Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412290030
SECTION: EDITORIALS PAGE: G2 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
The Gospel According to St. Matthew 2:1-2
And is it true? And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?
John Betjeman, 1954
It is the fashion, I believe, to regard Christmas as a bore of rather a gross description, and as a time when you are invited to overeat yourself, and pretend to be merry without just cause. As a matter of fact, it is one of the prettiest and most poetic institutions possible, if observed in the proper manner, and after having been more or less unpleasant to everybody for a whole year, it is a blessing to be forced on that one day to be amiable.
M.A.B. Russell, 1900
The naked, poor, and mangled Peace,
Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful births
Shakespeare, Henry V, Part II
Every family against Christmass comes makes a famous pye, which they call a Christmass pye: It is a great nostrum the composition of this pastry; it is a most learned mixture of neats-tongues, chicken, eggs, sugar, raisins, lemon and orange peel, various kinds of spicery, etc.
Henri Misson, 1719
Christmas is here:
Winds whistle shrill.
Icy and chill.
Little care we.
Little we fear
Weather without,
Sheltered about
The Mahogany Tree.
William Makepeace Thackeray, ``The Mahogany Tree''
Blessed are You who has commanded us
to kindle the light of Hanukkah.
Blessed are You who has performed miracles for
our fathers in ancient days at this season.
Hanukkah blessing
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
There were church bells, too ... in the bat-black, snow-white belfries tugged by bishops and storks. And they rang their tidings over the bandaged town, over the frozen foam of the powder and ice-cream hills, over the crackling sea. It seemed that all the churches boomed for joy under my window; and the weathercock crew for Christmas, on our fence ... Looking through my bedroom window, out into the moonlight and the unending smoke-colored snow, I could see the lights in the windows of all the other houses on our hill and hear the music rising from them up the long, steadily falling night. I turned the gas down, I got into bed. I said some words to the close and holy darkness, and then I slept.
Dylan Thomas, ``A Child's Christmas in Wales''
But my song I troll out, for Christmas stout,
The hearty, the true, and the bold;
A bumper I drain, and with might and main
Give three cheers for this Christmas old!
Charles Dickens, ``The Pickwick Papers''
The Mosaic religion had been a Father religion; Christianity became a Son religion. The old God, the Father, took second place; Christ, the Son, stood in His stead, just as in those dark times every son had longed to do.
Sigmund Freud, "Moses and Monotheism"
England was merry England, when
Old Christmas brought his sports again.
'Twas Christmas broached the mightiest ale;
'Twas Christmas told the merriest tale;
A Christmas gambol oft could cheer
The poor man's heart through half the year.
Sir Walter Scott
Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please to put a penny in the old man's hat;
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you!
Anonymous: Beggar's rhyme
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
Martin Luther
by CNB