Show M K K vv v W V W NAV V v vw MN v-v v y The most e Hera j Observed o of A All r I Festivals s i CHRISTMAS T N is I of all IJ the re festival festival- ti al the most generally observed ii It it the estern world It Is the uni universal versal holiday of Christendom mind the g phases of Its observance are in their essentials al similar In all aU It is a sort t of common ground round on which we all meet for far ni nl least one da day in the year In III Its religious religions aspect aspert the time festival Is a remembrance e of the time Christini J faith the faith the gift of God to the world oa o 0 oa a divine Savior Saylor Out of that rn and dominant Idea no doubt douht grew rew in nit inthe the practice of selecting Christmas above all other seasons om n as ns the time tim for friends to tox bestow gifts upon oat OIK another and for all who can an to ex cx extend extend tend charity to those In need Although not so old as the feature the domestic and social features fea flO Lures tures of the festival date hack back to vor fr very early times tines at any rate rate to times that thaI are early in our history For centuries Christmas has hns been keen pre pre eminently a season of home home-gath mome gatli when absent ones return ane and the family fatally circle is once more mon com corn letell or as nearl nearly completed as th thiN changes and chances of oC life lite make po pos Ible With home coming wn was as associated good cheer and so came to he be a season of feasting an and merr merrymaking In III England during the Middle ages and for fol many generations after the Middle ages had clo closed ed the Christ Christmas Christmas I mas teas season which Included at least leasta a l whole week and liturgically 40 days luys was given over to merr merrymaking of carious kinds sonic some of which luw hn gone the time wa way of ninny many of the customs custom of our forefathers For Instance there was the bringing of the Yule lot tobe to tobe tobe be lighted on the fireplace on Christmas Christ Christ- mas Eye eve with much ceremony re rev joking We have ha no Yule log for there ther are but bat few fireplaces now The name of the log recalls another name for Christmas which was anciently tilled railed and Is still known as Yuletide Yule or car Yule time |