Show Present Christmas Customs Pagan Survivals Must 1 Be Christianized By y REV CHARLES B B. B KETCHAM Cleveland the celebration of Chri Christmas became general before BECA V Ll any ally large body of custom and ritual had had time to grow ro up Q D around the day tiny many of or the old pagan observances ns n's were taken over o bodily by the Christians Some of these symbols antI and customs cus cue toms tolUS were g given a R new n meaning I some brought ht their old pagan as associations od ions over o with then them some lost their old oM meaning without taking on army any now mew significance II The use ue of the holl holly is an example of a n pagan survival that lint line has lost its original tn meaning without gathering any Nut cut new significance To 10 the early sun SUII wor worshiper the till holly berries stood for tor the time drops of blood 1 bloodshed bloodshed shed by hy a 8 myth mythical it'll I hero who lost his hill life lire rescuing the sun from a great rat dragon that hall hail seized it Will was it away so 1 that the earth rth experienced ex u. I ld shorter days 8 situ and colder older weather I To ribo these thee sun survivals survival hal of paganism the church of course Ourse added new customs cus cue toms of her OW own II ns nil for instance t the placing p of a lighted candle and Ie in the window on Christmas eve evo to guide the Christ child Christmas lI carols and 1 legends of the Christ child soon began to gather about the day Y to toe tog g give e it religious significance nt But even en today there is ill more folklore and ancient custom in our observance ob oh- servance er of Christmas los than there is ill of Christian si significance The giving giving iv ing illg and receiving in of gifts bulks ar larger er than religion rt with most people Not a few even e of our Sunda Sunday school entertainments feature Santa Clang Clau more than han they do the Christ This condition of or affairs affaire is a challenge to the church Tile Tho Chri Christmas tl ln customs that lint we Wt cannot an not thoroughly Christianize must be replaced rep I by y new customs that will emphasize the meaning of the day The elements element that can be Le infused with the Christ Chris spirit must be Jr if they are arc to bo he preserved |