The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-12-12
Christmas In Other Times

JdHudIy o, IHe udy VI Inc IeSIlNdl VI
Epiphany. Religious features are
prominent in the celebration in France,
too, but the custom of exchanging
presents is similar to that of our own
country.
Germany and Scandinavia are said
to observe Christmas generally per-
haps more deliberately than most other
nations. In Germany, TOO, we find that
the Christmas tree is an important in
stitution. The tree and the house are
decorated the day before Christmas.
The tree, placed in the best room, is
presented to the children on Christmas
eve. This is followed by an exchange of
gifts. Christmas itself is a day for
calling on ones friends. In Scandinavia
there is an especial EFFORT to observe
the spirit of the occasion. Quarrels are
forgiven and there is an effort to ex-
tend cheer to everyone. Christmas
grain is put out for the birds. In Aus
tria candles are placed in the windows
to light the path of the Christ Child.
In South America and Australia,
too, there is much celebrating, and
great many church festivals. But in
most of these localities climatic differ
ences make the background unlike that
found in the United States and Europe.
&**
But what of our own customs? After
all we are interested most in institu-
tons of the United States. In the Co.
lonial days the observance of Christ
mas was a mixed affair. The holiday,
or its celebration at least, was practi-
cally unknown in New Eengland.
Those stern Colonists were Puritans
and they did not hold with feasting and
merry-making on Christmas.
1t is said that the first Christmas
day in Plymouth was devoted to build
ing a house for the settlers and it is
recorded that mo man rested all day."
In the year 1859, when New England
was about half century old, so far as
English colonization was concerned,
the General Court of Massachusetts
enacted a law that any unlucky Puri-
tan who was found celebrating "any
such day as Christmas or the like by
forbearing labor, feasting or any other
way" should be fined five shillings. The
law was repealed in 1851 but, even at
that, it is recorded that there were
few Christmas celebrations in New
England until many years later.
$50
Thus it is shown that some Of our
ancestors early had ideas far different
from those in vogue at present. They
enacted laws designed to prevent men
from loafng. There was no thought of
legislation to encourage men to loaf,
or paying them through funds raised
by taxation, not to work. They didn't
try to convert their government into a
Santa Claus affair. They didn't believe
in Santa Claus at all.
Be that as it may, the early Puri-
tAns of America were opposed even to
a religious observance of Christmas
When the Church of England estab-
lished Christmas services it is said that
the Puritans refused to attend. Not I'M
til after 1900, it is said, could Christ
mas be considered real, and generally
observed, New England holiday.
Things were quite different, how
ever, to the south and west. In Mary
land and Virginia, Christmas was Gel
ebrated much as it was in England.
The difference from New England in
custom was evidently due to religious
difference. In Maryland and Virginia
the Colonists were not Puritans but
generally Roman Catholics and those
affiliated with the Church of England
The principal drawback to Christ
mas celebration in early Maryland and
Virginia, and in the other southern
Colonies, too, was not an application
of the blue laws but the possible I'M
expected arrival of real Indians who
might seek to add to the merriment
with real tomahawks.
1t is said it was during the Christ
mas season that Captain John Smith
was Saved" by little Pocahontas, and
that the attack of Powhatan came at
the same period because Captain John
Smiths army took time off to celebrate
Christmas.
In early Louisiana the Christmas
celebration paralleled that of France
and it was principally of a religious
nature. Amusements and festivals
were held on New Years. 1t is said,
however, that in New Orleans Christ
mas eve was celebrated until midnight
when the entire populace attended
mass.
The Colony of New York was at
first, of course, New Netherlands, and
the Dutch settlers there regarded
Christmas as the biggest holiday of
the year. To them, as it was to their
fathers and mothers back in Holland,
Christmas was both religious and a