Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Origin And Observance Of Christmas.—Ii.
has appropriated to himself all the battle feats of the Teuton deities , may not be without great conformities . A principal feature iu the southern Germanic celebration of tho church Prcesepe is , their cradle songs in Latin and German . One begins , in Latin" 0 Jcsulc , pupule , parvule , "
whicli the extreme paucity of diminutives iu our English language would prevent our rendering with anything like ; the eil ' ect of the ori ginal . Some of our readers will , however , possibl y bo gratified by a German version of its first two verses , where tlie Teutonic richness in those littlenesses of endearment and tenderness have full scope .
" O I Jesulcin , Piippcheii du klehics AVillst , class ivir kiisscn dich ? AVillst , Liiimnehen du feincs Eni Zuckcrbrciclchen , sprich ? AVillst Milch du wlirzcglich Kindlcin , du kleincs ? 0 ! Engel all , Erzcngcl all
Lasst llimmel lliinmel scin , Koiiiint zu dem Krippelcin ; Stimuit in das Lobliccl ein Ein Kuablcin gcborn in Bethlehem Des frcuct sich Jerusalem . O ! liebster Kniibclcin Mem womiig kind , O ! Jesus , zarrl ancl kleiu , Scblaf siiss unci lind .
" Christ-kind , du heller Kurfunkcl ! Kelirc in mein ilcrz cm , Mach hell sein Dunkel . Lass es dcin Gartchen scin Dcin Bcttehen wcicli unci rein Mein Jcsulein ! < iuell gcistcr all ' , Ellen all '
Erschoint aus AVald unci Ciuell Konimt her zum lvnaben schncll Und singet hint und hell : Im Kripp'leiu licgt Herr Jesus Christ Des Kiinigrcich olm 'Enclc ist . 0 ! du mein Augenstcrn Mein holdcs kind
Dich kiiss ich gar zu gern Sclilaf siiss unci lind " In tliis second verso the invocation to all tho ell ' s , to the spirits of woods and springs , sounds oddly in a Christian hymn , and may bo taken as an additional ancl convincing proof of their heathen ori gin . And it seems from this very
cause that no Christian festival had in fact such a popular tone or rooted so strongly in the minds of the people as the Christian revels , both ecclesiastical and worldly . As child or as parent , every one had acted the scene at home ancl around their own hearths ; the dread mysteries of tho resurrection , the ascensionor of Pentecostmiht astonish more from
, , g their inscrutable nature , but tho Nativity was brought home to every breast , its supernatural action was ignored , ancl the mere humanl y view was felt with homo deli ght , as it coulcl be entertained without doubt , no obtrusive cavil rising by which it coulcl be rejected .
\\ here churches were frequent , each parish prepared a separate Procsepc , ami each strove to excel in their beaut y and adornment ; crowds of votaries chanting choral songs of Hallelujahs rushed during the entire Christmas ni ght from church to church , from cathedral to chapel , to visit the various decorated cradles and the babe , and returned homo to
compare and descant upon their several glories . The different guilds of merchants ancl traders rivalled each other also in the adornment of their chavm-trees , where the natal Procsepc of the nascent Gocl was a great object of their care , and much expense was lavished on them . The grandees of tho towns lihted up their best apartmentsand threw
g , open tho windows , to enliven and illumine the streets , a necessary observance for tho crowd , where so few streets had any lamps . ' When the great day was passed , began the period when
for twelve days profane ancl uproarious jollity had full scope . Tournaments were proclaimed , lists were staked , and all the nobility of the nei g hbourhood , with every one rejoicing in the right of coat armour , tested their prowess and agility in jousts of arms , which afforded no less pleasure to the spectators that the knightly combatants were often roused to a real
combat , ancl the imaginary contest was converted into one d ; Ventrance . Almost every day to the Epiphany was an ordained church service ; with each of which the people most willingly combined their peculiar spore . The boy bishop chosen on St . Nicholas ' s day had not yet abdicated his short lived and
boisterous prelacy . The Lord of Misrule , with all his indecency , frolic , and riot , had still an impunity for several clays from the mystic birth , and the motley fool , a more than usual licence during the period . But all these and tho grand and final clay of " the three kings of Koln" ( Twelfth Night ) must be reserved for their own distinctive festivals .
Wo have already observed the distinction which a preponderance of Protestantism in the north of Europe introduces against the above mummeries of the south ; in tho south we have seen that the celebration is more objective in relation to the nascent deity ; iu the north , it has become entirely subjective and refers entirely to the children who celebrate the festival . Here the attraction is turned from the new born babe to the , as it were , ministering babes , and all parade and ceremony is centered iu their pleasures and
delight , circling round' the Christmas trees ( Ohrislbaume , loei / b-iiackts bdume ) which radiating from tho Windsor nurseries have now thrown such a halo of hilarity and happiness round our Christmas clogs , as entirely to supersede " sna | i dragon , " "bliudinan ' s bull ) ""hunt the slipper , " ifec ., withamuch more intellectual and rational festivity . These trees serve
as a kind of domestic verdict on . the conduct of tho youthful scions during the year : for the dutiful and docile a fir saplingis hung with smeetmeats and decorated with foil and mirrors , reflecting the gifts and illumined with tapers ; whilst , where the paternal decision is less approving , the gifts diminish iu value , tho lights aro less splendid ; and , in cases of great
reprehension ( though mostly softened by the mother ' s prayers ) the tree , inscribed with the name of tho juvenile delinquent , may be left totally blank ancl completely dark . Berlin may be stated to be tho chief seat of this northern mode of celebration . The week preceding Christmas the large space opposite the Schlossotherwise a sandy plainis
, , entirely green with the young firs which the neighbouringwoods so readily supply , intermingled with the toys ancl cakes , the li ghts and mirrors , which are necessary for the full display . The prices are suited to all pockets , for so universal is the custom , that the lowest labourer would be looked upon by his family as unfeeling and cruel who did not manage to ,
provide some show at least of the customary fir . In extreme cases , benevolent individuals subscribe means to furnish the Christmas luxury where they know it will bo otherwise wanting . W . B . P . D .
THE VoLlixiKMi M ' OVJG . IIKXI ' . —Whilst referring to tho proceedings of the various Volunteer Corps throughout the united kingdom , we arc induced to call attention to the issue of ti most exquisite medal , designed and executed in silver by Bro . 5 . M . Thcarle , of li ) 3 , I'loot-strcob , for tho " Bedford Mounted Volunteer Hide Corps , established in 1857 . " Tho lace of the medal consists of an exquisitely raised bust of her most gracious Majesty , which oven Mr . Wyon , the Mint medalist , has never
excelled , iu comparing the likeness of the queen with that of the Mint coinage , everyone will be immediately struck with its superiority both iu point of resemblance ancl also as to superiority of execution . Not a single medal that has been of late struck either for military or naval service , at the Mint , has been at all equal to this beautiful specimen of private enterprise and a good taste , ivhich clearly proves that if this department were intrusted to private hands , greater success than is now obtained would bo secured , independently of the inestimable boon oI :
getting rid of routine and red tape . The reverse of the medal bears the words " Prize for best marksman , " which tu'b encircled by a raised chaplet of laurel leaves , tho sharpness of which is in every respect equal to the superior finish of the obverse .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Origin And Observance Of Christmas.—Ii.
has appropriated to himself all the battle feats of the Teuton deities , may not be without great conformities . A principal feature iu the southern Germanic celebration of tho church Prcesepe is , their cradle songs in Latin and German . One begins , in Latin" 0 Jcsulc , pupule , parvule , "
whicli the extreme paucity of diminutives iu our English language would prevent our rendering with anything like ; the eil ' ect of the ori ginal . Some of our readers will , however , possibl y bo gratified by a German version of its first two verses , where tlie Teutonic richness in those littlenesses of endearment and tenderness have full scope .
" O I Jesulcin , Piippcheii du klehics AVillst , class ivir kiisscn dich ? AVillst , Liiimnehen du feincs Eni Zuckcrbrciclchen , sprich ? AVillst Milch du wlirzcglich Kindlcin , du kleincs ? 0 ! Engel all , Erzcngcl all
Lasst llimmel lliinmel scin , Koiiiint zu dem Krippelcin ; Stimuit in das Lobliccl ein Ein Kuablcin gcborn in Bethlehem Des frcuct sich Jerusalem . O ! liebster Kniibclcin Mem womiig kind , O ! Jesus , zarrl ancl kleiu , Scblaf siiss unci lind .
" Christ-kind , du heller Kurfunkcl ! Kelirc in mein ilcrz cm , Mach hell sein Dunkel . Lass es dcin Gartchen scin Dcin Bcttehen wcicli unci rein Mein Jcsulein ! < iuell gcistcr all ' , Ellen all '
Erschoint aus AVald unci Ciuell Konimt her zum lvnaben schncll Und singet hint und hell : Im Kripp'leiu licgt Herr Jesus Christ Des Kiinigrcich olm 'Enclc ist . 0 ! du mein Augenstcrn Mein holdcs kind
Dich kiiss ich gar zu gern Sclilaf siiss unci lind " In tliis second verso the invocation to all tho ell ' s , to the spirits of woods and springs , sounds oddly in a Christian hymn , and may bo taken as an additional ancl convincing proof of their heathen ori gin . And it seems from this very
cause that no Christian festival had in fact such a popular tone or rooted so strongly in the minds of the people as the Christian revels , both ecclesiastical and worldly . As child or as parent , every one had acted the scene at home ancl around their own hearths ; the dread mysteries of tho resurrection , the ascensionor of Pentecostmiht astonish more from
, , g their inscrutable nature , but tho Nativity was brought home to every breast , its supernatural action was ignored , ancl the mere humanl y view was felt with homo deli ght , as it coulcl be entertained without doubt , no obtrusive cavil rising by which it coulcl be rejected .
\\ here churches were frequent , each parish prepared a separate Procsepc , ami each strove to excel in their beaut y and adornment ; crowds of votaries chanting choral songs of Hallelujahs rushed during the entire Christmas ni ght from church to church , from cathedral to chapel , to visit the various decorated cradles and the babe , and returned homo to
compare and descant upon their several glories . The different guilds of merchants ancl traders rivalled each other also in the adornment of their chavm-trees , where the natal Procsepc of the nascent Gocl was a great object of their care , and much expense was lavished on them . The grandees of tho towns lihted up their best apartmentsand threw
g , open tho windows , to enliven and illumine the streets , a necessary observance for tho crowd , where so few streets had any lamps . ' When the great day was passed , began the period when
for twelve days profane ancl uproarious jollity had full scope . Tournaments were proclaimed , lists were staked , and all the nobility of the nei g hbourhood , with every one rejoicing in the right of coat armour , tested their prowess and agility in jousts of arms , which afforded no less pleasure to the spectators that the knightly combatants were often roused to a real
combat , ancl the imaginary contest was converted into one d ; Ventrance . Almost every day to the Epiphany was an ordained church service ; with each of which the people most willingly combined their peculiar spore . The boy bishop chosen on St . Nicholas ' s day had not yet abdicated his short lived and
boisterous prelacy . The Lord of Misrule , with all his indecency , frolic , and riot , had still an impunity for several clays from the mystic birth , and the motley fool , a more than usual licence during the period . But all these and tho grand and final clay of " the three kings of Koln" ( Twelfth Night ) must be reserved for their own distinctive festivals .
Wo have already observed the distinction which a preponderance of Protestantism in the north of Europe introduces against the above mummeries of the south ; in tho south we have seen that the celebration is more objective in relation to the nascent deity ; iu the north , it has become entirely subjective and refers entirely to the children who celebrate the festival . Here the attraction is turned from the new born babe to the , as it were , ministering babes , and all parade and ceremony is centered iu their pleasures and
delight , circling round' the Christmas trees ( Ohrislbaume , loei / b-iiackts bdume ) which radiating from tho Windsor nurseries have now thrown such a halo of hilarity and happiness round our Christmas clogs , as entirely to supersede " sna | i dragon , " "bliudinan ' s bull ) ""hunt the slipper , " ifec ., withamuch more intellectual and rational festivity . These trees serve
as a kind of domestic verdict on . the conduct of tho youthful scions during the year : for the dutiful and docile a fir saplingis hung with smeetmeats and decorated with foil and mirrors , reflecting the gifts and illumined with tapers ; whilst , where the paternal decision is less approving , the gifts diminish iu value , tho lights aro less splendid ; and , in cases of great
reprehension ( though mostly softened by the mother ' s prayers ) the tree , inscribed with the name of tho juvenile delinquent , may be left totally blank ancl completely dark . Berlin may be stated to be tho chief seat of this northern mode of celebration . The week preceding Christmas the large space opposite the Schlossotherwise a sandy plainis
, , entirely green with the young firs which the neighbouringwoods so readily supply , intermingled with the toys ancl cakes , the li ghts and mirrors , which are necessary for the full display . The prices are suited to all pockets , for so universal is the custom , that the lowest labourer would be looked upon by his family as unfeeling and cruel who did not manage to ,
provide some show at least of the customary fir . In extreme cases , benevolent individuals subscribe means to furnish the Christmas luxury where they know it will bo otherwise wanting . W . B . P . D .
THE VoLlixiKMi M ' OVJG . IIKXI ' . —Whilst referring to tho proceedings of the various Volunteer Corps throughout the united kingdom , we arc induced to call attention to the issue of ti most exquisite medal , designed and executed in silver by Bro . 5 . M . Thcarle , of li ) 3 , I'loot-strcob , for tho " Bedford Mounted Volunteer Hide Corps , established in 1857 . " Tho lace of the medal consists of an exquisitely raised bust of her most gracious Majesty , which oven Mr . Wyon , the Mint medalist , has never
excelled , iu comparing the likeness of the queen with that of the Mint coinage , everyone will be immediately struck with its superiority both iu point of resemblance ancl also as to superiority of execution . Not a single medal that has been of late struck either for military or naval service , at the Mint , has been at all equal to this beautiful specimen of private enterprise and a good taste , ivhich clearly proves that if this department were intrusted to private hands , greater success than is now obtained would bo secured , independently of the inestimable boon oI :
getting rid of routine and red tape . The reverse of the medal bears the words " Prize for best marksman , " which tu'b encircled by a raised chaplet of laurel leaves , tho sharpness of which is in every respect equal to the superior finish of the obverse .