Reminiscences of Bethlehem [pp. 477-487]

I884.~ REMIKISCEArCES OF BETKLEKEM. 487
formerly bore apples at Christmas in honor of Mary, who for us
bore the fruit of eternal life. Perhaps it was the flowering of
some such tree that led to the pleasant German custom of the~
Christmas-tree which annually gladdens every household with
the sweet fruit of domestic affection. In some parts of England
the people still assemble in their orchards on Chns,tmas eve to
bless them and invoke a good crop for the coming year. In
Kent they sing:
"Stand fast, root; bear well, top;
God send us a you!ing SOP,
Every twjg, apple big;
Every bough, apples enow."
The English are generally thought to be specially attached to
the festival of Christmas. And they have reason to be, for it
commemorates important events in their history. It was on
Christmas day, A.D. 596, that ten thousand Anglo-Saxons were
baptized by St. Austin and his fellow~missionaries, No wonder the great apostle made it henceforth a doubly joyful festival.
The bells were rung almost incessantly from Christmas till the
Circumcision. The churches were tritnmed with holly,' I'aurel~
and ivy. The yule log was cut with great care to burn brightly
on every hearth. And immense candles were lighted at midnight in token of the true light they had received, as sung in one
of their many beautiful carols:
"Then be ye glad, good people,
This night of all the year,
And light ye up your candles, for
His star it shineth clear.
And all in earth and heaven
A joyous carol sing;
For lo! to us a Child is b~rn,
And all the, bells do nn~"