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RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
a people shut up by themselves in very ancient times, and comparatively late in their observations of planetary phenomena. However, it would seem that the sending of good things to one another was not limited to the Romans, as it is said that the Fathers of the Church rigorously condemned the observances of this season, not because of the exchange of civil missives and mutual pledges of regard, but because of the idolatrous worship. “In calendas Januarii antiqni patres vehementius invehebantur, non propter istas missitationes adinvicem et mutui amoris pignora, sed propter diem idolis dicatum.” — Montacut. Orig. Eccles. pars prior, p. 128. As the Fathers” are named so generally, it may be inferred that the observances which they condemned were known wherever the priinitive church was established.
The Christmas and new year's festivities, which have left traces amongst the Teutonic nations, were transferred to them from their German forefathers, in the time of Paganism. Thus Bede observes of the Anglo-Saxons, “they began their year on the eighth of the calends of January, which is now onr Christmas-day.” So the yule clog, log or block, which was burnt on the eve of Christmas-day, is considered to have been used as an emblem of the return of the sun, and the lengthening of the days; for, according to Bede, both December and January were denominated Giuli or Yule, upon account of the sun's returning and augmenting the duration of the days: December Giuli- eodem quo Januarius nomine vo
