WHICH DATE?

Dunstan Times, Issue 3517, 13 April 1931, Page 6

WHICH DATE?

— CHRISTMAS DAY QUAINT OLD CUSTOMS The most curious thing about the Christmas Day, as being the birthday of Christ, is that it is almost certain that Christ was not born on December 25 at all (says tho ‘Observer’). In Judea, where Christ was born | 11)30 years ago, December 25 would be mid-winter, the height of the rainy season, and shepherds, as narrated in the Bible, could hardly be watching their flocks by night in the plains. Nevertheless, for hundreds of years, Christmas Day has been celebrated on December 25. as a day of festivals and rejoicing, and so no doubt it will be celebrated for centuries to come. In the early days of Christianity sonic people cclehratd Christina-* Day on January (i. and some on .Mai -h 25, and others on December 25. A great many did not celebrate it at all. One reason was that many peo) le had not yet been converted to Christnuiity. Another perhaps was that the celebration of Christmas was discouraged by methods such as those of Diocletian. Homan Fmpcrnr from 28-! to 305. Diocletian, learning that a host of Christians bad conic to the city where • be was staying to celebrate the birthday of Christ, ordered that ail the church doors he closed, and th -n set (ire to the building. All the Christians were burnt to death. DIFFLUENT VIEWS. There were many different; opinions, in the second century after Christ's coining, about the day of His birth.. Some set it down as .May 20, others as April .1!) or 20, others again as November 17, u.c. One writer claimed that lie knew “by private revelation ” that it was on March 28. “ if,” be argued. “ the world was created perfect. How -rs in 1 bloom, and trees in leaf -therefore it I was spring; also it was created at the i equinox, and when the moon just | created was full. Now the moon and 1 the sun were created on a Wcdi: --day. j The date of March 28 suits all these j considerations, Christ, therefore, being j tbe Sun of Righteousness, was born on .March 28.” Gradually, 1 bough, as the ce: tnrics i rolled by. three (bites, as has already j been said, were cli'mlly considmcd a.., j being Christ's birthday Ja.nmry <■’, | March 25, and December 25. In time j the c-bnrcii as a whole accepted I >eccm- j her 25 as the day. The day December 25 was a feast j day in many heathen eonnlrie- long) before Christians adopted it as ('linst’s birthday. The am-icnl Britons began ■ the year on l)e<-ember 25. and Christ- ; mas night was celebrated as mother's I night. “ bci-an-e ol i lye ceremonies per- ; formed in Dial long night vigil.” Tin- Romans celebrated December 25 as a day of “ universal license and , merry making.” It was the festival of their god Saturn. The poorest and ! most miserable slaves on tin’s day cere given a temporary tr.-.-d.mi. in which their masters wailed on them and fnlfi lie i I heir wishes. Fvei-ymm feasted and rejoiced. I louse-; were gaiiv dee. rated with lam-els and ev.-rgre.-i!-,. i Tuple mad.- , Olle .mollier presents, j 11 S t as v.e do to- ■ day. There were all sorts of spo>-( I’hiW ( I >T;I Vi - le b.-a rh.,-n King land -.ml in Hm, \I II 1I ■ II»I II - <>l 1i W . II.Ii ■i I i II1• i 1 - \\ ■, >I• I .

set hla/.ing ail over Hit; country in honour of' ’lie gods Odin juul Thor, y. 1 ( • n ;>llli cattle were sacrificed to t!u; gods \vit!i much pagan ritual niu 1 much i'eastiug and rejoicing. Holy Druids oat lit* l f. < the- -am ietoe._ Thf custom which Mil! survive:; in in Miami that at Christinas a man may kiss any girl who walks under the .mistletoe is a relic in the oh! barbarous days of Lite Dm ids. Many oi uur Christmas customs have snninr from H-e sum- paean origin. Chict among them is the custom of giving presents. Mine than ‘i.OOO years a;:o Hu' Homans ami Ha Viking.- began th<> custom, ami it has been going on ever since The ere.in of Hie tpr;n J>oxto lie fouml in the same eiistoin. The ancient Homan lords gave gilt:< to their servants; a few centuries ago in England. the lords and baron; giving pro s< *n ts to their !'i ■a in .ms, dropped them in a special earthenware box with a slit in the lid; hence the term Christmas hox, and since Christmas boxes were given on Hie day alter Cli.istmas hence the term Boxing Day. The harems ami knight'- of the Middie Ages were always at their most generous at Christmas time. For a fortnight then they sc ■ . a house. Anyone who liked could come into then castles during that time and feast and drink to his heart’s eon;mi:. On • Ihrisltemled hy ab tile lord’s noble relatives and neighbours. And such a feast it was! A I’KF.s iIF.AD. Tlic chief Christmas dish of those days was the lea,: n -• i .1 m’g. With a great iieurisii of trumpets a servant would earry the hoar’s head into the huge hampie!ing hall on a ■<; silver dish, while all the guests sang a Constmas song. A Her ; : c hoar's he: d had been cut up and washed down with numerous tankards .un g iiijcors by the uohle lords and ladies assembled a 10a.5.0 i •.voillft he brought ill. Moms were silent in preparing the Idl'd for the feast;. Its -kin ri , carefitlix taken oi!' it with the feathers untouched: the bird was then roasted. its Leak had mmi painted gold, had it-; feathers sewn on again very cai c fully sinfiVd with spices and herbs. hasied with Hie yolks oi eggs, and c >vemi iiheraliv with gravy, the peacock was tala n into ti>e haic. m ' nag; hall. Big no mama! could carry it. That duty was reserved for Hie lady whose heau:\ or birth gate her the right to carry it, followed m process ion by the other ladies invited to the ler-i. io where the lord of the castle sat. (Teese. pheasants drenched with niid;er grease, pies made of carps’ tongims. and many other tilings made imi i. i“si of ihe lea-t. with the addition of one more dish always con: idem! indispensable. Hi; Ft 'IOCS i’i !■>'.. This was furmety, which was made ‘’ Ta h.e • S.■ • 111 whea i am 1 bra v j in .< meriar so that the bulls all 'em off. am! seethe it fill it .Vn I iai: • I'n -b bread and sueei milk of almond--cm - milk of row-, and take i lie .voile, oi eggs. Boil ii a Hi He and sel ii do.vn nr in I: inu! ion," h.'if iii 1 v i: no more a Chi maijalui.y. The hiH-ey I.a- a. a t lamas dish still surviies in Knglam! -the a inee j,i e . ('em uric-, a p miivy wi !'<• so win : i ( ivi'i.u' 11 ami Ibe I 'ii ri; aii V-'lia- I ;ny i eikmm • sen me- en -ms Dm I I aI. -aid I hi' ' ’uni ane wa- be.Hi no- i line- Cl; ri-1 ma - Day e.-a e ( ) i ob- - ee!e- j