BEFORE THERE WAS CHRISTMAS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17223, 14 December 1923, Page 7

BEFORE THERE WAS CHRISTMAS.

PAGAN FND-OF-THE-YEAR FESTIVALS. “The times of ttte Birth and Passion of Christ, with such little niceties, being not material to religion,” says Sir Isaac Newton, “ were little regarded by Christians of the first age,” thus accounting for the fact that not even the period of year of Christ’s birth is now known. On one point at least, however (says “ John o’ Loudon’s AYeekly ”), authorities are agreed —that Christ was born four years before the acknowledged commencement of the Christian era. Not until the year A.D- 354 does the 25th December appear anywhere to have oeen mentioned with certainty as the birthday of Christ, even then no festal celebration being recorded. It is by no means clear when the 2oth December first became a Christian feast dav. but it is fairly certain it tvas fixed in Rome about the year 380. previous to that date Chrustmas being celebrated at such varying seasons as January 6. Alarch 25, and December 25. In Rome, in the year 400, was issued an imperial rescript naming CThristmas with Easter and the■ bpiphnny as feast days on which nil theatres were to be closed. NIGHT-LONG VIGILS. It is at least likely that, the ‘2sth December was chosen bythe Church as the dav on which to celebrate the birth of Christ in order ‘that the early Christians might conduct, their rituals without fear of disturbance on the part of unbelievers, who held their pagan festivities on or about, the same dateOn the other hftnd. the object of the Church mar have been to distract the attention of its follower, from that great and undeniably attractive feast,

the Saturnalia, or Feast of Saturn, celebrated in Rome on the days 17th to 24th December. But, however the date came to be fixed, that the Nativity occurred in winter is scarcely feasible -for shepherds’ do not, and did not, lie out in the fields of Palestine round about the time of the wiifter solstice. Long before Britain became converted to Christianity. 2oth December was a feast day in these islands. “The ancient peoples of the Angii.” according to Bede, “began the years on the 25th December, and the very night which is now so holy to us they called . . . the mothers’ night, by reason, we suspect, of the ceremonies which in that night-long vigil they performed.” THE SATURNALIA. The early Church refrained from severing converts too swiftly from their accustomed rites. In time the more innocent of the pagan customs became recognised, if nor actually adopted, by the Church. ,80 to-day many of our Christmas customs to a large extent owe their existence to pagan ceremonies- Our merry, jovial Christmas rites in particular are modelled on the old Roman Saturnalia. “ That time.” says Frazer. “ was one of general mirth . . . schools were closed ... no punishment was inflicted . . Distinctions of rank were laid aside ; slaves sat at table with their masters, or were actually waited on by them. Gambling with dice, at other times illegal, was now permitted and practised. All classes exchanged gifts, the commonest being wax tapers and clay dolls.” The “ fool’s-can ’’ tucked away in the Christmas cracker is symbolical of the pointed hat worn by the free men of ancient Rome, the privilege, of wearing this badge of free rank being conceded to slaves during the seven days of the Saturnalia, fancy dress deriving also from those riotous celebrations. Lighted candles were prominent at the Feast of Saturn, as were pine-trees (forerunners of our Christmas trees) decorated with images of Bacchus, as described by A 7 irgil (Dryden’s translation) : In jolly hymns they praise the god of Whose earthen images adorn the pine. And these are hung on high in honour of the vine. A NASTY KNOCK. It is well perhaps to remind ourselves at this season what a blow our Holy days had in 1644. when the Roundhead Parliament abolished not only Christmas—on the grounds that

it was a heathen festival, and that the celebrations were conducted too closely on the lines of the old, hilarious Satur-nalia—-but also Easter, Whitsun, and all Saints’ days, furthermore prohibiting the holding of any religious services on Christmas Day. For twelve years these great festivals were discountenanced- But King Charles 11., on the restoration of the monarchy, chased the gloom away, and Christina* in all its glory was revived. Scotland, however, held to the Puritan view, and so to-day the Land of the Thistle holds aloof when the Sassenach is thinking: Heap on more wood ! —the wind is chill 3 But let it whistle as it will, AA'e’l! keep our Christmas merry still.