daia ne now halA sacred
Is Christmas naN Tile Roman
>aturnaila. and She lNi,h feast
set Lights. instituted hy Jnlas
.Maeeaheus. We're alsa celebrated
on ths day Thus ibc day vhich
IS pagan times was satred to ihe
sun and lis satellites. became m
der thc touch of christianity
,aered rs the Star 81 bethlehem
and ths sun ~ Righteousness
who hlllov,d tho darkness of
Pagan rirh, with silver light
niurs ana caased Gods golden
morning % burst 30 splendor
a,er the hills of the world
Many q oar popular Christmas
customs are 4 herilagc fwn the
past The Scandinavian al ihcir
FEAST of Nulc would hindle hnge
honfires in honor 81 the god
Thor while gurlansls ~ evergreen
were hung and bands of min
,irels made merry with song.
From them wa inherit The yulo,
iep the fir tree and the custom
~ hanging holly and misiletoe.
Under TIE transforming mfu
snce 81 christianity The evergreen
plants end trees came 10 signify
'hc faei thai the Uudhead wa,
'nsbrined in ihe Bethlehem Babe,
ma thar this tender plant would
nrIne zap and abide for ever
more The giving % Christmas
slfis grew oui 81 custom fol
'owcd hN ihe early church -
placing boxes in the saered odi
fice Tor the reception of offer.
ugs the same to he opened and
the contents distributed 20 the
poor and needy on tho ami
yersary of Chrisis birth The
custom of ear0llnc Is also vers
old and originated with church
'hoIrs going ont on Christmas
eye 70 sing carols. and collect
riffs. for the iadipcnt of thc
.ommuniiy
There arc customs connected
with Christmas peculiar 10 Ger
tain countries ln Norway. the
beautiful custom - the feeding
- ihe birds IS observed 40 one
s TOO poor 70 spend little for
ihs purpose, and feed is placed
% an roofs aud also scattered
before the doors N France and
the other Latin countries Christ
mas Is observed ia a strictly re-.
ilglons manner with midnight
MASS iu ihe churches and other
ceremonie. during the day ln
Holland and Germany. Christmas
S the children 5 day. whom Kris
,trngle brings sugar plums and
cakes Tor lhe boys aud girls who
have been good during the year
There Is an extensive folk lore.
and an abundance ~ legend. con
neeied with the season ln paris
~ Britain they teil how tie cattle.
early on Christmas morn. turn
their heads 90 the east and kneel
"a homage 90 The Christ Child
ln Canada. ihc Indians watch on
hrisimas eve 10 see fhe deer
kneei and look up 70 the Great
Spirit Another story tells how
lhe rooster crows an night before
christmas the bird flawn
ine thus becoming. for once a.
Least, q nightingale. An Irish /
legend tells how on Christmas I
eve The Christ Child wandcrs out I
INTO ihe darkness On errands oil
love and mercy. and todse III
parts of Erin, the peasant child /
rn put lighted candies in their I
windows 70 guide the sacred
little feet
Santa Claus. the patron saint
of the young. IS a heritage from