CHRISTMAS BRIEFS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 December 1922, Page 7

CHRISTMAS BRIEFS

Holly stands for strength, for prudence, and foresight. It is the opposite in all respects to the clinging ivy.

Holly, curiously enough, has a. sacred repute among the Pursees, who have u curious legend that the sun never throws any shadow' from this tree.

Christmas chimes are a feature of the festive season—and in this connection it is interesting to note that church bells were invented in the year ■IOO A. 1)., by Bishop Baulinus of C’auipagnia.

An annual swimming contest was .started in 1864 by tho old Serpentine Swimming Club—which claimed to be the oldest ..swimming institution m existence in England—the race taking place each Christmas morning, When the Serpentine was frozen, however, the race was postponed.

“Christmas Boxes” wore originated in the early days of Christianity. They were “boxes” used for the x’eception of alms. These boxes were opened on Christmas day, and the contents distributed the day after—hence w r e get “Boxing” Day—under the name of the “dole of the Christmas Box.”

In Scotland Boxing Day has its counter-part in Handsel or Han’sel Monday—the first Monday of the year —and many a “noggin’ o’ Scotch’ about this time still disappears to the well-known toast:—“A glide New' Year and a merry Han’sel Monday.” The word is apparently from handsele, i,e., hand-seal—something wdiich binds or seals a bargain;

-Mistletoe is a parasite, an Ishmaelite among plants, yet possessing a peculiar beauty of its own, with its golden-green leaves and waxen white berries. Tho grim associations wdiich it possesses from its mingling in Drui-dk-al rites give it a sinister name. It will be remembered that, according to ancient legend, its knots were the only things left on earth capable of slaying Baldur. All kinds of stories are told as to tin; origin of the Christmas Tree, and several Continental nations vie with each other as to owning the honour of having given birth to the tree. We know' that in olden days pagan races used the fir tree largely in, decoration for heathen feasts, and during the Homan Saturnalia the fir tree was utilised, little images of tho god Bacchus being fastened to its branches. There is a Scandinavian legend which tells that the famous tree rose from the soil where two true lovers died, the candles springing to light “for remembrance,” but as far as can be vouched lor, the modern Christmas tree can be traced back only to the 16th century, and it was not until nearly the end of the 18th century that it was introduced to England.