NOTES. CHRISTMAS IN ANCIENT MEXICO. "The custom of eating bread sacramentally as the body of a god was practiced by the Aztecs before the discovery and conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, twice a year, in May and December, an image of the great Mexican God Huitzilopochtli or Vitzilipuztli was made of dough, then broken in pieces, and solemnly eaten by his worshippers. Before the festival in December, which took place at the winter solstice, an image of the God Huitzilopochtli was made of seeds of various sorts kneaded into a dough with the blood of children. The bones of the God were represented by pieces of acacia wood. This image was placed on the chief altar of the temple, and on the day of the festival the king offered incense to it. Early next day it was taken down and set on its feet in a great hall. Then a priest took a flint-tipped dart and hurled it into the breast of the dough-image, piercing it through and through. This was called "killing the God Huitzilopochtli so that his body might be eaten." One of the priests cut out the heart of the image and gave it to the king to eat. The rest of the image was divided into minute pieces, of which every man great and small, down to the male children in the cradle, received one to eat. But no woman might taste a morsel. The ceremony was called teoqualo, that is, "god is eaten. (Frazer's Golden Bough.) for its observance are thoroughly explained in the first four chapters of I Maccabees. In these chapters the events relating to the state of Judea while tributary to the SyroGrecians are graphically related; how their ruling King, Antiochus Epiphanes, sought to destroy every vestige of Judaism; how he despoiled the Holy Temple and placed therein idols such as were worshipped by the heathens; how the people had become cowed down through fear of him, and how at last a valiant man belonging to the Aaronic priesthood arose in a village called Modin, gathered his five brave sons and true followers around him, vowed resistance to the heathenish King, and swore to restore the true worship of the one God of Israel among His people. This man was Mattathias, the son of Johanan, of the Asmonean family, and his five sons, whose names, like their father's, are illustrious, were Johanan, Simon, Judas, Eleazar and Jonathan. But the venerable priest, being then near the end of his career, appointed Simon their counsellor, and Judas, surnamed Maccabeus, their captain. The name Maccabeus, or Maccabees, is believed to have been derived from the Hebrew term Mi Chamocha (who is like unto Thee, O God!) part of an inscription on the banners borne by the Hebrews, and also derived from the Hebrew expression, Macab "a hammer," applied to Judas in his successful work against the Syro-Grecians. After the general victory, the Hebrews restored the Holy Temple to its purity and to the true worship of God. It was then that Judas ordained the universal illumination and celebration of the great event by the lighting or dedication of extra lamps which is observed to this day throughout the world on the 25th of Kislev. (Abbrev. from the Phila. Ledger.) CHRISTMAS IN THE CRIMEA. "The Crimea is the home of a country estate within pleasant driving distance of the city of Baltimore, belonging to Mr. Thomas. Winans of Russian railway fame. Close by the suburban mansion is a cottage, or rather, an elegant and commodius playhouse, which Santa Claus erected in a single night for the Winans children about twenty stole away. Chrysostom, in the 4th century, speaks of the feast as of great antiquity; Clement of Alexandria, in the beginning of the third century, speaks of it, but refers it to April 19th or 20th, or May 20th; and sermons of Basil and Gregory Nazianzen, preached on this day, are still extant. Epiphanius reckons it on January 6, but Augustine on December 25th. From the West the observance of the day passed to the Eastern Church in the fourth century; as Chrysostom says the feast was unknown at Antioch ten years before the time he was preaching, that is, probably, as kept on December 25th, the day hitherto observed having been January 6th. The Latins, and Africa, and the Greek Church, generally, however, held the Nativity on December 25th, as appears from Jerome, Augustine, Chrysostom, Basil, and Gregory Nazianzen. The Orientals in Egypt, Cyprus, Antioch, and Palestine appear to have observed, for a time only, January 6th, as the feast of the Nativity and Epiphany, or Theophania, a name equally applicable to both, as Gregory Nazianzen observes. However, about the beginning of the fifth century the Nativity was commemorated, in the East, on December 25th, and the Epiphany on the later day. In the sixth century, be "The small mansion was constructed in sections, and the furniture manufactured to order in town; everything marvelously complete. The children knew nothing of it. There was nothing on the lawn before their windows when they went to bed on Christmas Eve, but while they slept there were mysterious arrivals of wagons and workmen from Baltimore, and great doings by moonlight and lamplight. All night they worked, the carpenters and upholsterers, and at dawn dawn gathered up their traps like the fairies and as silently In the morning the mother going to take the children, happened to look out on the lawn, and with an excellent imitation of innocence, exclaimed at the surprising sight, and then of course, the children ran pell-mell to see what the marvelous thing could be, and beheld the charming little villa, gay and bright, its windows flashing in the sun, and a fancy flag floating from its tower. The edifice was not of such fairy proportions that they could not keep house in it handsomely, and entertain their little friends and mamma and even papa, if he could stoop a little and make himself as small as he comfortably could.-(Washing-yond doubt, East and West agreed in their ton Letter to N. Y. Times, May 4th, 1874. ΜΕΝΟΝΑ. CHRISTMAS 1891 UP IN THE MOON. The enclosed newspaper announcement may prove of interest to such of your readers as may have procured A. N. & Q. before the unutterable catastrophe herein mentioned becomes an accomplished fact. KANSAS CITY, Dec. 4.—Mrs. Charles P. Johnson, of Wyandotte, Kan., has organized a band of Adventists, who have fixed Christmas day of this present year as the end of the world. She has about 800 followers already, and has fitted up a residence magnificently. There she receives her friends and holds seances. She is in hourly communication with the spirit world, and says that there can be no mistake as to her prediction. "MENS PLACIDA.' THE DATE OF CHRISTMAS. "Pope Julius I confirmed the birthday of our Lord to be kept on Dec. 25; and observance." WOLCOTT, Sac. Archeol. An old scrap-book of mine, dated 1879, tells me that "Doctors differ as to the true commencement of the Christmas season. Dr. Parr is cited as authority for beginning Christmas and the eating of mince-pies on "O Sapientia" day, being the 16th of December in the Prayer-Book calendar, and there are sound reasons for believing that he was right so far as the ancient usage of the Church is concerned, This would make the Christmas holidays begin December 16th and end January 6th with Twelfth Night." T. C. D. VARIOUS NAMES FOR CHRISTMAS. The English gypsies call Christmas day Bollesko-divous, christening day; Mi-duvel's divous, the god's day; and also Mol-divous, wine day. The Basque people name it New Day, it being the beginning of a new state of things, the closing act of the old law. In Keltic, Christmas eve is designated the Night of Mary; in German, the Holy Night; in Portuguese, the Pasch of the Nativity; in old English, Yule Merriment. The week before Xmas is called Bull Week round about Sheffield, Eng., because the work people, says Halliwell, "push their strength to the utmost, allowing themselves scarcely any rest, and earning more than usual to keep for the rest and enjoyment of Xmas." Jos. E. THE FIRST TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS IN AMERICA. The Pilgrims' first Christmas, in Cape Cod Bay, is duly recorded in their chronicles: "Monday, the 25th [1620], being Christmas Day, we began to drink water aboard. But at night the master caused us to have some beer, and so on board we had divers times now and then some beer, but on shore none at all." Of the first Christmas day in Plymouth Village (1621), Governor Bradford himself speaks as follows: Till the hearts of the people keep time in accord, And the voice of the world is the voice of the Lord! In strong gratulations; The heavens bend o'er us; "CHRISTMAS DAYE." (IN BARNABY GOOGE'S TRANSL. OF NAOGEORGUS.) "Then comes the day wherein the Lorde did bring his birth to passe: Whereas at midnight up they rise, and every man to masse. This time so holy counted is, what divers earnestly In that same houre that Christ himselfe was borne and come to "There are beside that mindfully the money still to watch, And not to lose: then straight at game till daylight do they To make some present proofe how well their hallowde pence Three masses every prieste doth sing upon that solemne day, And carrols sing in prayse of Christ, and, for to helpe them The organs auns were every verse with sweete and solemne cheare. stande To see the sport, and with their voyce do helpe them and their hande." "CHRISTMAS." "On ye day called Christmas-day, ye Govr. called them out to worke (as was used), but ye most of this new company excused themselves and said it went against their conscience to work on ye day. So ye Govr. told them that if they made it a matter of conscience, he would spare them until they were better informed. So he led away ye rest and left them, but when they came home at noon from their worke, he found them in ye streete at play, openly, some pitching ye barr, and some at stoole-ball, and in Shakespeare. One is in Love's Labour such like sports. So he went to them and took away their implements and told them that was against his conscience, that they should play and others work. If they made ye keeping of it matter of devotion, let them kepe their houses, but there should be no gaming or revelling in ye streets." I can find out three mentions of Christmas Lost, I, 1. "Biron. Why should proud summer boast Than wish a snow in May's new fangled mirth; The second occurs in Act I, 5 of the same: I see the trick on 't: here was a consent, And the last is in The Taming of the Messenger. They thought it good you hear a play And frame your mind to mirth and merriment, CHRISTMAS. (HERRICK.) "Come bring, with a noise, The Chrismas Log to the firing; And drink to your heart's desiring. "With the last year's Brand Light the new Block and, For good successe in his spending, On your psaltries play, That sweet luck may Come while the Log is a teending. "Drink now the strong beere, Cut the white loaf here, The while the meat is a shredding For the rare mince-pie, And the plums stand by To fill the paste that's a kneading." CHRISTMAS. (ROMAINE JOSEPH THORN, 1795.) "Thy welcome Eve, lov'd Christmas, now arriv'd, Conveys, with speed; where, on the rising flames CHRISTMAS DAY. (UNCLE SETH loquitur.) A good old-fashioned Chris'mas, with the logs upon the hearth, The table filled with feasters, an' the room a-roar 'ith the mirth, With the stockin's crammed to bu'stin, an' the medders piled 'ith snow A good old-fashioned Chris' mas like we had so long ago! Now that's the thing I'd like to see ag'in afore I die, Oh, there's buyin', plenty of it, of a lot o' gorgeous toys: An' your enemy, the wo'st one, you'd just grab his hand, an' say: "Mebbe both of us was wrong, John. Come, let's shake; it's Chris'mas Day!" Mighty little Chris'mas spirit seems to dwell 'tween city walis, Where each snowflake brings a soot-flake for a brother as it falls; Mighty little Chris'mas spirit! An' I'm pinin', don't you. know, For a good old-fashioned Chris' mas like we had so long ago. (Alice Williams Brotherton, in the Century.), CHRISTMAS EVE. All night long the pine-trees wait, Dark heads bowed in solemn state, Wondering what may be the fate Of little Norway Spruce. Little Norway Spruce who stood Little Norway Spruce so trim, All that night the little tree In the dark stood patiently, Far away from forest free. Laden for the morn. Chained and ladened, but intent, If he could but go! Morning came. The children. "See! Then he understood. (M. M. D., in St. Nicholas. y A CHRISTMAS TOAST. Here's a round to thee, Dan Chaucer, To the eldest of our brothers, To that voice whose music echoes (John H. Boner in The Century.) CHRISTMAS PROVERBS. "Nach Weihnachten kommt Fasten."" (Germ.) After Christmas comes Lent.. Probably the counter-part of Nach Regen kommt Sonnenschein (after rain comes sunshine.) "Et andet Aar Kommer der en anden Juleaften." (Dan.) Another year comes after another Christmas. "En grön Juul giver en fed Kirkegaad,' Fermirs dailie diet, chap. xxii of Tom Tusser's Five Hundreds Points, etc., (1580). (Dan.) A green Christmas makes a fat Churchyard. "On a tant crié Noël qu'à la fin il est venu." (Fr.) Christmas was talked of so long, it came at last. "Bounce Buckram, velvets dear, Christmas comes but once a year: And when it comes, it brings good cheer; But, when it goes, it's never the near." (Ray's Coll. of proverbs.) "Natale non viene che una volta l' anno." (It.) Christmas comes but once etc, "Grüne Weihnacht, weisse Ostern." (Germ.) 'Green Christmas, a white Easter. "Der et godt at være Præst om Paaske, Barn om Faste, Bonde om Juul, Fölom Hösten." (Dan.) It's a good thing to be a priest at Easter, a child in Lent, a peasant at Christmas, and a fool at harvesttime. "Is samrad gae sion go nodlaic 's fasac go doirse.' (Ir.) Every kind of weather is summer till Christmas "Quand Noël a son pignon, Paques a son tison." (Fr.) When you sit out on your balcony at Christmas, you sit by the fire at Easter. "Quand on voit à Noël les moucherons, à Paques on voit les glaçons." (Fr.) When you see gnats at Christmas, you see ice at Easter. Blessed be St Steven There's no fast upon his Even [Christmas day]. The lighter Christmas the heavier the sheaf. (2) "But now they feed them with good cheer, And what they want, they take in beer, George Wither's Carol "Juvenilia," (162633). The same proverb is found in Camden's Remains (1605), also in the Ray and the Hazlitt Coll. Provs. ΜΕΝΟΝΑ. CHRISTMAS IN BOTANY. for "Christmas rose" is another name Helleborus niger, which blooms at this season. "Christmas flower" is a more familiar designation than Poinsettia pulcherrima. "Christmas" has become the popular name for the holly with which our churches and houses are decorated. "Christmas thorn" is still looked upon as the shrub from which the Saviour's crown of thorns was made. By the way, does not this recall the tradition well-known to Eastern travelers, that the particular bo-tree, under which Sakyamuni became "enlightened" (became "Buddah" after his forty days, contemplation, had sprung up from the earth at the moment of his own birth. "Christmas daisies" has long been a favorite substitute for the Aster family name. In Tyrol the fern-seed is supposed to bloom at Christmas, and whoever catches it is sure to AN ENGLISHMAN. grow rich. CHRISTMAS AND SEAMEN. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries it If Christmas day be windy, fruit-trees will was the custom to place in churches boxes bear abundantly. for collections, designed for seamen and their families. These boxes were labeled for each If Christmas finds a bridge, he'll break it; ship and were opened at Christmas. A ship let him find none, he'll make one. with sails set is still carried in Christmas processions in Siberia with the figure of a saint seated on it. (Ralston's Songs of the Russian People.) No fishing is done in Sweden on Christmas, but the nets are set that night for luck. Abraham Brake in his Tankebok, says (December 24, 1618): "On this Christmas Eve God granted me a glorious haul of fish." At Two instances of the early literary use of Ofveds' Kloster it was the practice of the "Christmas comes but once a year:' ((1) "At Christmas play and make good cheere, For Christmas comes but once a yeere." peasants every Christmas Eve to go by torchlight and fish for their Christmas supper |