2i8 BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVER. 



In the processions which took place at Christmas in the olden tinle, 

 Father Christmas and his attendants were personated : New Year's Gift 

 was represented by a man '* wearing a blue coat, and holding in his 

 hand a sprig of rosemary." The Christmas board was decked with 

 branches of laurel, and box, and rosemary, with shining holly and 

 mistletoe. 



The holly was dedicated to Saturn, and the celebration of the festi- 

 vals of that god being held in December, the Romans decorated their 

 houses with its branches ; and the early Christians, to avoid persecu- 

 tion, continued the practice of adorning their houses with holly when 

 they held their own festival of Christmas, and hence its use in modern 

 times. The mistletoe was dedicated by the old Saxons, to Friga, the 

 goddess of love and beauty, and the modern custom of kissing under 

 the mistletoe has its origin in the ancient use of the plant. Beautiful 

 associations are these, seen in their social and poetic aspect. Hearty 

 and cheering are the Christmas sports, sacred to the noblest heart are 

 the facts on which they rest. As Christmas comes we seem to sail 

 back into a land of enchantment, where only the fervour and piety of 

 boyhood can find a home ; we hear the village bells, stirring up the 

 the wintry silence with their silvery sound ; we hear the rustic waits 

 chanting some simple carol, and in homely rhymes telling the story 

 of the birth of Jesus ; and the sounds, mellowed by the still darkness, 

 weave around us, till, in the emotion of awakened feelings, which till 

 then had slumbered in our hearts, we cling to each other with a new 

 fondness, and thank God for Christmas. Then are the rejoicings and 

 communings of hearts, old and young, rich and poor, mingling to- 

 gether with no other desire but to be happy, and to stand as brothers 

 and sisters on the threshold of a new year. Then the ruddy flames 

 from Christmas logs go dancing and leaping upward in their joy, and 

 the board smokes and groans with English cheer, and the music rings 

 upon the ear, and the dance begins, and talk, and laughter, and the 

 noise of merry games, mingle together; and the lights sparkle, and 

 the holly boughs upon the walls glisten with the ruddiness of summer, 

 and the mistletoe crouches slily in a quiet corner, and becomes a 

 chosen benison for lovers. God bless the dear girls — its worth a world 

 of torture and distraction to have Christmas once again, that we may 

 kiss them. 



The belief is very general that our May-day customs are derived 

 from the ancient festivals of the goddess Flora. The May-day re- 



