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

of Manhattan.
AS a matter Of fact these stolid and
solid New Amsterdammers were
real celebrators of Christmas. Nobody
could do it any better than they. More
than one day was required. Old and
young enjoyed all sorts of sports, and
, such revelry as was permitted in those
early American days, when nothing
was known of modern jazz orchestras.
There were many family gatherings
and many great feasts. The records in
dictate sometimes the fun became so
/ boisterous that even so rugged an
individualist as old Governor Peter
Stuyvesant had to call them down.
We owe the Dutch settlers for some
of our time-honored customs as well
as many other good things. Presents
were exchanged on January l, or on
Saint Nicholas day by the New Am
sterdammers. Saint Nicholas Day
with them was December 6, and the
Dutch settlers introduced Saint Mich
olas or Santa Claus to the United
States. Later on Santa Claus was
adopted by the other Colonies and he
became the official traditional secular
hero of Christmas In New Amsterdam
after the Colony became New York, St.
Nicholas day gradually was merged
with Christmas.
The New Amsterdam Riddles believ
ed firmly in Saint Nick, his sled and his
reindeer. Instead of hanging their
stockings by the chimney they depos-
tied their capacious wooden shoes near
the fireplace expecting to get them
filled with presents. They were rarely
disappointed.
Following the Declaration of indie
pendence, the Revolution and the form
ing of the new nation, the celebration
of Christmas, of course, became a ma
tional custom. The Christmas tree and
Santa Claus became American institu-
tons and were found all over the cOun-
try. Now, with exceptions due princi-
pally to climatic conditions, Christmas
is celebrated pretty much the same all
over the country. That indicates we
have become one united nation. In the
far South, where the weather is warm
and mild, there are Yuletide fireworks,
celebrations as well as professions.
This article would not be complete
unless more mention was made of that
great institution, the Christmas tree.
Comparatively little is known as to the
origin of this tree. Most authroities
seem to believe that it became symbol
through some Of the various forms of
tree worship which were common in
many early pagan religions. There are
a number of records of the use Of trees
in ancient winter festivals. During the
Roman Saturnalia, mentioned above, it
was customary to take pine trees, dec
crate them with images and place light
ed tapers on them. The Christmas tree
may have been suggested by the sacred
tree Of Scandinavian mythology, which
was supposed to embrace within its
roots and branches the whole world.
In early Egypt the palm tree was used
as a sacred image in ceremonies during
the winter solstice.
These are among the explanations
given for the origin of the Christmas
tree. But nobody knows where and
when the early Christians adopted the
Christmas tree as a part of the festi-
val. 1t is known that on several occa-
sions during the Middle Ages trees
with lighted candles were used in Gel
ebrations at Christmas. Such tree
is described as used in a Christmas pa
geant in the time of Henry Third of
England, but it bore no presents.
##*
The earliest authentic account of the
use of Christmas tree is said to be in
a German manuscript written in 1908,
now in private library in the Reich.
The manuscript was written by cit
izen of Strasbourg, and mentions a
tree lighted with candles and hung
with presents, this apparently being a
regular feature of the Christmas cele-
81 bo +i,,,a
1t is said that the tree custom spread