The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-12-09

and nations move like checkers on a checkerboard.
Merry Christmasl 1t stirs the heart like some
beautiful old memory It quickens the pulse like
a passionate violin. We forget to play at grownup,
and in moment we are all children again.
"Of all the old festivals" says Washington
Irving, that of Christmas awakens the strongest
and most heartfelt associations. There Is tone
of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with
our conviviality, and lifts the spirit to state
Of hallowed and elevated enjoyment"
From the early centuries Of Christianity the
anniversary of the birth of Christ has been cele-
brated. 1t is called christmas because In early
England the festival was called "Chrlstesmesse"
which means "Christ's mass" At first the time
of the festival varied in different places. Some
churches observed it in December, others in Jan
uary, April, May. There is no historical record
to the exact birth date of Christ 1t seems pos
sible says Lillian Eichler In her Customs of
Mankind" that December % was established
the festival day because 1t marked the beginning
of the great winter festival when Britons. Ger
mans, and GauIs made merry in pagan fashion.
Christmas replaced these old pagan festivities,
the customs of the old blending into the customs
and symbols of the other.
The celebration of December 25, as Christmas,
spread to various parts of the Christian world.
Later as the festival spread, differences in date
occurred owing to differences in calendar. But
the general belief prevailed that Christ was born
"at the hour of midnight on Christmas eve"
Many of our popular holidays appear to have
been nature festivals at one time. Easter and
May day were very likely spring festivals; Hal
Ioween an autumn festival
Christmas was originally a festival Of the win
ter solstice at this period of the year 1t was
customary to hold great feasts in honor Of the
heather gods to dance and make merry. But the
early teachers Of Christianity prohibited these
primitive festivities as unsuited to the character
of Christ.
Yet the old festival was not discarded entirely.
IT'S symbols and customs were adapted to the new
festival In celebration of the anniversary OF
Christ's nativity. And so we end Christmas pat
termed with many curious customs that are OF
pagan origin. The Yule log, the holly, and the
mistletoe 90 much farther back into antiquity
than we suspect.
II is said that the first Christmas day festival
held in Britain was celebrated by King Arthur In
the city of York. A. d. 521. It lasted several days
The new customs were grated upon the old, and
the new symbols were adaptation of old ones. The
festivals appealed instantly TO the masses; tiny
shark was famed into flame and 1t has burned
brightly throughouts all these generations.
BY the early Middle ages Christmas had become
the greatest of popular festivals. Beggar ana KING
observed the day. Churches were decorated and
onaint nlays concerning the nativity were enacted
carols were sung in the streets and images of
the Virgin and of Christ were carried about from
house to house And, of course, there were feast
inc ana merrylnaking, as there always are at
festival time.
"a shalyespeares time the Christmas festivities
were extremely elaborate. Sometimes they lasted
until Twelfth day or Epiphany twelve days after
christmas. During this period there was no work
Of any kind The people gave themselves over 70
feasting and gay celebration
Then there was reaction, as there generally