The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-01-03

now. since the Old ChFissmos fessivol vii
be held a. Rodonihe Saturday night Of hi.
week. the lest community on the coostiane
which OnnVoilY observes this event, 50 Uni.
VeFsOliv Feve'ed BY oil in earlier days.
CHRISTMAS-Did you know
that Christ was not born on De-
cember 90?
Did you know that at one
time the celebration of Christ
mas in this country was forbid
den by law?
Did you know that its cele-
bration in England was once
prohibited under severe penalty
by law?
Did you know that the term
Santa Claus" is simply the mis-
spelling of another word?
The scientists and astronom-
ers connected with the planetar-
ium at Chapel Hill have prepar-
ed an interesting story about
OhA ioGAoSJ Tic ICSuiL VI HldIy
months of research work.
We think you will find it in
teresting, are printing it below.
History of Christmas
In the first few centuries of
Christianity, there was no uniform
celebration of Christmas, because
the exact date of the birth of
Christ was unknown.
Churches variously celebrated
the event on January 2, March rs
or %, April 10 or 10 and May 20.
The adoption of December Is was
decreed by Bishop Liberius OF
Rome in 354.
This date was probably chosen
because it conceded with the pagan
festival of the winter solstice. The
Romans observed Saturnalia, the
feast Of the god Saturn, between
December II and December "a
The Germans, Gauls and Britons
celebrated on December Is. The
Norsemen held Yule feasts between
December rs and January 6.
In the eastern part of the Chris
tian world, festivities similar to
those of Christmas were observed
on January 6 or Epiphany, which
commentaries the baptism of the
Christ child.
In the Middle Ages the Church
opposed the traces of paganism
surviving in the popular Christmas
customs, and created special
Christmas masses, to be performed
at midnight, daybreak and morn
ing.
The Church also introduced ma
tivity plays, Christmas carols and
manager songs.
During the Restoration period in
England, the Puritans were so OBJ.
posed to merrymaking that they
passed law in 1859 forbiddine
the observance of Christmas.
The Puritans of New England al
so forbade the celebration OF
Christmas. But these repressive
measures didn't last long. The spir-
it of Christmas as now celebrated
in English-speaking countries may
partly be ascribed to Charles Dick
ems. Several Of his writings, par
ticularly "A Christmas Carol =
popularized the festival and gave
it increased jollity.
Origin of Christmas Customs
With the exception of Christmas
greeting cards, which were first
used in 1916, nearly all the Christ
mas holiday customs can be traced
to a non-Christian origin, accord
ing to researchers for "Star of
Bethlehem" now being presented
at the Morehead Planetarium in
Chapel Hill.
The Christmas tree, usually an
evergreen, is derived from the Ro-
man Saturnalia and the Morse wor-
ship of trees. 1t was in Germany
in the 18th Century that the tree
was first used as symbol of
Christmas. The custom was
brought to England and to Amer
lea in the early 1905.
The misteltoe was the sacred
plant of the Druids, who were the
priests of ancient Britain and Gaul
(France). Holly and the symbolic
ed protection against evil spirits
IN the Morse festivals. The Gus
toms Of exchanging gifts can also
be traced to the Roman Saturnalia.
The early Christians of Rome hung
boxes in their churches to be filled
with offerings and distributed ID
the needy at Christmas.
Tn most popular Christmas leg
end is that of Santa Claus, who
comes down the chimney on Christ
mas Eve to fill children's stockings
with gifts. The name 1Santa
Claus" is q Dutch corruption Of
Saint Nicholas" the patron saint
Of Children.
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas was noted bish-
op OF Myra in Asia Minor who died
about S26 A. d.