CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 72, 18 December 1920, Page 14

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

AND SUPERSTITIONS

(Specially Written By Alex. Robertson.)

Dickens has often been' chnrgcd with, inventing, or, at least, exaggerating, many of tho Christmas jollities lie describes in bis books, but that such is not the case is verified by tho writers of tbo loth nnd 16th centuries, who givo accounts of Christmas festivals us tliey wero tlion colebr&ted, In some Dickens may llavo Irevivcd some Old Country customs which had fallen into disuse, but it is quite certain that the making of Christmas time ft period, of rejoicing l dates back to tho beginning of Christianity. Some mention of the customs and superstitions formerly observed m am adjunct, to Christinas may not bo out of place, as it will givo tho present generation somo idea of what they nro missing in tlicso later days.

In New Zealand at the present timo Christmas is still partly observed .as a, Holy-day by the churches, but the festivities formerly incident to tho occasloa .are neglected, with tho exception, haps, of enrol sinking, and giving of presents. Even the Christmas turkey and, plum pudding are fast going tho way of the other forgotton customs. 1 remember when I was a boy 30 years mg<», my mother used to have the Christmas pudding and minced pie (called Bum*** times Scotch bun) made months beforehand. The pudding was brought to table steaming hot and brandy was poured over it,- and lighted, amid gretrt excitement. The other items of the Christmas dinner wero a great ham, stuck with cloves, and a goose, and my word, what a feed we had! Alas, for tho days of childhood! I liavo not had a dinner like that for ages. Tho early colonists brought their Old Country bu» toms with them, which were suitable enough for the season in the Northoiu Hemisphere, where.ice and snow were the l-ulo at Christmas time, but tho now generation of native bon> aro making their customs more ill keeping with our southern sunshiny Christmas, Another custom which is faßt disappearing is tho formula which',, for a week before Christmas, everyone was accustomed to greet everyone else on meeting— this was a Scotch community—"A Merry Christmas to ye." The correct and invariable reply was: "Same to yo and mony o' them." accompanied by 11. handshake. This done, the friends parted mu. limlly pleased with their good wishes. In olden times, Christmas Eve was the starting point for a season of most riotmis gaieties, which sometimes lasted till Candlemas Bay on February 2. Tb start with l the earliest custom of which anything is known—carol l singing. The first Christmas carol sung by tho nngels announcing tho birth of Christ, was heard by tho shepherds on tlw? plains of Bethlohem in that glorious message which is still tho watchword of Christianity.

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goo*! will toward men."

In the early church, tho Christians met to celebrato the eve of the anniversary of their Saviour's birth, and religious :hynins were sung. Tho custom of th« carol singers going round tho houses camo later,, and was probably borrowed from some rito observed durinn a pagan festival, especially as some samples of the old enrols that have eoinu down to us jiro not of - a very elevating character. Many other observances and superstitions claimed as belonging ,t» Christmas had their origin in pagHli rites, but with the lapse of time became acccptod as Christmas customs. The ancient l(oman9 hold l their festival of tho Saturnalia in December, and as this included feasting, dancing, giving gifts, and all sorts of merry-making, it is probable that tho festival was still kept up even after Christianity had' gained ascendancy, and the celebrations, originally in honour of the Pagan gods, were gradually regarded as fitting to, coramenorate tho birth of Christ. The custom .of decking houses and churches with evergreens at Christinas is undoubtedly' of pagan origin, Holly was supposed hy tho llomnns to defend houses from lightning and men from witchcraft, and wus therefore favoured for decorating the inside'of houses. Ivy was the plant dedicated to Bacchus, ana his temples wore usually decorated with it. For tho 6amc- reason a bush of ivy was always hung outside a tavern, as h si>m that wino was fjuld within. 'Ilie mistlotoo, the most popular plant for Christmas decoration, was a saored plant of the Druids. At the close of the year they used to march to the woods, and after gathering it with great ceremony, present it in their tomples to Jupiter, tho occasion lwing one of great solemnity. There was also a Druidicnl custom of decking the insido of houses with different evergreens during December, so that the wood spirits _ could coino inside and be sheltered during the bitter weather. Another prevalent custom throughout Europe was tho lighting of the Yule log and tho Yule candle oil Christmas Eve. .They were of uncommon size, and wero always ignitoil with a portion of last year's fire, which was saved for the purpose. Mumming was a sport in England in which men and women changed l clothes, and went from house to house, in disguise, where they usually entertained Hie inmates, and were then treated to re. freshments. In Scotland, where they were called guisarts, something similar was done. It is curious that in Scotland Christmas wcti not regarded with such reverence as in England. After the Reformation anything savouring of Popery was barred by the strict Presbyterian conscience, and'! it is probable that on this account their principal festivities usually commonccd on New Year's Eve. Masques or plays, which wore popular in tho lGth century, wero performed In the houses of tho wealthy. "A ■ Masquo of Christmas,'" as performed before the King in 1016. is to be found among Bon Jonson's works. The characters nre supposed to bo Christmas and his ohildren, among whom may be mentioned: "Misrule," "Sarol," "Mino'd Pie," "Gambol," "New Year's Gift," "Mumming," ,r\Vassel," and "Baby-cake."

Among modern versifiers no one—in the opinion of the present writer—lias reproduced so nearly tho charm of tho old Xativit.v poetry as slr. llilaire Belloc. His liltlo po?m entitled "Courtesy" is no imitation, livery line is modern, yot it brings the reader back into an atmospliero in which tlio Madonna and Child symbolisod not only the Redemption but the Houianca of the Soul. In th« monks' parlour at Storrington the poet seen three pictures. . The first represents tho Annunciation. The second depicts ill# Virgin ridings—

"Our Lady out of Nazareth rode, It was her month of heavy load; Yet was hear face both great and kind, Fur courtesy was in lior mind The third it was our little Lord,

Whom all the Kings in arms adored; Ho was so small you could not see His largo intent of Courtesy,"

Tho lines would 6tnnd well (is a sort of verbal frontispieco to the comprehensive collection of carols that has 'yet to 'bo made—"Tho Spectator." At tlin schools and colleges from about tho ilfteenwh century a leader of the revels, usuallv called tho Christmas Lord, til- Lord of Misrule, was olected by tho students. This rule was absolute from Christmas Evo until 12th Day, his duties anions others being to organise the games and festivities of the occasion. Attended bv his court, they were the ringleaders in all tho most wild and riotous orgies which youth and licenso could invent. The idea was copied bv oilier societies, and by tho "wild bloods" belonging to each village, until the oiico

harmless, if boisferouß, amusement b» camo too openly lawless for the authors ties to wink at. In Scotland tho Lord of Misrulo was suppressed by Parliament as early as 1550, but it was not prohibited in England until late in tlio seventeenth century. During the fifteenth century itf was customary in both England ana Scotland to proclaim a sanctuary during tlio Christmas festival, and no court had the power to punish even the worst of criminals. More rhan that, in many cities a free wcleomo was proclaimed lo all beggars, thieves, and other criminals to attend the festival without molestation until tlio twelve days wero pant. Although f.lio Christmas tre® is a time-honoured custom in muio parte of Europe, (t was only (introduced into Britain during She early years of Queen. Victoria. Father Christmas or Santa Claus is of Gorman origin. His name, is supposed to be a corruption of . St. Nicholas. Tlio Christmas cord, although now so universal ill its use to convey seasonable greetings, is of qirito modern date, the first card lici'iT desired by J. C. Horsley. E.A., in 184 G. Tlio Christina* dinner of oldoii days must have been a formidable affair ,to. judge by tho rccipes for tlio items which are extant. First there was plum-por-ridge. which, scorns to have Wen a dish of plums and . spices. Tlio famous minced-pie. was ia notable composition, containing neats' tonguos, poultry, game, eggs, sugar, raisins, lemon and orange peel, and various kinds of spice. Many curious superstitions about Christmas were firmly believed by the country people in olden times, though some of them could quite nmily li[lVw been proved false with a Me investigation. I?or instance, it was a .tradition in somo parts • of England that bread baked on Christmas Eve would never turn mouldy. In Devonshire it was believed that at 12 o'clock on Christmas Evo die oxen in their stalls kneeled as an act of devotion to Christ, who waa born among their ancestors in Uethelem. Shakespeare also mentions a curious tradition in "Hamlet" that on the Evo of Christmas:

The bird of dawning singetb' all • night long; And then they say no spirit dares stir abroad. The nights are wholesomo; than no planet strikes, No fa'iiy takes, no witch hath power to chann. So hallowed and 60 gracious is the time. Nothing cou'.d be more poetically Brand, than the description of the firet Christmas Eve in Milton's "Hymn On Christ's Nativity";

No war, or battle's sound, Was hoard the world around., . The idle spear and shield were high up-hung; Tho hooked chariot stood Unstained villi hostile blood.

But peaceful was tho night Wherein tho Prince of Light This reign of peace upon the earth began. .