The Origin of Christmas Customs.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXVI, 29 December 1900, Page 1214

The Origin of Christmas Customs.

FORGOTTEN MEANINGS OF YULETIDE.

< By

Edgar S. Nash.)

There are few things in existence today which have not been changed or moulded in the hands of“ Progress. One by one legends and customs have been disproved and overthrown, yet none has dared attack the legends and the customs sacred to Christmas-tide. Here and there a savant has tried to prove that December 25th does not mark the birthday of Christ. Men and women read, smile, pass on. The time of year corresponding to our Christmas-tide has always been a period of rejoicing in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the winter solstice. The days begin to lengthen, and the sun no longer journeys away from earth, but enters upon his return. It Is a promise of renew’ed light and warmth, of the approach of the summer days, and men hailed these signs

with every expression of gladness. In Rbme the Saturnalia, or feast of Saturn, fell at about the same time as our Christmas, and it marked the greatest festival of the Roman year. The city abandoned itself to gaiety. Unbounded license held sway; universal mirth was the order of the day; friends feasted friends, and foes w*ere reconciled. There were no slaves, no masters; all social distinctions were laid aside. Work was stopped throughout the city, and no war was ever entered upon at this time. THE DRUIDS HAD A FESTIVAL AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. The tree as the emblem of life also figured conspicuously in the earlier religions. In Egypt the palm tree put forth a new shoot each month, and at the time of the winter solstice it was the custom among the Egyptians to decorate the houses with a branch of palm bearing twelve shoots. In Rome the fir tree was regarded with veneration, and during the Saturnalian festivities the halls and houses were hung with evergreen boughs. In England, in the days of the Druids,

the houses were decked with evergreens in order that the sylvan spirits might re pair to their grateful shelter and remain protected from the nipping frost and the icy winter winds. Further to the north the w’ild Teuton tribes worshipped their god in wooded places, and looked upon the fir tree as his sacred emblem. The period corres ponding to the Roman Saturnalia was the festival of Thor. This festival, like the Roman feast, was given over to the most barbaric pleasures and the wildest forms of enjoyment. Among these peoples tne festivity was known as Yule-tide. THE CHRISTMAS TREE. When Christianity spread abroad, men knew that in the story of Christ s nativity was realised what they in their blindness had striven to typify. So they adapted the old customs of their ancestors to th** new order of things. Among Northern European tribes a great fir tree was set up in each household at Christmas-tide. At its base were placed representations of Adam and Eve: in tr.*' branches coiled the Serpent, and on the topmost bough gleamed a candle, symbolising that Light of the World through Whom alone was victory over the Serpent possible. Later in history the tree was more profusely decorated with gaudy knick-knacks, all of which were at first symbolical. But the children were not allowed to see the tree till Christmas morning. To account for its appearance there the parents used to tell the children a Chaldean legend. Years ago it was the custom

for every Saxon household to burn the Yule log on Christmas Eve. This was a great, gnarled root or tree-trunk, cut the day before Christmas and brought into the hall on Christmas Eve with great ceremony, and accompanied with music. Each member of the household would sing a Yule song, standing on the centre of the log.

Then an attempt was made to drive the Yule log into the great hall, as if it were a stubborn horse. The cry was given that the “dun” refused to move, and the whole company was summoned. All took a hand, and, with loud shouting, draggeo it to the great fireplace. It was lighted with the charred remnant of the former year’s log, which had been carefully preserved for the occasion, and which was supposed to insure the house against ill luck. The children were told that during the night the Yule log gave birth to the Christmas tree which they found in the hall on Christmas morning loaded with gifts. The Christmas tree was introduced into England by Prince Albert. Consort of our Queen. From the Palace the custom spread, until now the Christmas tree i« a necessary feature of an English Christ mas. THE STORY OF KINDLY SANTA CLAUS. In Germany and other European coun tries it was believed by the children that the tree glittering w T ith candles and bright baubles and the gifts found beneath the tree were the work of jolly old Saint

Nicholas, Sant Nichola*. or Santa Claus, as we know him. This kindly saint was no legendary character. He lived about A.D.. and was a noted Bishop of Asia Minor. He was looked upon as the f»atron saint of generosity because of his liberality.

Three daughters of a poor nobleman could not marry as advantageously a« they should because their father rou.d give them no dowry. But one night one of the daughters found in her room a purse, shaped like a stocking, tilled with gold, evidently thrown in the window by someone from without. The next nignt the second daughter found a purs*} in _her room, and on the third night the fathecaught Saint In the act of throwing the third purse in the window. From that story originated the custom of hanging up the stockings on Christmas Eve. Thereafter the young girls at the convent school would hang their stockings on the door of the Mother Superior** room on Saint Nicholas’ night. On the follow >ng morning they would be found tilled with gifts and dainties, and a little bint from Saint Nicholas as to the appearance and character of their future husbands. Saint Nicholas is the patron saint ot Russia, and his festival used to be celebrated earlier in December than the 25th. but now his name is synonymous with Christmas festivities. In parts of Europe he is known as “Pelsnichol,” or Nicnolas with the fur, because he is supposed to be clad in furs from head to foot.

The idea of St. Nicholas travelling in a sleigh drawn by reindeer originated in the cold Northern countries. The reincieor were the swiftest animals known, and they must needs fly like the wind to carry

Saint Nick the rounds of the world in ne night. VENEKATIUa UF THK HOLLY. Cbriatmas is never Christmas without the holly wreath and the mistletoe. Christians venerated the holly or ho,y tree, because to them the little thorny leaves and red harries made in a wreath typified the crown of thorns and the bloody drops. Doubtless they introduce*, this solemn reminder at the joyous festival in order not to forget the sacredness of the occasion in the general festivities The mistle bush, mistletod —or mistletoe, as we know it—owes its use as a festal decoration to pagan times. According to the Scandinavian legend, Baldur, the most beloved of all the gods, had a pre monition that death impended. 1 hereupon, his mother. Frigga. besougnt everything that was begotten ot earin, air, fire, or water to swear not to narn: her son. But in her request she overlooked the insignificant little mistletoe. Uoki, the god of destruction, disguised as an old woman, visited Frigga. and, learning of her oversight, hurried bacK to where the gods were assembled. There they were amusing themselves by hurling all manner of missiles at Baldur, and all were turned aside. But Loki with an arrow made of mistletoe, pierced Baldur’s heart. In reparation, the mistletoe was given to Frigga to do as she saw fit, provided it touched not earth. And she. to show that she bore no ill will, hung it up. and everyone who passed under it received a kiss as a token that, instead of hatred and jealousy, the mistletoe now stood for love

and forgiveness, THE SPELL OF THE MISTLEAoE. Among the Celtic nation* the mistletoe was an unject of veneration, and at the festival ot me winter solstice the Prince of the Druius himaetf cut a bough ot if. The people were assembled. and then were led to the woods by the priests. who drove in advance of the company two snow-white bullocks. When tne ou < tree was found which bore the mistletoe, cue plant was cut with a golden sickle, and me bullocks sacrificed. At present it is the custom for the young men to carry out the doctrine taught by the Scandinavian my tn and print a smacking kiss on the lips of any maiden thoughtless enough to stand neneath the suspended mistletoe bougn. But for every such kiss one of the wmte berries of the mistletoe must be removed, and when all the berries have been kissed away the spell is broken. THE MEANING OF THE SPICED PUDDING AND PIES. Almost as important as the grift giving and gift receiving on Christmas Day is the feast of dainties spread on that festal occasion. But even the Christmas dinner has its origin in the dim, distant past. Feasts were always the accompaniment of any festival. In Egypt, at the winter solstice, every family killed and ate a goose as a religious observance. In the hieroglyphic language of the Egyptian, the figure of a goose was the word ‘child.” The people haO noticed that the goose was remarkable tor the way in which it protected its young, nence it was looked upon as the symbol of great

love —that love which is willing to sacrifice itself for the object of its affection. This trait was also believed to belong to the god they worshipped. so the Egyptians celebrated this festival b> kitting and eating a goose. The plum pudding as a dish in .he Christmas teas*, has its meaning. Th--number and richness of its ingredients represented the rich gifts which the kings ..till at the feet of in-- < hiid JeSUS In earlier days the mince pie, then a great pastry dish, filled with force 1 meat and fruits, was made box-shaped, to

typify the manger in which the Child had lain.—“ Golden Penny.”