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Show I How December 25 Was Chosen How many people know why Christmas Christ-mas camo to fall on December 2fi? Everybody knows thnt It la tho day celebrated alike by tho Catholic, Protestant Prot-estant and Greek churches as tho nativity na-tivity of Christ, yet nobody knows If It Is tho actual dato. The uncertainty Is duo to tho prejudice preju-dice of early Christians ngalnst tho celebrations of birthdays. Thoy regarded re-garded such a custom as heathenish, nnd mndo no exception, oven to tho Savior's birthday. It was not until Christianity had triumphed, threo centuries later, that tho prejudlco against tho obscrvanco of blrthdnys tiled out, and nn Investigation Investi-gation as to tho dato of Christ's birth-.day birth-.day was begun. Julius, popo or bishop of Rome, asked St. Cyril In 380 to ascertain tho real anniversary of tho nativity. St. Cyril reported tho dato to bo Decern-bor Decern-bor 25, to tho best of his knowledge, after extensive research, and tho date was accepted by Julius and promulgated promul-gated as tho anniversary of Christ's birth. Boforo tho end of tho fifth century cen-tury tho Onto was accepted by all Christendom. January C, April ?0, March 20 and March 29 aro somo of tho dates that were serious contenders for tho distinction dis-tinction boforo Decomber 25 received tho seal of Julius' approval. Even after tho dato was generally accoptod by all Christian nations the holiday had its struggles. Tho English Eng-lish roundhead parliament of 1C43 abolished Christmas and for 12 years It was not observed in England. Royalty Roy-alty gained tho ascendoncy, howover, and Christmas was re-established as a national holidny. Govornor Bradford of Plymouth, In 1621,-history says, had occasion to ro-buko ro-buko somo young men who had como over In tho ship Fortune, following In tho trail of tho Mayflower, becauso their consciences would not allow them to work on Chrlstmns. with their sterner Puritan brothers. In 1059 tho general court of Massachusetts Massa-chusetts passed a law fixing a fine of' flvo shillings against nnyono who should by nbstinonco from labor, feasting feast-ing or any other method, observe. Chrlstmns. |