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[Illustration: Decoration]
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO
SAN FRANCISCO
MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED
LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA
MELBOURNE
THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD.
TORONTO
THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS
[Illustration: woman in bed]
[Illustration:
THE
CHILDREN’S BOOK
OF CHRISTMAS
Compiled by
J. C. DIER
The MACMILLAN COMPANY
1911
All rights reserved
]
[Illustration: Decoration]
COPYRIGHT, 1911,
BY
THE MACMILLAN
COMPANY
Set up and electrotyped.
Published, October, 1911.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
_IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS?_
[_This question addressed to_ The Sun, _New York, received this
reply_.]
_We take pleasure in answering at once and thus prominently
the communication below, expressing at the same time our great
gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends
of_ The Sun:—
_Dear Editor: I am 8 years old._
_Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, “If you see it in_ The Sun _it’s so.”
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?_
_VIRGINIA O’HANLON._
_Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been afflicted by
the scepticism of a sceptical age. They do not believe except they
see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by
their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or
children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere
insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless
world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping
the whole of truth and knowledge._
_Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as
love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound
and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary
would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as
dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike
faith then, no poetry, no romance, to make tolerable this existence.
We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal
light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished._
_Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in
fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the
chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did
not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees
Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The
most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men
can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not,
but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or
imagine all the wonders that are unseen and unseeable in the world._
_You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise
inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the
strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest
men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry,
love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the
supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in
all this world there is nothing else real and abiding._
_No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A
thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years
from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood._
_FRANK P. CHURCH._
[Illustration: Decoration]
CONTENTS
PAGE
IS THERE A SANTA CLAUS? v
An Editorial by the late Frank P. Church in the New York _Sun_.
CHRISTMAS GREENS 1
Adapted from _Some Curiosities of Popular Customs_ by William
S. Walsh.
I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING IN 2
A Kentish Version of an old English Christmas Carol.
THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS 4
The Gospel Story as in the Children’s Series of the Modern
Reader’s Bible, edited by R. G. Moulton.
WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED 6
The famous Christmas hymn written in about 1700 and attributed
to Nahum Tate.
THE WISE MEN FROM THE EAST 7
The Gospel Story as in the Children’s Series of the Modern
Reader’s Bible, edited by R. G. Moulton.
STROOIAVOND IN HOLLAND 9
Adapted from _Holland_ by Beatrix Jungman in the Peeps at Many
Lands Series, with one paragraph simplified from _Servia and the
Servians_ by Chedo Mijatovich.
HOW ST. NICHOLAS CAME TO VOLENDAM 12
From the volume on _Holland_ by Beatrix Jungman in the Peeps at
Many Lands Series.
KEEPING CHRISTMAS IN THE OLD WAY 16
From an entertaining old pamphlet published in 1740 entitled
“Round about Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments,” quoted
in _Christmas: Its Origin and Associations_ by W. F. Dawson.
AS JOSEPH WAS A-WALKING 20
An Old English Christmas Carol known as The Cherry-tree Carol. In
many versions another stanza said to be of later origin is added.
THE “JULE-NISSEN” AND BLOWING IN THE YULE 21
From _The Old Town_ by Jacob A. Riis, copyright by The
Macmillan Company, 1909.
CHRISTMAS EVE IN MERRY ENGLAND 23
From _Marmion_ by Sir Walter Scott.
WHEN CHRISTMAS WAS NOT MERRY 25
Compiled from _Christmas: Its Origin and Associations_ by W. F.
Dawson, and from general sources.
GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS 28
From _Old Christmas at Bracebridge Hall_ by Washington Irving.
GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN 31
An Old English Carol.
THE DATE OF RUSSIA’S CHRISTMASTIDE 33
Compiled from general sources, and in part from _Russia_ by L.
Edna Walter in the Peeps at Many Lands Series.
ST. BARBARA’S GRAIN 37
Adapted from an unsigned article in _Macmillan’s Magazine_ and
from creole folk-lore.
BEFORE THE PALING OF THE STARS 38
By Christina Rossetti.
A MIDNIGHT MASS IN FRANCE 39
Adapted from an article in _Macmillan’s Magazine_ with added
details drawn from an article in _The Century_ by Mme. Th. Bentzon.
THE CHRISTCHILD AND THE PINE TREE 42
A weaving together of bits of folk-lore drawn chiefly from _The
Child and Childhood in Folk-thought_ by Alexander F. Chamberlain.
A BIRTHDAY GIFT 44
Part of a hymn for children by Christina Rossetti.
THE CHRISTMAS FIRE IN SERVIA 45
Adapted from _Servia and the Servians_ by Chedo Mijatovich.
THE DAY OF THE LITTLE GOD 47
From _Servia and the Servians_ by Chedo Mijatovich.
NATURE FOLK-LORE OF CHRISTMASTIDE 50
Compiled from several sources, including _The Old Town_ by Jacob
A. Riis and magazine articles.
GOOD KING WENCESLAS 53
An Old English Carol in the version by John Mason Neale.
A MEXICAN “MYSTERY” SEEN BY BAYARD TAYLOR 54
From _Eldorado_ by Bayard Taylor.
BREAKING THE PIÑATE 57
Collated from _Mexico, the Wonderland of the South_ by W. E.
Carson, copyright by The Macmillan Company, 1909.
CHRISTMAS UPON A GREENLAND ICEBERG 59
Collated from _Christmas: Its Origin and Associations_ by W. F.
Dawson, and _The Great White North_ by Helen S. Wright.
LUTHER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL FOR CHILDREN 61
Translator unknown.
THE GOOD NIGHT IN SPAIN 63
Adapted from the account by Ferdinand Caballero, translated by
Katharine Lee Bates.
A CHRISTMAS TREE IN JAPAN 66
From _Letters from Japan_ by Mary Crawford Fraser, copyright by
The Macmillan Company, 1899.
FROM FAR AWAY 72
A Christmas Carol by William Morris.
LORDINGS, LISTEN TO OUR LAY 73
A fragment of the earliest existing carol; sung in the thirteenth
century.
WHERE THE CHRISTMAS TOYS COME FROM 74
Compiled from general sources, including _In Toyland_, an article
in _The Royal Magazine_, copyright by C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd.
THE MAKING OF A CHRISTMAS DOLL 76
The material of this article also has been drawn from _The Royal
Magazine_ by permission of its publishers, C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd.
IRINA’S DAY ON THE ESTATES 79
Adapted from _Russia_ by L. Edna Walter in the Peeps at Many Lands
Series.
A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS 83
By Clement C. Moore.
THE CRATCHITS’ CHRISTMAS DINNER 85
From _A Christmas Carol_ by Charles Dickens.
AFTER THE CHRISTMAS DINNER 88
From _The Old Town_ by Jacob A. Riis, copyright by The
Macmillan Company, 1909.
HANG UP THE BABY’S STOCKING 89
Author unknown.
A GERMAN CHRISTMAS 90
Collated from _Home Life in Germany_ by Mrs. Alfred Sidgwick,
_Music Study in Germany_ by Amy Fay, and _Elizabeth and Her
German Garden_.
CROWDED OUT 95
By Rosalie M. Jonas.
AN ENGLISH “ADORATION” 96
Adapted from _The Children’s Book of Art_ by Miss A. E. Conway
and Sir Martin Conway.
THE CHILDREN’S OWN SAINT 99
Based on legends chiefly drawn from _Curiosities of Popular
Customs_ by W. S. Walsh.
THE BEFANA FAIR IN ROME 102
From _Ave Roma Immortalis_ by F. Marion Crawford, copyright by
The Macmillan Company, 1898.
THE GOLDEN CAROL 104
An Old English Epiphany Carol.
BABOUSCKA 105
By Carolyn S. Bailey. Copyright by the Milton Bradley Company.
Reprinted by permission from _For the Children’s Hour_.
THE THREE KINGS 107
Adapted by permission from _The Memoirs of Mistral_, copyright by
the Baker and Taylor Company, 1907.
CHRISTMAS PEACE 110
From _The Little City of Hope_ by F. Marion Crawford, copyright by
The Macmillan Company, 1907.
PLATES IN COLORS
The Annunciation _Dante Gabriel Rossetti_ _Frontispiece_
PAGE
The Nativity _Botticelli_ _Facing_ 4
Shepherds and Shepherd Boy 20
In a Christmas Market on the Neva 36
The Yule Sheaf 52
Nuremberg Where the Toys are Made 72
Roumanian Boys in a Religious Procession 80
An English “Adoration” 96
ILLUSTRATIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE
The Shepherds Adoring _Ghirlandajo_ 8
The Adoration of the Magi _Bernadino_ 12
The Adoration of the King _Veronese_ 16
Holy Night _C. Müller_ 24
A Christmas Gift on the Way to Christmas Dinner 28
The Holy Night _Correggio_ 32
The Bells _Blashfield_ 40
The Triumph of the Innocents _Hunt_ 44
Bethlehem _Hofmann_ 48
The Christmas Tree Market in New York 56
Heads of the Christ Child from Raphael’s Paintings 60
The Holy Family with the Shepherds _Titian_ 64
Making Glass and Tinsel Ornaments for Christmas Trees 68
Doll-making 76
Wig-making 78
A Christmas Tree at the Immigration Station, New York 84
“We joined hands and danced around the tree” 88
Dressing Dolls in Germany for American Christmas Trees 92
An American Christmas Tree 100
The Adoration of the Magi _Memling_ 104
The Adoration of the Shepherds _Bouguereau_ 108
COMPILER’S NOTE
Wherever it has been possible, the material used has been quoted in
the exact words of the writer. In some cases omissions have been made
of sentences which would be unintelligible because that part of the
original book to which they refer is not herein included. In a very
few cases where the books quoted were not written for children, the
selections have been condensed and the language simplified. It is
hoped that injustice has been done to none.
[Illustration: Decoration]
THE CHILDREN’S BOOK OF CHRISTMAS
Christmas Greens
It is hard for you who have never felt the lack of heat and light to
know what the long dark winter must have meant to the men of long ago
who first kept the midwinter feast. Many of them really believed that
as the days grew shorter and shorter, and the nights long and cold,
there was danger that the sun might go out altogether and the whole
world die in the darkness. When, late in December, the days began to
lengthen, and they saw that the sun was coming back to bring again
the flowers and the summer heat, they fancied that a new sun had been
born. So then for gladness they kept a feast which naturally in later
years was changed into a festival in honor of the birth of Christ,
“the sun of righteousness.”
With the feast itself some other of their old customs have been
handed down to us, and among them is that of bringing into the house
in midwinter the boughs of Christmas green. For these far-away folk
believed that wood-spirits—you know them as brownies, fairies, and
elves—were living in the forests outside, and were so sorry to think
of them shivering under the snow-laden trees and in damp icy caves,
that they used to place in the corners of their houses great branches
of hemlock and balsam fir, that “the good little people” might creep
into the sort of shelters they loved and be warm. And as the heat of
the fire brought out the sweet smell of the fir, it seemed to them
like a “thank you” from their friends of the summer woods. Thus they,
first of all men, felt the wish to give which is the heart of the
Christmas spirit. And soon they began to hang little gifts for their
unseen guest upon the green boughs, and to make them bright with
the berries of holly and ash. After that it may be that some night
hunter, crouching in the underbrush, looked up to the stars, and felt
that his tree was incomplete without twinkling lights. However that
may be, the custom of trimming the house with evergreens, holly, and
lights at Christmas time is an old, old one.
I saw Three Ships come sailing in
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day?
Pray, whither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas day in the morning?
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas day in the morning.
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day, on Christmas day;
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas day in the morning.
The Angels and the Shepherds
Now in the days of Herod, King of Judea, the angel Gabriel was sent
from God unto a city in Galilee named Nazareth, unto a virgin whose
name was Mary, to whom he said: Hail, thou that art highly favored!
the Lord is with thee! blessed art thou among women! But she was
greatly troubled by his greeting and wondered what such words could
mean. Fear not, Mary! for thou hast found favor with God, he said,
and went on to tell her of the Son who should be hers, and whom she
was to call Jesus. He shall be great, she was told, and shall be
called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him
the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of
Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Now it came to pass there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that
all the world should be enrolled. And all went to enroll themselves,
every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out
of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which
is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house of the family of
David; to enroll himself with Mary. And it came to pass, while they
were there she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no
room for them in the inn.
[Illustration: manger]
And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field,
and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the
Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about
them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be
not afraid; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which
shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the
city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this is the
sign unto you; ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and
lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying:
Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace
Among men in whom he is well pleased.
And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made
known unto us. And they came with haste, and found both Mary and
Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it they
made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about
this child. And all that heard it wondered at the things which were
spoken unto them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings,
pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying
and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,
even as it was spoken unto them.
And when eight days were fulfilled his name was called
JESUS.
While Shepherds Watched
While shepherds watch’d their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The Angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.
“Fear not,” said he (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind);
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.
“To you in David’s town this day
Is born of David’s line
The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:
“The heavenly Babe you there shall find
To human view display’d,
All meanly wrapt in swathing-bands;
And in a manger laid.”
Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith
Appear’d a shining throng
Of angels praising God, and thus
Address’d their joyful song:
“All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Good-will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin, and never cease!”
The Wise Men from the East
Now when Jesus was born, behold, Wise men from the east came to
Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for
we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him. And when
Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with
him. And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the
people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born. And
they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written
by the prophet: _And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, art in no wise
least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come forth a
governor, which shall be shepherd of my people Israel._ Then Herod
privily called the Wise men, and learned of them carefully what time
the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and
search out carefully concerning the young child; and when ye have
found him, bring me word that I also may come and worship him. And
they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which
they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over
where the young child was. And when they saw the star, they rejoiced
with exceeding great joy. And they came into the house and saw the
young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped
him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold
and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that
they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country
another way.
Now when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeareth
to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his
mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. And he arose and took
the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt; and
was there until the death of Herod. Then Herod, when he saw that he
was mocked of the Wise men was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and
slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the
borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had carefully learned of the Wise men. Then was fulfilled
that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: _A voice was
heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children; and she would not be comforted, because they are not._
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young child and
his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that
sought the young child’s life. And he arose and took the young child
and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard
that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the room of his father
Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned of God in a
dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, and came and dwelt in a
city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.
[Illustration:
_Girlandajo_
THE SHEPHERDS ADORING]
Strooiavond in Holland
A Dutch boy does not have to wait until December 25 for the
great gift-day of the year. He is one of those who look for the
gift-bringing saint on the eve of his own day which falls on December
6. For days beforehand the shops have been filled with toys and gaily
trimmed, and on the evening of December 5 St. Nicholas is supposed
by the little ones to make choice of the special treasure intended
for little Dutch Jan or Martje. Indeed, it is one of the children’s
treats to go out on that night to see the shops; and in the doorway
of many of them stands a gorgeously clad likeness of the saint.
At home the children in turn are visited by the saint; in he walks
carrying a big sackful of candies, oranges, apples, and so forth,
which he scatters on the floor. Indeed, the Eve of St. Nicholas is
called in Holland _Strooiavond_, which means “strewing evening.” This
idea of a strewing evening crops up curiously often as one reads of
the various customs connected with the December holidays the world
over. In southern France the Provençal women strew wheat on the
surface of shallow dishes of water, planting St. Barbara’s grain; in
Mexico the children try to break with a long stick a bag or jug swung
high above their heads, scattering the contents at last all over the
floor.
In some parts of Servia there is found among the Christmas customs
one which is probably the remnant of an early rite from which all of
these “strewing evenings” come. In that country, after the Christmas
fire has been started with due ceremonies, the mother of the family
brings in a bundle of straw which has been made ready early in the
day. All the young children arrange themselves behind her in a row.
She then starts walking slowly about the hall, and all the adjoining
rooms, throwing on the floor handfuls of straw, and at the same time
imitating the hens sounds, “Kock ... kock ... kock;” while all the
children, representing the hen’s little chickens, merrily follow
shouting, “Peeyoo! ... peeyoo! ... peeyoo!” The floor well strewn
with straw, and the little folk in breathless heaps upon it, the
oldest man of the family throws a few walnuts in every corner of
the hall. After this a large pot, or a small wooden box, is filled
with wheat and placed a little higher than a man’s head in the east
corner of the hall. In the middle of the wheat is fixed a tall candle
of yellow wax. The father of the family then reverently lights the
candle, and, folding his arms on his breast, he prays, while all who
are present stand silently behind him, asking God to bless the family
with health and happiness, to bless the fields with good harvests,
the beehives with plenty of honey, the sheep with many lambs, the
cows with rich creamy milk, and so on. When he finishes his prayer,
he bows deeply before the burning candle, and all those standing
behind him do the same. He then turns toward them and says, “May
God hear our prayer, and may He grant us all health!” to which they
answer, “God grant it. Amen!”
In Holland the very little children believe that while they are busy
gathering up the saint’s goodies, or else in the night, he hides
away the presents meant for them all over the house. Before they go
to bed they place their largest shoes—wooden sabots, such as you
see in almost every picture of Dutch children—in the chimney place,
where in the morning they find them stuffed with fruit, nuts, and
sweets. There are no lie-a-beds in Holland on St. Nicholas’ morning.
There is a glorious game of “seek-and-find” going on in every house
where there are children. Piet takes down one of the shining copper
saucepans hanging beside the chimney place and finds curled up
inside it the many-petticoated doll which of course he hands over to
a delighted little sister, who has somewhere discovered his box of
gaily painted leaden soldiers. There are plenty of hiding holes in
an old Dutch house; thick oak beams support the walls and roofs and
make wide ledges upon which Rupert may find a packet containing two
flat silver buttons which once belonged to his great-grandfather.
He is the oldest son, beginning to be particular about his striped
waistcoats and the tight fit of his blue or red coat. He will be
immensely proud to wear, as every other man in the old village does,
two silver buttons at the waist of his baggy trousers. In the parts
of Holland where the new fashions have not spoiled the old, silver
buttons are to the men what such coral necklaces as Rupert’s sister
wears are to the women. These buttons are always as big as the men
can afford, and sometimes are like saucers; the little boys, even the
tiniest ones, are dressed exactly after the pattern of their fathers,
but their two flat buttons are smaller, about as large as fifty-cent
pieces, and stamped with some design, the favorite one being a ship.
When all the gifts have been hunted out (down to a pair of skates
with long curved tips for a boy so little that you would think St.
Nicholas must have made a mistake if you did not know that Dutch
children learn to skate almost as early as you learn to walk),
the children are ready for the season’s other special treat, the
gingerbread cakes. Delicately spiced gingerbread is made into many
fantastic shapes, but every one, young or old, receives a gingerbread
doll. Figures of men are given to the women folk, and of women in
ruffles and straight skirts to the men. It is interesting to see
how exactly like these gingerbread figures are in outline to those
in early Dutch paintings. The models from which they are patterned
frequently date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
How St. Nicholas Came to Volendam
One winter I was staying with my husband at the little fishing
village of Volendam, and we wished that the little Volendamers, who
are all very poor, should for once have a splendid St. Nicholas. A
French artist, who was there at the same time, was of our opinion,
and we were equally supported by our host Spaander and his wife and
their family of blooming daughters. In the wooden hotel there is
a “coffee-room,” long and low, of really vast proportions. In the
summer-time half of it forms the drawing-room. At the farther end
of this apartment is a small stage, with wings. On this occasion
(thanks to Spaander) the whole of it was covered in spotless white,
tables were erected, and upon their surface were arranged about
a thousand toys and as many oranges and cakes. A white throne was
placed for St. Nicholas, whose part was taken by the Frenchman. He
wore a long white woollen robe falling over a purple silk underdress,
a cape of costly old yellow brocade, and a gorgeous jewelled mitre,
and he was made venerable by long white hair and beard. The dress
of the black slave, whose part was taken by my husband, was equally
correct and effective—a long tight-fitting garment of green velvet,
showing a white robe underneath; an orange silk turban was wound
round the black locks of a disguising wig and lit up his cork-black
face. So much for the preparations, completed with considerable
trouble and a great deal of amusement.
[Illustration:
_Bernadino Luini_
ADORATION OF THE MAGI]
My husband painted a large poster, on which was set forth a notice
to all the children of Volendam that at 6.30 a boat would land upon
the quay, bearing St. Nicholas and his faithful slave laden with
gifts. One may easily imagine the joy and delight of these poor
fisher-children, into whose uneventful lives what English children
call a treat hardly ever enters. They crowded about the announcement,
and read that St. Nicholas would come laden with gifts. Who can say
what wild, beautiful hopes filled their hearts? Before five o’clock
the youngsters began to assemble. The quay was crowded with them, so
was the narrow road leading from the quay to the hotel. The parents
also were there, quite as excited and almost as credulous as their
children. Indeed, all Volendam turned out to welcome the saint. Rain
began to fall; but, although it soaked their poor clothes, it seemed
to have no damping effect upon their spirits, all afire as they were
with expectation. Meanwhile, the saint and his slave rowed out to
their boat. It was now almost dark, but in the faint light one could
still distinguish the fishing-boats which always crowd the harbor,
their tall masts and sails dimly defined against the gray sky, and
their narrow flags gently flapping in the rain. At one point there
was an opening between the boats, a glimmering waterway, where those
who were in the secret expected the boat to appear. The time passed
slowly. It was seven o’clock; and every one was very wet. Still, all
Volendam was full of cheerful good humor.
At length a blaze of bright light far out on the water revealed
the saint—a venerable figure standing in the boat, crosier in
hand, evidently blessing the expectant crowd. In a few moments the
boat reached the landing-place. With blare of trumpets, and by the
light of the torches, a procession was formed. How radiant were the
faces illumined by the flickering glow! Soon the warm, well-lighted
café was reached. The saint sat on his throne, and his good slave
rapidly distributed presents to the little ones, safely housed from
the inclement weather! Alas! they were very wet; but, as not one
of the seven hundred coughed during the distribution, it may be
concluded that the young Volendamers do not easily take cold. Their
surroundings are so damp that they are almost amphibious.
Every face beamed with happiness. The genial St. Nicholas and his
hard-worked slave; the Spaander family all helping vigorously; the
three fine, tall Volendamers, who, in their yellow scarves of office,
kept order so gently and gaily; down to the very youngest child,—all
the faces were sweet and patient, and aglow with the pleasure either
of giving or receiving.
The crowd of children looked plump and healthy, and although many
garments were much patched, there were no rags; the poorest seemed to
be well cared for and comfortable.
Seven hundred of them were made happy with toys and fruit; but there
was no scrambling or pushing, nothing but happy expectation, and then
still more happy satisfaction. All too soon it was over; the last
child clattered down the long room with its precious armful.
Afterwards we heard from the schoolteachers and the children’s
parents that most of them believed firmly that it was the real saint
descended from heaven who had laid his hands on their heads in
benediction as they received their presents from the black slave.
—BEATRIX JUNGMAN.
[Illustration: Decoration]
Keeping Christmas in the Old Way
There is an amusing account of how Christmas used to be observed in
England in the time of George II, in a little book called “Round
about our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments,” published in 1740.
The author begins:——
“First acknowledging the sacredness of the Holy Time of _Christmas_,
I proceed to set forth the Rejoicings which are generally made at the
great Festival.
“You must understand, good People, that the manner of celebrating
this great Course of Holydays is vastly different now to what it
was in former days: There was once upon a time Hospitality in the
land; an _English_ Gentleman at the opening of the great Day, had
all his Tenants and Neighbours enter’d his Hall by Day-break, the
strong Beer was broach’d, and the Black Jacks went plentifully about
with Toast, Sugar, Nutmeg, and good Cheshire Cheese; the Rooms were
embower’d with Holly, Ivy, Cypress, Bays, Laurel, and Misselto, and
a bouncing _Christmas_ Log in the Chimney glowing like the cheeks of
a country Milk-maid; then was the pewter as bright as _Clarinda_,
and every bit of Brass as polished as the most refined Gentleman;
the Servants were then running here and there, with merry Hearts
and jolly Countenances; every one was busy welcoming of Guests, and
look’d as smug as new licked Puppies; the Lasses as blithe and buxom
as the maids in good Queen _Bess’s_ Days, when they eat Sir-Loins of
Roast Beef for Breakfast; _Peg_ would scuttle about to make Toast for
_John_, while _Tom_ run _harum scarum_ to draw a Jug of Ale for
_Margery_: Gaffer _Spriggins_ was bid thrice welcome by the ’Squire,
and Gooddy _Goose_ did not fail of a smacking Buss from his Worship
while his Son and Heir did the Honours of the House: in a word, the
Spirit of Generosity ran thro’ the whole House.
[Illustration:
_Paolo Veronese_
THE ADORATION OF THE KINGS]
“In these Times all the Spits were sparkling, the _Hackin_ (a great
sausage) must be boiled by Day-break, or else two young Men took the
Maiden (the cook) by the Arms, and run her round the Market-place,
till she was ashamed of her Laziness. And what was worse than this,
she must not play with the Young Fellows that Day, but stand Neuter,
like a Girl doing penance in a Winding-sheet at a Church-door.
“But now let us enquire a little farther, to arrive at the Sense of
the Thing; this great Festival was in former Times kept with so much
Freedom and Openess of Heart, that every one in the Country where
a Gentleman resided, possessed at least a Day of Pleasure in the
_Christmas_ Holydays; the Tables were all spread from the first to
the last, the Sir-loins of Beef, the Minc’d Pies, the Plum-Porridge,
the Capons, Turkeys, Geese, and Plum-puddings, were all brought upon
the board; and all those who had sharp stomachs and sharp Knives eat
heartily and were welcome, which gave rise to the Proverb—
_Merry in the Hall, when Beards wag all._
* * * * *
“A merry Gentleman of my Acquaintance desires I will insert, that the
old Folks in the Days of yore kept open House at _Christmas_ out of
Interest; for then, says he, they receive the greatest part of their
rent in Kind; such as Wheat, Barley or Malt, Oxen, Calves, Sheep,
Swine, Turkeys, Capon, Geese, and such like; and they not having Room
enough to preserve their Cattle or Poultry, nor Markets to sell off
the Overplus, they were obliged to use them in their own Houses; and
by treating the People of the country, gained credit amongst them,
and riveted the Minds and Goodwill of their Neighbours so firmly in
them that no one durst venture to oppose them. The ’Squire’s Will was
done whatever came on it; for if he happened to ask a Neighbour what
it was a Clock, they returned with a low Scrape, it was what your
Worship pleases.
“The Dancing and Singing of the Benchers in the great Inns of the
Court in _Christmas_, is in some sort founded upon Interest; for they
hold, as I am informed, some Priviledge by Dancing about the Fire in
the middle of their Hall, and singing the Song of _Round about our
Coal Fire_, &c.
“This time of the year being cold and frosty, generally speaking, or
when Jack-Frost commonly takes us by the Nose, the Diversions are
within Doors, either in Exercise or by the Fire-side.
“Country-Dancing is one of the chief Exercises....
“Then comes Mumming or Masquerading, when the ’Squire’s Wardrobe
is ransacked for Dresses of all Kinds, and the coal-hole searched
around, or corks burnt to black the Faces of the Fair, or make
Deputy-Mustaches, and every one in the Family except the ’Squire
himself must be transformed from what they were....
“Or else there is a match at _Blind-Man’s-Buff_, and then it is
lawful to set anything in the way for Folks to tumble over....
“As for _Puss in the Corner_, that is a very harmless Sport, and one
may romp at it as much as one will....
“The next game to this is _Questions and Commands_, when the
Commander may oblige his Subject to answer any lawful Question, and
make the same obey him instantly, under the penalty of being smutted,
or paying such Forfeit as may be laid on the Aggressor; but the
Forfeits being generally fixed at some certain Price, as a Shilling,
Half a Crown, &c., so every one knowing what to do if they should be
too stubborn to submit, making themselves easy at discretion.
“As for the game of _Hoop and Hide_, the Parties have the Liberty of
hiding where they will, in any part of the House; and if they happen
to be caught the Dispute ends in Kissing, &c.
“Most of the Diversions are Cards and Dice, but they are seldom set
on foot, unless a Lawyer is at hand, to breed some dispute for him to
decide, or at least to have some Party in.
“And now I come to another Entertainment frequently used, which is of
the Story-telling Order, _viz._ of Hobgoblins, Witches, Conjurors,
Ghosts, Fairies, and such like common Disturbers.”
[Illustration: Decoration]
As Joseph was a-walking
As Joseph was a-walking,
He heard an angel sing,
“This shall be the birth-night
Of Christ our heavenly king.
“His birth-bed shall be neither
In housen nor in hall,
Nor in the place of paradise,
But in the oxen’s stall.
“He neither shall be rockèd
In silver nor in gold,
But in the wooden manger
That lieth in the mould.
“He neither shall be washen
With white wine nor with red,
But with the fair spring water
That on you shall be shed.
“He neither shall be clothèd
In purple nor in pall,
But in the fair white linen
That usen babies all.”
As Joseph was a-walking,
Thus did the angels sing,
And Mary’s son at midnight
Was born to be our King.
[Illustration: two men]
The “Jule-Nissen” and Blowing in the Yule
I do not know how the forty years I have been away have dealt with
“Jule-nissen,” the Christmas elf of my childhood. He was pretty old
then, gray and bent, and there were signs that his time was nearly
over. So it may be that they have laid him away. I shall find out
when I go over there next time. When I was a boy we never sat down to
our Christmas Eve dinner until a bowl of rice and milk had been taken
up to the attic, where he lived with the marten and its young and
kept an eye upon the house—saw that everything ran smoothly. I never
met him myself, but I know the house-cat must have done so. No doubt
they were well acquainted; for when in the morning I went in for the
bowl, there it was, quite dry and licked clean, and the cat purring
in the corner. So, being there all night, he must have seen and
likely talked with him.... The Nisse was of the family, as you see,
very much of it, and certainly not to be classed with the cattle. Yet
they were his special concern; he kept them quiet and saw to it, when
the stableman forgot, that they were properly bedded and cleaned and
fed. He was very well known to the hands about the farm, and they
said that he looked just like a little old man, all in gray and with
a pointed red nightcap and long gray beard. He was always civilly
treated, as he surely deserved to be, but Christmas was his great
holiday, when he became part of it, indeed, and was made much of. So,
for that matter, was everything that lived under the husbandman’s
roof, or within reach of it.
Blowing in the Yule from the grim old tower that had stood eight
hundred years against the blasts of the North Sea was one of the
customs of the Old Town that abide, that I know. At sun-up, while
yet the people were at breakfast, the town band climbed the many
steep ladders to the top of the tower, and up there, in fair weather
or foul,—and sometimes it blew great guns from the wintry sea,—they
played four old hymns, one to each corner of the compass, so that no
one was forgotten. They always began with Luther’s sturdy challenge,
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” while down below we listened
devoutly. There was something both weird and beautiful about those
far-away strains in the early morning light of the northern winter,
something that was not of earth and that suggested to my child’s
imagination the angel’s song on far Judean hills. Even now, after all
these years, the memory of it does that.
[Illustration: Decoration]
Christmas Eve in Merry England
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year,
Saw the stoled priest the chalice rear.
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 open’d wide the baron’s hall
To vassal, tenant, serf, and all;
Power laid his rod of rule aside
And Ceremony doff’d his pride.
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The Lord, underogating, share
The vulgar game of “post and pair.”
All hail’d, with uncontroll’d delight,
And general voice, the happy night,
That to the cottage, as the crown,
Brought tidings of salvation down.
The fire, with well-dried logs supplied,
Went roaring up the chimney wide;
The huge hall table’s oaken face,
Scrubb’d till it shone, the day to grace,
Bore then upon its massive board
No mark to part the squire and lord;
Then was brought in the lusty brawn,
By old blue-coated serving man;
Then the grim boar’s head frown’d on high,
Crested with bays and rosemary.
Well can the green-garb’d ranger tell,
How, when, and where, the monster fell;
What dogs before his death he tore,
And all the baiting of the boar.
The wassel round, in good brown bowls,
Garnish’d with ribbons, blithely trowls;
There the huge sirloin reek’d; hard by
Plum-porridge stood, and Christmas pie;
Nor fail’d old Scotland to produce,
At such high tide her savory goose.
Then came the merry maskers in,
And carols roar’d with blithesome din;
If unmelodious was the song,
It was a hearty note, and strong.
Who lists may in their mumming see
Traces of ancient mystery;
White shirts supplied the masquerade,
And smutted cheeks the visors made;
But, O! what maskers, richly dight,
Can boast of bosoms half so light!
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
[Illustration:
_C. Müller_
THE HOLY NIGHT]
When Christmas was not Merry
Christmas was not always “Merry Christmas” in old England, for at one
time a strong effort was made to do away with the holiday entirely,
after some of the older ways of celebrating the season had become
too boisterous for decent God-fearing folk. “At this season,” says
old Dr. Stubbs, “all the wild-heads of the parish flocking together
choose them a grand captain of Mischief, whom they crown with great
solemnity and the title of Lord of Misrule, who chooseth as many
as he will to guard his noble person. Then every one of these men
he dresseth in liveries of green, of yellow, or other light color;
and as though they were not gaudy enough, they bedeck themselves
with scarves, ribbons, laces, and jewels. This done they tie about
either leg twenty or forty bells, with rich handkerchiefs on their
heads, and sometimes laid across their shoulders and necks.... Then
march this heathenish company to the church, their pipes piping,
their drums thundering, their bells jingling, their handkerchiefs
fluttering about their heads like madmen, their hobby horses,
dragoons, and other monsters skirmishing among the throng. And
in this sort they go to church though minister be at prayer or
preaching,—dancing and singing with such a confused noise that no man
can hear his own voice.” “My Lord of Misrule’s badges” were given to
those who contributed money to pay the expense of this wild fooling;
those who refused were sometimes ducked in the cow pond, he adds. It
is admitted that these abuses were quite as bad as he described,
and that they were among the chief reasons why, in the seventeenth
century, Cromwell tried to put down the great old holiday. His
Puritan government ordered that the shops were to be opened, that
markets were to be held, that all the work of the world should go
on as if there had never been carols sung or chimes set ringing “on
Christmas Day in the morning.” Instead of merry chimes, people heard
a criers harsh-sounding bell and his monotonous voice telling every
one “No Christmas! No Christmas!”
In Scotland about the same time bakers were ordered to stop baking
Yule cakes, women were ordered to spin in open sight on Yule day,
farm laborers were told to yoke their ploughs. In both countries the
masks, or Christmas plays, which had been so popular in the houses of
rich nobles, were absolutely forbidden; and if one were given, those
who merely looked on might be fined and the actors whipped.
But the people would not have their holiday taken away. Shops might
open, but few would come to buy. In Canterbury on one Christmas
Day the townspeople asked the tradesmen to close their shops. The
tradesmen feared the law’s penalties, so refused. In the riot that
followed the mob broke the shop windows, scattered the goods, and
roughly handled the shopkeepers.
In London even Christmas decorations were forbidden, but when the
Lord Mayor sent a man to take down some holiday greens from one of
the houses, the saucy London ’prentice-boys swarmed out with sticks
and stones and sent him flying. Then came on horseback, fat and
lordly, even the great Lord Mayor himself, who thought his dignity
would overawe the unruly boys. But they only laughed and shouted
until his horse took fright and ran away—and perhaps he was glad to
be let off so easily. Even where the people dared not openly fight
the new laws, they did not obey them more than they could help.
Spinning-wheels were idle because there was no flax, and ploughs were
“gone to be mended” on Christmas Day in many an English village until
after the death of Cromwell, when the holiday came to its own again
in “merrie England.”
The same dislike for the festival of Christmas, with its drinking,
dancing, and stage plays, came over to the New World with the
Puritans. Only a year after the landing at Plymouth Governor Bradford
called his men out to work, “on ye day called Christmas Day,” as on
other days. But certain young men, who had just come over in the
little ship _Fortune_, held back and said it went against their
consciences to work on that day. So the governor told them that he
would spare them till they were better informed. But when he and the
rest came home at noon from their work, he found them in the street
at play openly, some pitching the bar and some at ball and such like
sports. So he went to them and took away their implements and told
them it was against _his_ conscience that they should play and others
work. If they made the keeping of it matter of devotion, he said, let
them keep their houses, but there should be no gaming or revelling in
the street. Later, in 1659, a law was made that anybody found to be
keeping “by feasting, or not working, or in any other way, any such
day as Christmas Day, shall pay for every offense five shillings.”
Going Home for Christmas.