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Yule-tide in Many Lands: Mary P. Pringle, Illustrated by L.J.
Bridgman, Authored by Clara A. Uran
As early as two thousand years before Christ Yule-tide was
celebrated by the Aryans. They were sun-worshipers and believed the
sun was born each morning, rode across the upper world, and sank
into his grave at night. Day after day, as the sun's power
diminished, these primitive people feared that he would eventually
be overcome by darkness and forced to remain in the under world.
Have you ever wanted to learn more about the origins of Christmas,
or how Christmas is celebrated in different countries? This turn of
the century book offers a great introduction to Christmas.
Certainly Yule-tide was a very merry season among the ancient
people who feasted, drank, and danced in honor of the return of the
sun, the god of light and new life.
When messengers went through the various countries bearing tidings
of a new religion and of the birth of a Son who brought light and
new life into the whole world, they endeavored to retain as many of
the established customs as possible, but gave to the old-time
festivals a finer character and significance.
As the fact of Christ's birth was not recorded and there was no
certainty as to its date, the early Christian Fathers very wisely
ascribed it to Yule-tide, changing the occasion from the birthday
of the sun to that of the Son. For a while the birth of Christ was
celebrated on dates varying from the first to the sixth of January;
on the dates of certain religious festivals such as the Jewish
Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles; but the twenty-fifth of
December, the birthday of the sun, was ever the favorite date.
Pope Julius, who reigned from 337 to 352 A. D., after a careful
investigation, considered it settled beyond doubt that Christ was
born on or about the twenty-fifth of December, and by the end of
the fifth century that date was very generally accepted by
Christians. The transition from the old to the new significance of
Yule-tide was brought about so quietly and naturally that it made
no great impression on the mind of the masses, so nothing authentic
can be learned of the early observance of Christmas.
Beginning with the Yuletide festivals of the ancient world, The
Celebration of Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide Traditions
From Many Lands shares a history of Christmas across Europe,
exploring the Holiday customs of England, Germany (true source of
the Christmas Tree!), Scandinavia (Lapland, Holland, Denmark),
France, Italy, Russia and Spain. The chapter on Yule in Russia is
especially poignant, as its writing predates the Bolshevik
Revolution, offering a unique glimpse into that country's
pre-Communist Christian roots. The final chapter is a surprising
history of Christmas in Colonial America. First published in 1916,
and reproduced in this quality reprint edition with all of the
charming original illustrations intact, The Celebration of
Christmas In Europe and America: Yuletide Traditions From Many
Lands opens a wondrous window on the magic and beauty of the
Christmas Season as it was understood and observed during the
Victorian era.
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