Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-12-23

observance cauie into repute.
Martin Luther has been given credit
for introducing the Christmas tree n
Germany. Doubtless he did much to
popularize it, but the Christmas tree is
believed TO have had its origin in mytho-
logical time. In Germany st. Nicholas
has a day set apart in his honor, Deem
Der 6. st. Nicholas. bishop OF Myra,
who died about 343 A. D., was noted for
anonymous charities. 1t was once the
custom in Germany for a man TO person.
ate ST. Nicholas on St. Nicholas eve. and
inquire how the children had behaved
during the year. who were deserving of
presents, and h merited a touch Of
the birch rods he carried. In some places
knight Ruprecht takes the place of st.
Nicholas. In Holland. Germany and more
recently in other countries, the benevo-
lent saint is Familiarity known as Santa
Claus. and he is said to have been intro
duced into England from America, where
he had been naturalized by early Dutch
settlers.
How Stocking Custom Started
The hanging OF a stocking as o recep-
tacle for gifts was accounted for by a
story that st. Nicholas dropped a purse
down Ii chimney. which fell into a stock
ing hung up to dry. In Norway Santa
Claus has an assistant, Kris Kringle,
while in Switzerland Father Christmas
is accompanied by his wife, St. Lucy, who
looks after little girls. In Russia. gifts
are credited to the Babuska, or grand
mother.
In France, Italy, Spain. and other
Latin countries. the Praesepio, or Christ
mas crib, is an important feature Of Yule-
tide. The Praesepio frequently includes
the stable n its occupants, Mary,
Joseph and the Bambina," or Holy Babe,
and the surroundings of Bethlehem.
Columbus entered the port of Bohio,
Hayti, on st. Nicholas day, 1892, and
named the port Saint Nicholas. The
Santa Maria having been wrecked, Co.
lumbus and his men worked till dawn
Christmas morning salvaging the wreck.
The day following he was Toasted by
Chief -Guacanagari, who wore a shirt and
a pair of gloves given him by Columbus,
and a coronet of gold. though other chiefs
were clad in natures garb. Capt. John
Smith of the Virginia colony, spent his
first Yuletide as a captive among the
Powhatan Indians. In after years the
Jamestown settlers were to become noted
for their hospitality at Christmas time.
Dutch Bring 100 Customs
The Puritans arrived at Plymouth in
December, 1920. According to the jour-
nal OF William Bradford, I've 20 DAY
(Dec.) they BECAME to erecte We first
house for comone use to receive them
and their goods Thus, although the
Puritan leaoer avoids the word OF Christ
mas, 1t appears that home-building in
the colony began on that day. The Purl-
tans seem to have had a happy Christ
mas dinner on board the Mayhower,
though that was the last for many a
year, as any observance OF the day was
frnunnnI l1nnn 1iftln Inv nrrlp Christmas
as a holiday was brought into favor, but
1T was as ate as 1886, while Nathaniel
F.. Banks was governor. that the day was
made a legal holiday in Massachusetts.
The good Dutch fathers sailed for the
new world with the image OF St. Mich
oias for a hgurehead on their vessel.
They named the first church they built
for st. Nicholas and he became the pa
iron saint OF the new city on Manhattan
island. Thanks TO these sturdy old
Dutcnmen, many delightful customs OF
Christmas observance were preserved to
posterlty.
Yuletlde has been ~singularly connect
ed with important events in the history
Of the United States. IN Christmas night.
177o, Washington crossed the Delaware
TO capture nearly a Thousand HeSslans
at their Christmas reyelrles. A few days
later, December 80, congress resolved TO
send commissioners TO the courts OF Eu-
rope, n the 4uletlde achievements OF
the colonial army were declared by Fred
erick the Great TO be the most brilliant
OF any recorded in the ana of mill
tary action" The year following was a
gloomy Yuletide Tor the American forces
lay encamped at Valley Forge. Christmas
eve, 1888, washington laid aside forever
his military uniform. MART Il Washing
ton held her first public reception in the
executive mansion on Christmas eve, and
at Yuletide a few years later the coun-
try was mourning the death of Wash
ington. January /, 1868, Lincoln issued
Proclamation of Emancipation, and on
December rs, 1868, the proclamation Of
unconditional pardon and amnesty to
all concerned in the. late insurrection'
was issued.