Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-12-21

According to tradition, Christ
was born about the middle of the
night, and the Catholic custom of
ushering in the day with the eel |
ebration of three masses -one at
midnight, a second at early dawn
and the other later in the morn
ing, originated in the six cen
tury. In former times the cele- !
bration Of Christmas began in
the latter part of the previous
day-Christmas eve. The house
was first decked with holly, ivy, |
and other eyergreens, and illum
mated with candles. The Gus
tom of singing carols, recalling
the songs Of the shepherds at the |
birth of Christ, arose when the |
common people ceased to under
stand Latin. In these songs the
clergy, high and low, parents
and children joined, combining
in the merriment the strains Of
the organ, tambour, guitar and
violin, each participant, if in tue
night, bearing in his hand a
torch.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
The use of the Christmas tree
originated among the Germans
and in other Protestant districts
in the north of Europe. A large
yew bough is erected, hung with
presents and Illuminated with
candles, as is done with us. In
England Christmas has always
been noted religious and merry
festival. The revels used TO be-
gin on Christmas eve and con
tinue often until Candlemas,
every day being a holiday till
January 6, Twelfthnight.
The custom of decorating
houses and churches with ever
greens is derived from the prac-
tees of the ancient Druids. Ivy,
mistletoe, holly, rosemary, bays
and laurel are the favorite trim
mings. 1t was an old belief that
sylvan spirits sheltered them
selves ia evergreens unnipped
by frosts until the coming OF the
springtime, Garlands were
worn about the head, and hence
the phrases kiss under the
rosen, and whisper under the
mistletoe.
1t is an ancient superstition,
which some old people may still
remember as the tradition of
their early days, that at mid
night on Christmas eve the oxen
always fall on their knees; and
it was added that no person who
attempted to watch the ceremo-
ny returned alive. This tradi-
ton comes from a prevalent no
ton of the Middle Ages, that an
OK and an ass present at the Ma
tivity, fell upon their knees in a
suppliant position. The ancient
prints and an old Latin poem of
the fifteenth century commemor-
ate this belief. There is also
tradition that in the churchyard
at Glastonbury Abbey was a ia
nous hawthorn, that always
F. budded on the oath and bios
somed on the 25th of December,
and that after the change from
the old to the new style of calen-
dar it still continued to blossom
on the same day, which after the
change was the 9TH of january.
1T is claimed that transplanted
sliDs from this shrub continue
to blossom on the Old style
Christmas day, January 5.
SANTA CLAUS.
Santa Claus, whose traditional
huge bags of all good things, his
journey through the air and de.
scent down all chimneys are the
visions of early childhood which
follow US into manhood and age,
is st. Nicholas, one Of the most
popular saints of Catholic Eu-
rope, being invoked as the pa
tron OF sailors. travellers, cap
tives, and the guai dian Of IN
married girls and children The
Dutch call him Santa Claus, and
from them we take the name.