Hide Article Text (OCR)
HISTORY OF CHRISTMASChristmas, originally Cristes masse (“the mass or church festival of Christ), is the English name'for the season in which the birth of Christ is commemorated. It is apparent, however, that a festival was celebrated at this season long before it waa held sacred as the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth. The Saturnalia of the Romans and the winter festival of the heathen Britons were both celebrated about December 25; and later, the Roman festival in honor of the sun god, Mithra (instituted 273 A. D.) From the latter the day became to be known as the “Birthday of the TJnconquered Sun; and after its adoption by the Christian church in the fourth century as the anniversary of Christ's birth, this name was given a symbolic interpretation.A study of the customs associated with this period also reveals a heathen, if not invariably a solar, origin. The lighting of the Yule log (la buche de Noel) on Christmas eve, once a widespread European custom, is or was a function of such predominant importance among the ,. Lithuanians and Letts that their words forjChrist-mas eve * literaUy ; - signiff “Log evening. The sports dt the “Lords of Misrule” in England; are thought to be an inheritance from the - Saturnalia. Th^; decoratlbn of churches witfr the oncefsacred mistletoe -and holly} is va pagan su^vivdlw
Newspaper Details
Poseyville News
Poseyville, Indiana, US
Fri, Dec 24, 1915
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Virginia L.
IN, USA 27 Oct 2017
Other Publications Near Poseyville, Indiana
Poseyville News
