Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1873 — CHRISTMAS NOTES. [ARTICLE]

CHRISTMAS NOTES.

The Germans call Christmas “the children’s festival.” Make some of the poor happy for a day at least. Their misery is harder to bear than ever at Christmas time. Girls, have mercy, and don’t all of you give your beaux slippers. Remember that each fellow has only one pair of feet. Above all things, keep in good humor on Christmas, fathers and mothers. Let nothing disturb the enjoyment of the day. 7 —— The general custom of decorating the churches and houses with evergreens is descended from the Druids. They believed that sylvan spirits would dwell in the evergreen boughs and garlands until spring, and protect the house from evil spirits. . - —— Nearly every country has its own mode of celebrating Christmas. In Italy, feasting and singing is the order of the day, ana, as the shades of night fall upon their lovely towns, numbers of musicians go forth to celebrate the one who has most merited their esteem and approbation during the past year. The first authoritative command to keep Christmas time holy is attributed to J Clement, a eollaborateur With St. Paul, and mentioned by the latter in the Epistle to the Philippians. Clement says: “Brethren, keep diligently fast-days, and truly, in the first plate, the day of Christ’s birth.” Christmas coming just as winter has commenced his icy reign, the inner w armth, and glow, and comfort make a deeper impression on the soul, moving it to thankfulness and rejoicing; and brandies and wreaths of evergreen form a more fitting decoration in honor of our Saviour’s birth than all the wealth of tropical flowers, which blossom only to wither and perish in an hour. Christmas is the joytul time tor reunion and rest. All business and study being suspended, the family mansion is filled wtth youthful life and freshness; the blooming daughter home from school, beam inc with fun and fancy; the youth forgetting for a time the account-book and visions of future wealth—all throwing care aside and considering a Christmas kiss, under the mistletoe, the highest of earthly delights. It is notto be wondered at that both poets and artists have devoted many of their best productions to the honor of Christmastide and its festivities. Celebrations, from the penny candle and sprig of green, in the peasant’s hut, to the gorgeous and lavish display in the palace, have all had their share of picturesque representation—all breathe the same spirit of happiness and joyous recognition of grand union of earth and heaven. In all the civilized world there is no spot so secluded, and, perhaps, no heart so dark that the sound of Christmas chimes falls to awaken in it a sense of joy and exultation. Round and round the earth rolls the grand sympathetic melody, calling on the rich and poor alike to put aside for a day ail disputes and Jealousies, and over and above all trouble and perplexity swells the sublime, rei teratechlstfain: Peace and good-will, good-will and peace, Peace and good-will to all mankind.