“MERRY CHRISTMAS”: The Observance and the Festivities of the Day; General Suspension of Business on Monday (12/25/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/25/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The merriest season of the year, the old, time-honored Christmas festival, began last evening. Rigid sticklers for ecclesiastical compulation may feel inclined to (dispute the correctness of our reckoning, and require us to antedate holidays nearly a fortnight; but Christmas belongs to the people, and they have practically settled the matter by fixing on Christmas eve as the commencement of the great Winter holidays. The ecclesiastical season, proper, continues till the 1st of February, or the evening before the purification of the Virgin; but, practically, the holidays comprehend a period of a fortnight, commencing on Christmas eve and ending on Twelfth Day. The whole of this season, even in hardworking America, is still thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the "Merry Christmas" greeting which it is ushered in; but even where the festival is most mirthfully observed, it is very much changed from what it was in the rude old feudal times, when people better understood the art of making merry. It is enough to make one's blood glow, on the coldest Winter night, to read how our English forefathers used to celebrate Christmas and the following holidays:

On Christmas eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas eve the mass was sung;
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men go
To gather in the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the Baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And ceremony doffed his pride.
The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,
Went roaring up the chimney wide;
The huge hall table's oaken face,
Scrubbed till it shone the day to grace,
Bore them upon its massive board

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4286256/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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“Merry Christmas”: The Observance and Festivities of the Day – 2-3
The Skating Season: Arrangements for 1864-65 – 3-4
Army of the Potomac: Affairs at the Front – 4-5
The War in Tennessee: Affairs Before the Battle – 5-7
Warren’s Great Raid: A Triumphant March of Ninety Miles – 7-10
From New-Orleans: The Gunboat Narcissus Blown Up by a Torpedo in Mobile Bay – 10-11
News from Rebel Sources: Our Cavalry Moving on Gordonsville – 11
The Raid by Burbridge and Stoneman – 11
News from Washington – 11
Medical Women: The Lady Student at Bellevue Hospital – 11-12
Editorial: The “American Poland” – 12-13
Editorial: The Robbers’ Prize – 13