Terre Haute Weekly Gazette, Volume 8, Number 21, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 28 December 1876 — Page 6

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'he Mfeehlu §aztth.

"'MERRY CHRISTMAS

v*»®

Its Orfein and History from the Earliest Days.

Its Religious and Secular Celebra ticn in Europe and America.

^om8, Feasts and Practices Connected with the Great Christian Holiday.

Cheer it Brings and the tiames it Provokes Through out the World.

An Interesting Account Great Christian Festival.

of the

From tho St. Louis Globe-Democrat. If ever magic was in word, then it Christmas that word. Its very pronounc excites a train of pleasant thougnt

*VCI!

the nine simple letters that compose

ove as entertaining to you as the forinof it was to me. First then WH.Vr IS CHRISTMAS Mid when was it established There is •ertainly no one calling himself a Christian who cannot answer the first question. 'Che tery name tells us that it is Christ's feast, (he commemoration of his fcirth. But as to the ime when this feast Irst came to be celebrated, even rhe teamed differ among themselves The decretals, which many pronounce "false," ate rite its establishment to Pope Teles^hoius, who lived in the reign ot Antoninus Pius. Others find the first traces •f it in the time of OoiMiiodus (ISO-KJ^.) f: That it was celebrated in the days ot

Diocletian, we know ot a •ertairitv for ecclesiastical history tells the story of several hunch eJ Christians who had assembled on the awe of the Loru's nauvi.j in the great aburch in Nicomedia, and were there aaadc to sutlei a terrible death by the tywnt's order. The sacred edilice was set an fire by his soldiers, and the fatthlui fcrished in'the flames. Finally, we read a'f the definitive settling of the day on which the feast was to be celebrated. In tiie fourth century, St. Cyril, of Jcrusa-

Jem, wrote !o Pope, Julius I, requesting Lithe matter *0 be looked into. After H""*aare(u! examination of the tables of the L^pensors, as preserved in Rome, this Pope aiune the conclusion that Christ's na'.ivmust have occurred on the 25th ot Deis. •ember. And, from that time forth, all

T- Cb stian nat'ons have agreed in keeping 5 iChristmas on this particular day of the '"year.

Yet the question cannot be said to b^ decided. ,1HI£ PRECISE n\YOF CHRIST'S BIRTH 'k not so firm' ^established .as to be be-

JfDnd doubt, before Pope ulius had laid down this rule for uniformity, different ^oplcs had celebrated Christmas on difwentdays, and even in different months.

March was the month. Lightfoot gives ta flieday at the 15th of September Scali*er, Casaubon and Caivisius place it in

October others in November. Dr. Gil b4 aiore thinks it likely that Christ's birth |.nV took place 011 the 29th of September, the iw Feast of the Tabernacles. Then again, di lhas been celebrated on tbe 1st and on the 6th ot' January, and on the 213th of

Ijviiand

,,, March. Pope Bern-diet XIV, however, |ijMj Held to the generally received opinion, in refutation of Scaliger and Bassue nage, appeals to tin testimony ot St. th? Chrvsostom, Gregory of Nyssa, At'gus[pHt'line and cithers.

It h{is been obsevrrd, and not without 1 I a good show of »e

frr,

,nIbirth.

ieJta

.emf

.M\f„P

at tWarms our attention for a

•—li.

a?re

nin

old were sternly opposed to it, and, ins England, when the power was in their hands, there was no such feast as"Merry Christmas." The Presbyterians of Scotland rail against it as of "human invention," and "savoring of papistical will-worship." And Dissenters, generally,in the Un*ted Kingdom, keep it on ly as a social holiday. In our own country, we believe that all Christfan denomiiatious keep it with more or less of religious ceremony. Churches are decorated, services are read, appropriate sermons preached, and all unite in the joy which the feast brings. In the Catholic Church especialv the rites are most solemn and. beautiful. I care not what his belief, what his prejudices, a man who has ever witnessed the grandeur of a "midf.i ht mass'and listened tj that glorious hvmn, the \deste Fideles, must have a heart harder than adamant it it were 'not moved to puerer and holier thoughts. Lights, and flowers, and inccnse, and flowing robes, a"d music, and al those accessories which the ritual the Cutholic Church supplies, she never uses to better advantage than on such an

occasion To one outside her pale, attending a midnight mass an event to a Catholic it is an epoeh.

t0 be comme

The Egyptians would have it, that Christ closes the festive seaso'p. «u born in January, S. Clement of •***^»«»dria mentions

'd Christmas in June or July, .irncd men have held various

the subject. Wagenseil be-

ors

ut Christ was born in February, Christmas gilts arc cariefu'lly smuggled in, I ti iltliis he is not sure he thinks i' the Christina* dainties are provided, the •robaMe that his birth might have taken Christmas tree (when nightfall has 1 r* I iKnl- 1 1 __1 .. 4- ni.io ri place in August. Becbart says that

It is the height of the rainy sca-

lsx^iOnln tides', and shepherds could not In fbie watching their flocks, as the gospel re|0j|latepthey were doing: "And there were fin the same country shepherds watching, 'land keeping the night watches over their

Jflock."—St Luke, ii., S. I The Scripture says no more than this,

a.n£that

Christ was borne in the fullnc-ts ot ikime." The Evangelist's narrative is """Sbricf and well known. Mary and Joseph °|came to Bethtehein to be enrolled there

no placc for them in the inns thev re^Ipre to a stable there the Christ is born, tjpn angel appears to poor shepherds and

Every priest is allowed to say three masses^n this day. Where the litual is strictly observed, the first is said at midnight, tbe second at day break, and third at any time'before noon on Chri mas day. These three ina-ses are mas (lily. IHwC UllCC inu-sw a»v p»uv IIIVUI, oauia vauf, 4*

t0 the public's enjoyment. The

come) is decked out. But stay, a word about this CHRISTMAS "TREE.

Whence did it come It is decidedly a German institution. S«nt.» Claus has also been imported from Gfermany. But in Germanv the attendant customs are even prettier and more picturesque than here.

At the

tl at winter conld

'faot have been the time of the Savior's

tbat

'mm tbe "glad lidings a multi be blessed spirits join him, sing^rand anthem: "GlirytoGod md on earth peace to men of 1." Not a word of a day or iJut what matters that to you or reader? Our Christmas will

lOW^ :ott| he ith ano. \rucl "aleS'^rne Christmas of the'rert of Christenand let savants and biblical exegists faniiscuss the matter to their hearts content. 1 bv will agree,

are

RELIGIOUS CELEBRATION OF CHRIST

in considenr.g it as a

Poifieat religious festivul. 1 he uruans, 01 .•

beginning of the month of

December, or a "few days before the great feast, a personage grotesquely dressed, and* known laS'Pelsnichol, or "Nicholas with the fur," calls on each fami*- and asks for the children. Tl ey are brought before him. On some he bestows praises on others- reprimands. which are m.vle rnoie «Affective by his presenting the parents with a rod to use when necessary. Be it remembered

tor the tearwnu «mu.

ant\

nnt all. The elders begin not all. The elders begin to dress the tree, when the eves of the vounger ones are closed in slumber. A huge pine or fir is placed in the center of the "best room." Here and there amongst the branches' tapers are fixed then gilded nuts, apples, fruit, papers of sweetmeats, candies, ribbons and the various gifts for the children (with the name of each on his or her gift) -----hut once

little while, to the itte ones. The lighted tapers and the King of Egypt:

at thamis our attention tor frlitterin"- among the branches, and all the "Bounce Buckram, velvets dear, graifioman Catholics, Episcopa lan other-strange fruit which this happv tree Christmas comes but once a year clineerans,

/.tSWr,

Thc

-.e

u»wi.«*ar*i

the ist:iid

morative of our Savior's

it ,\nd glance at you from the printed ,i„„„ firut his hirth from all itnrv nf one Cteorsre Washington who jage, conjure up visions of gayety and de light. The tree lack'tied with fairy truit beguiled our childhoo.l's Christmas, the (raver but more solid pleasures ot cur riper vears—all these pa.s in quick succession before us, unless we happen tobelbng 10 th.v.ii snarling, growling, typical oiass which has the misfortune to exist in this world (luckily so few in number as *ot to disturb the general good feeling 01 iumanitv). Hut, kind reader, you know *11 that could or would say on this jour own heart is so warmed up by the great festival that you need not to be reminded of its jovinl glow. All that I ask •f^ouisto give your attention to this hastily-written essay, wherein I shall •peak of Christinas fes'.ivi'us, Christmas •bservances. Christmas superstitions, etc., as they have been in the past and s- re tbe present Al! that I can hope is that the reading of the complication may

But it.is not my intention to go into de tails. Suffice it that Christmiis has ev from the cauly iges, been regarded the greatest veneratiofi. St. Basil speaks

The aptcrvphal Gospel of the infanc_ of Christ'relates that Joseph and Man' having come to Bethlehem,'Mary found that thetime of her de .ivery was drawing nigh. She informed Joseph, and he went for a midwife, leaving hii spouse in acavern. Returning with a midwife, he found the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger,and the cavern filled \Vith he .verily light'. The niidwile was instantly tui ed by tHc Plvinc 'plant, of a leprosy wb.ich h:Ul afilictc.l her.

Bibical students, itvtheir reflections on Christ,which would hardly forget to mention the prophecies concerning the birth Christmas'are found in the Old lestament. Nay, more, thb Christian inquirer into liit.t".-.j v. .11 be .-.urirto find the plainest referencest a Savioin'unexpectabout the time of Christ's nativity. ..netonius, Tacitus, the Druids, and the S\bils, are-made to givi their testimony. I?ut, in

opinion, tficbe is' hardly a

more prophetic passage iban'thv follow^ ing from ll*1 pagan Scir.danavian Edda: ""then one is'liArn

Itiglier tha 1 all He bCM-omusstrung itb the strenfeth of .earth, llic i'ijrhtiest kii.'e Men ra!l htin 1 Fast knit in poace

With all powers.

"Th rn comas Ano'tlicr, Yet in ore niiftliity .. )!ut him ilsre l.not Vcnturi! to r.ame. Kow farthor iniiv' look Than to where Oil in To uioet tti wolf

GUVS."

And now-for ihe CHRISTSIAS liVE CELEBRATION. In

olden

times it was doubtful when

Christmas began. Some commenced seven weeks before' thp feast to make merrv. But now, Christmas may be said to be ushered in on the 24th ofjD.ccember, and Little ^Christmas," (6th January,) closes the festive seaso'p. Let us fee what is done on Christmas Eve.

ana

-i^uue -v^urisiuiae,

This is th£ great dtfy of preparation. 1 1. A K1

make their visits to tlie con'tectioner's the baker's the butcher's ancf .a^ the purvey

clapping of hands, and sriiles, and laughter, and embraces, and pven tears—but tears of joy. How they5 praise the good Santa Claus !—for, of course, it is the good Santa CIBUK, that St Nicholas, who is the acknowledged patrton of child 1 en, who has bought all these Aiarvels.

Santa Claus is probably the Dutch con traction for the name of tfte gpod Bishop ofMvra. The German children ascribe these* kindly offices to the Christkindlein, who is properly the Christ in his infancy, but who is also Confounded with St. Nicholas. The little children have a rhyme which they often repeat in his honor. "Chrislkindlairi. komm,

Vaeh micti Ironiin, jas icliUir llimmel komm,"

'Christ-child, come, make me devout that I to thee in Heaven may come/, In Pensvlvan a. he becomes Kriss Kringle or Christ Kinkle. In NewYork, where he retains all the features of his Nethcrland prototype, he is Santa Claus.

elders

three births the first, his birth from all storv of one George Washington who eternity the second, his birth in time could not tell a lie, (pleasant fiction inand the Jh rd. his birth by faith and char- vented by Par sou Weems!) and almost immediately after prove themselves anvee thing but Washingtons by relating that of otherstorv of Santa Claus and his coming only to good children who would imitate George Washington.

ity in the hearts ot Christians. The Pones formerly said their thr masses in thiee different' churchas Rome—the Liberian JJasilica. the Church of St. Anastasia, and the Vatican.

may be certain to

find them. Young America hangs up his or her stocking that is, if young America is not one of those precocious vouths who have no childhood, who are "men"' and "women" before they have even entered on their teens. In the good old days children looked on tluit myth, Santa Claus, as a reality. Their

would tell them the very edifying'

Luckily Santa Clauc has found one to er do him "justice. Amongst the poems that have been seized on the affections of

tire greatest veuerauou. 01. uao» young and olti alike, there is hardly one of it in the highest terms, and says that better known in this country, and which in his time it was called Th'eopany, St. has done more to settle the characterisChrysofftom styles if Festorum omnium metropolis. "Chielest ct all feasts. And it would take a voliime to contain all thai has-been said ot this great feast. The Armenians believe tha!t on the thirietli anniversary ot liis birlh'Christ was baptized. So they celebrate the feast ot his birthday on their Chiistmas, which comes fourteen clays alter that of th Greeks.

tics of the genial Saint than that of Clem cut C. Moore, beginning. '"Twras tho iiifcht before C'lJ-istmas, jsnct all tbrough till' lioiii?e Not a creature was stiiing, not even a moyse."

In Folkston, England, the fishermen have a curious custom on Christmas Eve, or, as they call it, Rumbali night. The

head of each family picks out eight of the

largest and best whitings, on which the family make a grand least. What is left •1 is given to the poor.

Luther, in his Calloquia Mensalia, or if vou desire the plain English, in his Table Talk, mentions a still stranger custom which prevailed in his native country. On Christmas Eve, he says, the voung unmarried women went out to "strike a swinish hours" (gulsant horam su'llam)—an expression not easily explained. If a great hog grunted, the o^e hearing it was to have an old husband a little One—a yuing husband.

An I here is a ''Ceremonie" that jolly Merrick tells us about.

"Come canrit tO-night tlie Clirisnrnis pie. That ihe thicfe ihoiiKlit nc'i so lie Witn li fiesti hooks, doa't OJIIK-U'C

Tojcatiliit

From h!m who all alone sits there. JIavinjr his evi still in his eare, Ami cleai of 11 ght fearc

To watch it.

The Venltians, on Christmas Eve. cat a niess which must be provocative of strange dreams They call it torta de lasogne. Friend reader, its composition may astonish you, but be thankful that, amongst the many indigestiblts for which American Christmas is renowned you will not find this salamngundi—oil, onions paste, parsley, pine nuts, raisins, currants, and candied orange-peel.

In Hamburg servants must be treated by their masters with Carp on Christmas Eve.

The English eat furmety, and the Scotch sowans, on Christmas Eve. Of this furmety, more anon.

In Raleigh, Nottinghamshire, England, there was once an old legend that a church bad beer buried there, and that on Christmas Eve the bells could be. heard ringing. The inhabitants used to assetn nie to hear therw, and even now there are some that believe in it. Such a legend exists in parts of Ireland and her places, though thetime for listening to the chimes of the buried bells is r.o: always Christmas Eve.

On Christmas eve in Saxony a sermon is preached for the children in the parish church. They all attend, carrying lighted tapers. At the close of the discourse, each ore extinguishes his taper, and noiselessly retires. '•Iq the olden times of "Merry England" Christmas Eve was the time for .ighting the great Yule Log, bnt this I shall reserve for mention further on.

Among the superstitions connected with Christmas Eve are the following: The bees sing in their hives the oxen mav be found on their knees in adoration of the new born Saviour bread baked on Christmas Eve never grows mouldy. Thev are all from English folk-lore. Farmers in the north of England firmly believeing that the oxen in the stalls kneel down on the eve of Christ mas, old style. It seems to be a general popular tradition that an ox and ass were in the stable of Bethlehem when Christ was born, and that they warmed him with their breath. The writet has in his Childhood sung a Christmas hvmn in which this tradition was accepted as a fact. Pictures of the Nativity, dating bach to the fourth century, show these animals standing or kneeling before the manger. 'I he foundation of the belief is supposed to be the third verse of the first chapter of Isaiah, as given in the Septuatrint.

this hobgoblin is only-a friend or member of the family disguised. Yet the children are imp essed with a wort drous idea of his importance. In som places he is .tailed Knecht Ruprech "Knight Rupert." This same Knech Ruprccht figures as one of the principa characters in the Mayday pageant. On Christmas eve a beautiful maiden comes as an angel of mercy, and consoles the i^pi^ate rocks quaked at the 'death of guilty ones. '1 hey are generally threat- c^rist, might not the brute creation rened with being dcbaired from the benefits- immnap at his birth? of the Christmas tree, but she grants them pardon. It is a wise precaution, for the fear with which the Knecht

1,1

spires them often causes very sad results. jg

ATI the a retire ""es,

Well, it is a charming legend, and not in any way unreasonable. If even the

der him homage at his birth? Let m: conclude this part of my essay .ith the old Bellman's Verses.

"This ni^ht (vou mav mv Almanack

This night (you may mv Almanack be)

return

of famous Christmas Eve:

y^t, ye vircins, then, your cleanlv rooms pr

pare,

And let the

hung upon the branches. When the For Christmcs comes but once a year morning prayers have been said, the says the old vers*. Again there is the doors of this apartment are thrown open ending ef that ancient play, Alexander

are And when it cora{j it

But -when it's gone, it's never near. And another says: 'Let's .'ance, and 6ing, and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year."

In fact, there are as many variations of these lines as of the other famous ones about the nnmber of days in each month: "Thirty days hath September," etc They tell us however, the one thing—to be merry. And why should we not? answer with the olcf poet, who must have been arguing with some overzealous Puritan ''We mav be merry, and we ought not doubt Chris-tains, 'tis the birthday of Christ, our

King

Holland and Flanders he is

Knecht Knobes There he puts gifts for the youngsters in their shoes, which they are sure to put in the window -or in the chimnev-place, that

Are we disputing when the angels rpr True, there have been excesses. But docs abuse of a gcod thing make that gf»od thing bad I know that on the old clog calendar a drinking horn was put opposite the sign for Christmas, and and that even now men will make the Christmas times a too faithful imitation of the Saturnalia and Bacchanalia. Yet there are those who can and do enjoy themselves in moderation, and to them' Christmas is a well-loved religious and' social festival. And who would deprive children of their Ch istmas delights

Yes, I regret that many of the good old customs have departed. The age has grown too selfish, too cold blooded to appreciate them. Perhaps the following, from Guesses at Truth, is not far wrong: "It was a practice worthy of our worthy ancestors to fill their houses at Christmas with their relations and friends, that when nature was frozen and dreary out of doors something might be found indoors 'to keep the pulses of their hearts in proper motion.' The custom, however, is only appropiate among people who happen to ha\ hearts.

I find, though, that I have neither time nor space for moralizing so let us turn to the blazing

YULE FIRE

of English Christians. Yule is the real old English name of the feast. What it means, and whence derived, are questions that have exercised the ingenuity of etymologists. The Hellenists would haw- it to be from the Greek ouloi or ioulos, a hymn in honor of Ceres Latinhts derive .it from jubiltim Hebraists from lilo, "night others from the Gothic ol or oel. the general name for any feast, and for the liquo' drank at the feast—now ale. Bu perhaps the best derivation is that from the Gothi giul or huil, "wheel," referring to the sun either as a wheel in shape, or as turning back in the heavens like wheel. At the winter, solstice the northa ern nations held great festivities and rejoicir.i in honor of their great mn-god-Tbii'S 'many pagnn customs have been retained in "the celebration of Christmas and New Year's. To show the exact origin of each \wutldbc aiireat task, and one which I shall not undertake. It is -iou: to state that, whatever be the derivation of Yule, it is the nmiie for Christmas in 1 1.gland and Scotland. Thus an old rhyme in the West Riding .•!" York: iiiie v. -. "Yt'V, Yule.

nf rrv 1 tr iiiiil a hr's- iras .--foiil-' Another collector of antiquities giv:s us the lollowing: "rile, Ul.\ Ule, rie,

Three puddings in a pule, Crack nut* aud cry lilo. Says the Rough old Scottish minister to his flock, with that jingling play on words which was then held witty "Ye say, sirs, good old Youl dav I tell you good old -fool day you tell me it is a brave hoi iday I tell you it is a brave belly day,"

Pause a little. Have we not been led away from our first resting place, the Yule-fire and Yule-log, by this ignis fatuus of etymology Let us retrace OUT steps.

The Yule-log was a huge block of seasoned oak, which was put on the fire on Christmas Eve, and kept lighted all during Christmas tide. When that gr£at eve came the block was dragged by manv a willing hand, amid shouts and songs of joy, into the great hall, and flung upon the hearth. It then became the center of the festivities. The family and neighbors gathered round, the fire was lighted, and, whilst the log blazed and sputtered' and diffused its genial warmth, every eve grew brighter, every heart lighter, the song, and tale, and jest, and ready repartee went round, and the brown a\e of Old England was quaffed in honor of Yule, the Yule log, and of each and every one who did it honor. Let us hear the song of Ilerrick: '•Come, bring with a noise,

Mv racirie. merric boyes. Tfcu'Christnias log to iheflriDg Svhilo my jrooil ilamc she

Mid*-re air be free, And drink to your hearts' desiring.

"With the last year's brand Light the new block, And for good sui'.cessc in his spending,

pre-

and laurel

windows bays

wear

to dress your

our Rosemary prepare Beef, Nor forget me, which I advise in chief."

CHRISTMAS DAY.

"At Christmas play, and make good cheer,

ve-ir

brings good sheer

Wa Ug*

On your vsaltries play. That sweet luck may Come while the log is tending [burning].

-Drink now the strong be«ro Cut ihe white, to-.fe lie e, 'The while the meats is a shredding

Kor the. rare mince pie And the ptunis *tand bv

To fill the paste tliaUa a kneading."

W£ learn from the second stanzaJ.hat the Yule-log was always lighted with a fragment saved from the preceeding year. This peace was kept most carefully—almost religiously, certainly superstitiously for great virtues were supposed to reside in it. Whilst the log burned, a large candle, called the Yule-candle, was also kept lighted,

A piece of that candle, too, must be kept "for luck." I have already said that the piece of Yule-log had rare virtues. One or them was that it could step any fire that might break cut in a dwelling during the year.

On the other hand, it was unlucky to stir either the fire or log, or to snuff the candle, or to move from the Christmas table until all had finished their repast.

Tke Yule-log was also burned at Candlemas. Herrick shall again be our mentor. as to what we should do to imitate the English of yore: "Kindle the Christmas brand, and th%n

Till sunnc-set let it bnrne, "Which quencht, then lay it np agen, Tilt Christmas next returne."

Though I call this Log par excellence •he Yule-log, many other names hav/s in times past been given it. You might style it the Yu-batch, the Christmasbatch, the Yunblock, the Yule-block the Yule-clog, or the Christ-block, and only repeat what others before you had at yarious times named it. In some parts of France it is known at least as mattei of tradition. There it is the Tison or Souche de Noel. In Cornwall they call it the mock.

In Norfolk the most cross-grained block of elm that can be found does duty i'M-* 44^

El,-1

#i43

itjf •«,

as Yule-log. Tbe very best cider is also dispensed. In Devonshire Ashton faggot is burned. A faggot of ash-sticks, bound round with bands of ash, which must be neither more nor less than nine in number such is the Ashton faggot. Cider "egg-hot' goes plentifully around, for at each and every "crack" that the faggot makes ii burning, anew bowl of the favorite beverage must be supplied.

M. Leronze tells that in Loraine, on the 24th of December, at 6 o'clock exactly, the tison de Noel is lighted. Everywhere else the end of the Yule-log which is not in the fire may serve as a seat for the little children, but the Lorraines expressly forbid their children to sit on if for fear that they may catch the draft. When the bells toll for the midnight mass, all the members go devoutlv to church, and on their return, partake of a repast called re. cion, which name he derives from the Latin, recanare, to sup again.

Somnchfor the Yule-log. To what shall we next turn? Let it be

CHRISTMAS GAMES.

Could asocial gathering around fire side be perfect in its gaiety without some games to pass the time away It matters not what the answer may be but certain it is Uiat games in olden times did enter, ana at the present time do enter, largely into the social celebration of Christmas. To enumerate them would be almost an endless task, to describe them all a work of supererogation, which I am sure, you will excuse me from performing.

Eng:and has ever been their peculiar domain. From ther.ee they have been transplanted to ouro.vn country, where I hey flourish in, perhaps, not as much vigor, but still with steady growth.

There isablindtnan'sbufi.a very pleas ant game, when chairs are not thrown in the way of the blind-folder or when he can save his nasal protubeiar.ee from violent contact with any substance that might do it injury. And who would not be Colin-Maillard to have the kerchief skillfully fastened over his eyes by fairy lingers? It is maliciously said that certain young gentlemen are never securely blindfolded by certain voting ladies, and that the former pursue the latter almost as well as if they enjoved the full use of their visual organs and that sometimes Strange Smacking sounds arc heard when the fleeing damsel has taken refuge in a corner, which, it is also said, she seemed much inclined to do. I reserve my opinion as In the truth of this assertion.

Hot cockles is another pastime. One of the company lays his head on the lap of anwther, so that lie cannot see anyone who may approach him from behind. A third gives him a slap with the open palm of the hand 011 that part of his frame'which presents the. best mark for such a proceeding. If the receiver of the blow can name the striker, the latter takes his place. It is ts be hoped that any peculiarly verdant one is not imposed upon, and'kept longer than is right in this trying position.

Playing at forfeits is a game that some of the over wise wonld frown dow^ if it could and would be frowned down. But ir can't and won't. How happy does the amorous swain feel when condemned to salute in hearty fashion the lady of his choice How ludicrous when the sooty chimney-place must receive this mark of affection—bestowed with aught but affection!- LIow much bashfulness thi lasses manifest, how they struggle, and how sui render just as victory seems to light upon their banners! One would almost believe the epigram that sets down woman's "nay" as meaning "yea.

Simple enough is that of blowing a feather. A 1 sit in a circle,, and a feather is thrown in the air, to be kept aloft by the breath of the convives. Now it rises, now it falls. A hasty individual bends forward to supply wind enough to keep it from reaching the floor. He bumps his nose against that of his vis-a* vis. One laughs, the other iaughs, they all laugh. And then the feather falls. For to keep that feather afloat requires a gravity of countenance which is suitable for a mummy, a picture, of Prtiise-God Barebones. or a man whose mother-in-law has announced her intention- of remaining to help Mary Ann for a. wionth or two. Yet, who wouldn't find his neighbor ludicrous, with cheeks distended like the .old wood-cut cherubs representing the four winds?

The apple and the candle that appear on Halloween to such advantage, can afford much diversion during the Christmas holidays. In nine cases out of ten you may be sure to get your mouth filled with melted tallow instead of seizing the ruddy fruit. You spit and sputter, and cause merriment in which you yourself heartily join.

Jumping in eacks is not as common, but certainly as mirth-provoking. Diving for apples, likewise a Holly eve custom, is a game that requires some tkill and patience.

Dancing is something more than a gime." A French writer says it is "a follv which only the music can excuse There must at that rate, be many fools in the world, many during the Christmas holidays.

Riddles arc verv good, for those who like them. Conundrums, though, are things that many have to give up. On a par with them we put "What is my thought like and alt similar ones. They require some ingenuity, a good power of "guessing."

Cards, draughts, and chess, are in vogue in certain circles. Our old-fash-ioned English cousins would think Christmas incomplete without a few rubbers of whist.

I might mention conjuring, fortune telling, and a hundred other gay sports. I forbear, however, and will rather say a few words about

CHRISTMAS GIFTS

are of very great antiquity. In these latter davs, the custom of gift-giving has been almost entirely transferred to New Year's Dav. But still Christmas, "the children's feast." is the day wl en juve niles receive their presents. However the name of Christmas boxes came to be applied to them, cannot be well ascertained.

Gay,,

in his "Trivia," says:

Some boys are rich by birth beyond all wants, Belov'd by uncles and kind, good old aunts When time comes round, a Christmasbox the bear, And one day makes them rich for all the year."

From "Christmas." a poem, I cull the following: 'Gladly the boy, with Christmas box hand, Throughout the town his devious course pursues And of his master's customers implores The vearly mite often his cash he shakes

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Whose dulcet jingle fills his little soul with joy." This custom of soliciting Christmas 3 gifts became such an excess that shop keepers posted up notices in their windows refusing to bestow them, and requesting them not to be bestowed upon their apprentices. In Rippon, Yorkshire, however, grocers give their customers a pound or a pound and a half of currants by way of Christmas present. There also the singing boys go about in the church with baskets of red apples, each having a sprig of rosemary. The parishioners give two, tour, or six penc« in exchange for an apple.

Taylor, the wate:-poet. sings of the butler's box, in which, no matter who lost or gained, the winnings went at Christmas tim

The 26th December has for this rea son received the name of boxing day. In Cumnor, Birkshire, the tithers must receive four bushels of malt made into ale and small beer, two bushels of wheat made into bread, and half a hundred weight of checse. The next morning, whatever may remain is given to the poor.

In olden times we *ead that the Kings of France made'presertts to their soldiers.

In Venice, three sorts of presents are given—mustard, fish and inandoralato.. The first is (you will say an odd) conserve of fruits and mustard. Mandcralato is a candy, made of altnonds and honey. Some of the richer classes give even as many as a hundred pots of mustard, and alike quantity of maidoralato to their friend.

Now every thing of use or value may be form the matter of a Christmas gift. Yet people, with the best desire to please, often make very bad selections. 1 think no better rule could be followed, than to consult, not your ewn taste, but that of the intended rec'pient. A book worm will often present his dulcinea with acostly volume, when a se* of jewelry would far better gratify her and a young lady will make a gentleman friend a present of some wi»hy washy "Poems" wben a cheaper work on science would be hisdelight.

Yet, be the Christmas gilt what it may'let us receive it in the spirit in which it is given. Real affection may l.ave a mistaken way cf manifesting itself, aind b« none the less real.

Above all, forget neither thp letter-car-rier, nor him who brings around the daily pa'pers.

Let me rot conclude without something about .. SUPERSTITtOVS' WKAT11ER OMEXS,,, and the like, relating to Christmas. 1 have already spoken about *u -.erstitions connected with the ule*log. Another is that when it is once li^i.ted 110 one but a boy should go out uutll The entrance of some male. If a woman be the first incrimer. it protends had luck if a squint eyed person, that isa bad omen bntitisa singularly evil one if the first one to en'er be a flat footed wotvtan.

The Druids held that the spirits fled to'the evergreens used in C'ra'-i u.f at their winter feast, and remained there unnipped by the frost.

Any ladv who has not been kissed under the' mistletoe need not expect a bus band during the year. Ah! that accounts for the tales about the ladies' contrivan ces to be found under the Druidic plant.

Says Thomas Passenger, in the latter part of the seventeenth century "If the sun shine clear and bright oh Christmas day, it prorniseth 'a peaceful year from clamours and strife, and foretells'' much plenty to ensue, hut if the wind blows stormy towards Sunset, it betokencth sickness in the spring and autumn quaiters."

Devonshire farmers believe that when the sun shines bright on Christmas Day, a plentiful crop of apples may be expected.

It is a very common opinion theat ghosts must away at cock crow. In regard, to this Marccllus is represented by Shakspeare, in his Hamlet, speaking thus: "Some say that ever 'gainst the seaaoa comcs

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, This bird ofdawnii singeth all night long: And then, they «ay, no spirit dares stir abroad The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike No fairy takes, nor witch has power t* charm So hallowed and so gracious is the time." One of the probable reasons for this belief in the etficacy of cock crowing as a dispctler of spirits is thus stated by Bourne "It vas about the time of cockcrowing when our Saviour was born, and the angels sung the first Christmas carol to the poor shepherds in the field of Bethlehem. Now it may be presumed as the Saviour of the world was then born, and the heavenly host had then descended to proclaim the news, that the angels of darkness would be terrified, and immediately fly away and perhaps this consideration has partly been the foundation of this opinion.''

The day of the week on which Christmas comes will have quite an effect on the after year. That is, if we believe the old manuscript preserved in the Hurleian Library. It begins: 'Lordinges, I warne you al beforne Yeft that day that Cryste was borne, Falle uppon a Sunday That wynter shalbe good parfay. But gr^te wyndes alofte shalbe, The somer shalbe fayre and drye Bv kynde skylie. Whthowten l.sse, Throw all londes shalbe peas, And good tyme all thyngs to don, But he that stelyth he shalbe fownde sone

What chyide that day borne be, A grete lord he shalbe. Well, now, the compiler of these notes was born on a Christmas, on a Sunday at that, but he has never been a great lord and his prospects of being such are very, very slender.

The S. continues in the same strain about the rest of the week. If Christmas comes on Monday, there will bs great winter and winds many beeves shall die those born on that day will be strong. If on Tuesday, plenty of women shall die ships shall be in great peril, and kings and lords be slain the summer shall be dry the child born on that day will be strong and covetous. Ifon Wednesday, winter will be hard and strong, with many hideous winds, tbe summer merry and good, young folks shall die, and ships be in great woe the child born on that day shall be wise and sly. If on Thnrsday, windy winter, summer good and dry

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