Belt Valley times., 1926-12-16

8a- The Purtans developed keen distaste for the
Christmas festivities and prevailed upon parlia-
ment to prohibit them. Christmas was declared
day of fast, and festivities were prohibited by
law. After the Restoration however the old
observances came back-somewhat subdued, but
gay and festival as ever.
The observance of the Christmas festival spread
all over the Christian world The date Is not
everywhere the same, nor are the customs iden
teal January 8 Is the date observed In the
Armenian church The Dutch watch for St.
Nicholas on the eve Of December 9. The French
have their particular Christmas observances;
the Germans have theirs But wherever and when
ever Christmas Is celebrated. 1t is day Of rejoc-
ing and good cheer.
At one time the customs and observances that
we associate with Christmas had very definite
significance Today they survive as part Of our
social scheme
In America we have made Of Christmas a perl
cd OF great social activity. The old customs OF
other lands, combined with teIader memories OF
the first Christmases ln this country. make OF the
holiday a rare interval OF Joy and cheer which
find expression In a sennsocial, semiregious cele-
bration Everybody wishes everybody else merry
Christmas, and even the echoes glad
The frst Christmases In America were not the
gay festivities to which we are accustomed They
were days like all the rest, devoted to work and
prayer. Governor Bradford wrote. 'Ye 25th day
begane 70 erect We first house for comone use
to receive them and their goods" few years
after this was written the Church OF kuEsand
established Christmas aEFyicez tn Boston
Our Christmas celebration carries threads from
many lands People coming here from France.
England, Germany. Norway Italy-all brought
their own customs with them Our Christmas tree
and Santa Claus are imported Our carols and
our stocking superstition came from across the
ocean Even Merry Christmas' belongs to
England.
Yet our Christmas festivities are individual.
American They are like those Of no one country.
but like q tapestry that has been patterned with
many beautiful threads our festivities reflect the
customs beliefs. and superstitons Of many and
widely separated lands
Jolly old Santa Claus with HIS tinkling sleigh
bells and pack Of toys Is very closely associated
with the American Christmas Our children hang
up their stockings IN high glee. fully believing
that Santa win come down the chimney and n
them with good things. until. Of course, they are
old enough TO separate fact from infancy, or until
some cruel person skaters the beautiful belief
Santa came - America by way OF Holland Tho
old Dutch settlers OF New York brought with
them all the Joyous and hosptable observances of
their fatherland. They introduced 70 their neigh
bors IN the New world St Nicholas or San
NicoIaas patron saint Of children. And San
EicoIaas promptly grew long white beard beIted
his 1ovial stoutness In a red coat. and made his
bow 10 America as Santa Claus
England, too, has its Santa Claus The name
appears TO be derived in sluTed Interpretation
from San NicOlaas the English Tor which would
be 81 NIcholaK According to the popular myth.
both here and III England Santa Claus is supposed
to sweep down the chimney. and al the stockings
hanging before the fireplace with gifts
St Nicholas became everywhere the chnds
saint though his personality underwent some
striking changes ~ he travelled from country to
country In Holland be remained st. Nicholas
,ut his personality was modified By memories OF
Wooden, god Of the elements and the harvest He
,ecnme the patron saint of the children Of France
although II is Bonhommc Noel fFafber christman
sometimes called Pere Noel) who brings the good
hingn for the chiidren In Germany the Christ