Santa Claus and his History

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 147, 19 December 1927, Page 31

Santa Claus and his History

By A.M.D.

By A. M. Dixon. Copyright.

Season of mellowness, mirth, and frivolity, . ■ .-. " Queen of all festivals, prineo of good cheer, Symbol of fellowship, emblem of jollity, Christmas, old Christmas, is once again here., v

The spirit of Christmas creates- a new world. It hovers even after tho podding has been eaten and the decorations "banished to the dust-bin. It is a time when our minds refuse the obvious and commonplace, and turn to the claims of little children, and to the reminders of our own youth. It is a season when Father Christinas is the honoured guest in the hearts of alg healthy youngsters. For it is he— the all-powerful one—who holds the key • of the magic door, and gives the password into an enchanted world, where dolls never lose their heads, nor trains ! cease to run on endless quests round the world. "Santa Claus" is still the wonder man of childhood. The Christ' ! mas stocking is accepted with the same faith, and the contents pored over with ■ the same curiosity, as when St. Nicholas, centuries ago, left gifts of .sweets, presents of money, and other treasures at the homes of his favourites. ; According to church history, ho ' is not^only tho'patron saint of Bussia, but is looked upon as tho special guardian and fairy godfather of all young' people, including (lowerless maidens, saUormen and travellers, and industrious , schoolboys. At seasido towns numerous churches bear his name, to welcome those who would ask a blessing before departing on unknown seas. '.. Until comparatively recently 6th De- ; cember was kept as a holiday at Eton and other public schools in honour of his birthday. ■ ■ There is rather a 'curious history attached to the quaint name of "Santa Glaus." According to Chambers, it is an... American corruption of tho Dutch words SanteKlaas and Sint-.Nikolas for the early pioneers kept up the old customs af the Fatherland when New York- was a yoiing city. The Saint's : birthday^ was a tinio given over to holi-day-making, of visiting, and of tho ex- ■ changing of gifts among both young and old. _ The following is rather an interest- ; ag account of the social' customs ■ aboard ship, written ~by the Rev. Henry :': Teonge, chaplain of one of King ■ Charles's ships of war: "At 4 o'clock ;; m the morning, trumpeters started at 1 the captain's cabin, thence to all the i officers 3 and gentlemen's cabins, play- . ing at each cabin door. Then to the poop they went and sounded three levitts, in honour of Christmas morning. •; At 10 we went to prayers and sermon ;. (Zach. is. 9.). All partook of oxcel- ;; ,lent fare. A rib of beef, plum pud- :\ ding, mince pies, and wines of several : sorts. Wo drank health to the King, .! to our wives and friends, and much '! civil mirth. On 12th night we had a great cake made, in which were put ] beans and other tokens." According to history, Christmas festi- ;■ vities were kept up till 6th January '■; ' twelve days after Christmas Day. '", f\h c month of December has been as■oelated with religious festivals and en- •: tertainments all through the ages. In t fact, some-of the present-day customs J have their roots far back in the old !; pagan .days of sacrificial fires and sun worship.- The Eoman "Saturnalia"

was a great carnival held during the period of the winter solstice, and the solar New Year. Children joined in the processions of sun worshippers to tho temples, carrying garlands and wreaths of holly and mistletoe, and laying them on the altars, as thanks-offerings for another year, and for the return of spring. ■ The Boman mothers held a "juvenalia," for it. was a timo of public rejoicing, o£ and giving, and fruit and other treasures were placed in the sandals of the little ones, and in other receptacles put ready to receive them. Sprigs of holly and mistletoe found their way into every homo as a charm against evil, and as a pledge among young men and maidens, for the mistletoe was thought to'ppssess magical powers.

The modern Christmas tree has its origin in these early festivities. For, according to heathen mythology, branches of oak and evergreens were placed on the household altars, and decked with lamps and hung with fruit, as an emblem of firo worship, and in honour of "Pomona," queen of forest sprites and goddess of fruit trees. .

Somp of these old Pagan customs and beliefs found their way into tho" social life of all Celtic races, and became intermingled with the strango fire rites of Britain's Druidio ancestors.- For with them the midwinter" sblstiee-^thc timo of Christmas—was a season of great rejoicing. Priests led processions

The whirligig of- lime again brings us to Christmas, to Santa Claus, to the day when youthful dreams come true and the minds of men revert io memories—the day when the spirit of good will, peace and happiness remind us of the birth of Him to whom we owe all that We are and all that we have.

into the forests to gather mistletoe from the sacred oak. Sprigs of holly and mistletoe wero placed on the Druid altars, and sacred fires under the ancient, oaks as peace offerings to the gods, while wreaths wero hung over the doorways of every household as a token''of friendship and goodwill among -.the younger people.

The- pld English custom of lighting the Yule log on Christmas Eve dates from these old ,days—a link with ancient histsory when bonfires were lit in honour of the sun, and as a symbol of the cleansing- power of firo—the beginning again and the burning out of old wrongs and family feuds. The heating of,the wine in the wasaail bowl at the friendly flames, and the drinking of healths and tlie drowning of cares, is a custom still kept up in some parts of England during tho Christmas festivities. .... „

With the spread of Christianity, altar candles replaced the emblems of fireworahip—a symbol handed down through the centuries to commemorate the lighting of thtr greatest "torch" in the world 'a history, These old customs and traditions, which cluster round Christmas, -will never lose their freshness or novelty For they bear the "hall-mark" of the nursery, and express the mood for the day so faithfully that vow they have become a legend-^a national possession —a feeling shared;by allwho love these old, old customs; and the laughtwv of little children. ; ■