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| Christmas Through The Ages, Continued |
| Bells and Christmas are synonymous, for they are the makers of the joyous sounds that have announced the glad tidings in villages for hundreds of years tollling the bell for an hour berfore midnight on Christmas Eve was known as tolling the devil's knell, for it was claimed that he died when Christ was born. Greeting Cards The commercial production of cards began in mid-Victorian 1860's. In the United States the cards were not popular at first and did not become so until the lithographer Louis Prang produced a series in 1875. This low cost production brought the cost within the reach of most people. The variety of Victorian cards was enormous. They were printed on paper and dressed with satin, fringed with silk, they were gilded and frosted, they were made in the shapes of fans, stars and crescents, they wre embossed and they folded and unfolded. Often they were like Valentine cards and the illustrations were many times the same. Traditional scenes were popular but they were overtaken by the robin. The robin's boldness, cheerfulness and friendliness to people were admired qualities. The robin's popularity may also have come from the French legend which is a pleasing explanation of how the robin got its red breast. It seems that on Christmas night an early bird used its wings to fan the fire that kept the Christ Child warm as He lay in the manger. The heat of the flames made the robin's breast red forever. The Gift-Givers The idea of gift-giving goes back to the Romans. During the Saturnalia, gifts were exchanged on the Festival of KIalends. Originally, Kalend presents were branches from evergreens. Later honey and cakes were given to make the new year a good one, and gold was given to insure prosperity. The modern tradition of gifts began with St. Nicholas, a fourth century Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. He was born in the little town of Patara about two hundred and fifty years after the Apostle Paul visited that area. The town of Myra was only a few miles away. In pictures he is often represented as carrying three gilt balls. Sellers in cities are familiar with similar representation today as the trade sign outside some pawnbrokers' shops. But the three gold balls of the saint were originally purses. It was his practice to go at night to houses of the poor and throw alms in the window. He was greatly loved by little children to whom he brought little gifts. He died on January 6, 342 a.d. and was long and deply mourned by his flock. The anniversary of his death became "The Feast of St. Nicholas. The Feast of St. Nicholas Abroad it is regarded as the day for the stock-taking of the year's progress; in every college the feast is looked forward to, as well as in every family. It is marked by the distribution of toys and presents for children. All are expectant, eager to see what "St. Nicholas" will leave. In a pageant one of the elders, under the guise of St. Nicholas, comes to them accompanied by an attendant bearing a sack or basket. He addresses the crowd with words of praise and warning, calling each one present by name. He asks if they have been to their church that morning and heard the Epistle ordering obedience to authority and the Gospel of the Lord's story. He then brings forth his gifts and gives one to each child. Finally a bundle of twigs is produced from the bottom of the sack and it is handed to a superior to be hung up in sight as a warning to any would-be evil-doers. Upon retiring to bed after the Saint's visit, it is a custom in Bavaria for the children to place petitions addressed "To the Dear Little Christ Child in Heaven" dealing with their special wants, on their windowsills. St Nicholas will then collect them upon his return to heaven. When the infant Savior comes on Christmas morning, He is sure to bring them something, if not all that they ask for. We can trace many of our customs for Christmas day, especially our figure of Father Christmas, back to St. Nicholas. His title of Santa Klaas is the children's abbreviation of his name. In every school the children held an election on St. Nicholas Day. A boy bishop was elected to have his court until Childermasse came around. It was a festival to recognize the fact that God gives greater audience to simplicity and that from the mouths of those with hearts like babes was praise most acceptably rendered unto Him. St. Nicholas was chosen as the patron saint of children in Southern Europe and Russia. In the Netherlands on Januyary 5th, St. Nicholas is expected on St. Nicholas Eve. There is a great ceremony. He arrives from Spain by boat filled with gifts, and rides through the city on horseback. There is a helper with him named Black Peter who carries willow switches used to punish bad children. The children place their wooden shoes near the fireplace filled with treats for St. Nicholas and straw for his horse. Following the Reformation, Germany's gift-giver became the Christkindl or Christ Child, who was a young female messenger for Baby Jesus. In Italy the Befana, or St. Befana, brings gifts on January 6th, Epiphany. Stockings or shoes are placed out for her. Her arrival is signalled by a bell and the children hurry away if they hear it. The Befana legend says that she was a stern old woman. While cleaning her house she was interrupted by a knock at the door. There stood three wisemen who were asking for directions to Bethlehem. She was asked to accompany them on their most important mission but she refused, saying that she was much too busy. Later, a shepherd stopped to ask directions and again she declined. That evening she happened to look out the window and saw the star of Bethlehem in the sky. She rushed out the door, broom still in hand, searching for the wisemen and the Christ Child. She never found them and to this day she searches from house to house on Epiphany. If she sees signs of children living in the house, she will leave gifts in case the Christ Child is there. In Poland, Star Man brings gifts. The first star of the evening sky on Christmas Eve sets the theme for the celebration of the Polish Christmas as a Festival of the Star. After the Christmas meal Star Man arrives to examine the children in their religious knowledge. Later the children are given gifts which they believe are sent by the Good Star of Heaven but have been carried to them by the Wisemen. The Wisemen are young village men called Star Boys. The Wisemen are expected to bring gifts in Mexico, Brazil and Spain, but in Syria it is the Wiseman's camel that delivers the gifts. In Japan Santa Claus is thought of as a kind old man who is supposed to have eyes in the back of his head to observe children's behavior. In the nineteenth century, the figure of Santa Claus evolved in America and has been shared with the world. He began as the Bishop St. Nicholas or Sante Klaas when he arrived as a tradition with the Dutch when they settled New Amsterdam. In 1822, Clement Clarke Moore wrote his famous verse describing the Visit Of St. Nicholas. Beginning in 1863, the cartoonist Thomas Nast drew his concept of that figure named Santa Claus. Santa was transformed into a Scandinavian gnome-like character in a red suit with white fur, a long white beard, and he delivered gifts in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Christmas Stockings The use of stockings as a receptacle for gifts from Santa Claus can be traced to one legend. The story goes that Santa dropped some gold coins down a chimney one night. Normally they would have fallen on the hearth, but the money went into a stocking which had been left by the fire to dry. Ever since that time, Santa has been expected to fill any and all stockings he finds while on his rounds. In some parts of Europe, stockings are hung on St. Andrew's Day, November 30, or for St Befana or Russia's Babushka to fill on Epiphany. In other parts of Europe, wooden shoes are put out to be filled. |
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