Belt Valley times., 1926-12-16

F. echoes back across the Ions
80. ages. 1t throbs through the
s#&sT generations Of life, while king
doms rise and fall. while men
and nations move like checkers on a checkerboard
Merry Christmasl II stirs the heart like some
beautiful old memory. II quickens the pulse like
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 a tone
OF solemn and sacred feeling that blends with
our convivialtty, 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. II is called "Christmasv because In early
England the festival was called "Christesmesse,"
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
as to the exact birth date Of Christ 1t seems pos
sIble. says Lillian EIcher In her "Gustoma OF
Mankind" that December % established as
the festival day because 1t marked the beginning
Of the great winter festival when Britons Ger
mans, and Gauls made merry In pagan fashion.
Christmas replaced these old pagan festivities,
the customs Of the old blending into the customs
wnd symhQis ~ ttae ptheEs
The celebration Of December Is, as christnnas
spread to various parts Of the Christian. world
Later az 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 festival Of the win
ter solstice At this period df 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 unsuited to the character
Of Christ
vet the old festival was not discarded entirely.
Tts symbols and customs were adapted to the new
festival IN celebration Of the anniversary Oh
C.hrist's nativity And 50 we find Christmas pat.
termed with many curious customs that are OF
pagan origin. The Yule log, tie holly, and tne
mistietoe go much farther back into antiquity
than we suspect
II in saId that the frst Christmas day festival
held in Britain was ceiebrated by King Arthur 10
the city Of York A. D. 521 II lasted several days.
The new customs were grafted upon the old. ana
the new symbols were adaptation OF old ones 1ne
fastizaIs appealed Instantly 10 the masses tlny
spark was famed into fame and Il has burned
brightly throughout all these generations
Bv the early Middle ages. Christmas hao become
the greatest Of popular festivals. Beggar and king
observed the day Churches were decorated ana
uuaiy,f ulavs concerning the nativity were enacted
Carols were sung In the streets and images o.
the virgin and Of Christ we're carried about rom
house to house And Of course, there were feast
ing and merrymaking. as there always sre az .
FESTIVAL time.
In shakespears'u time the Christmas festivities
weru extremely elaborate. Sometimes they lasted
nntn Twelffh day. or Epiphany Twelve days after
Christmas During this period there was no work
n any Kind. The people gave themselves over %
saafinx snd gay ceiebration.
szsh.. a. - ~