dates of certain religious festivals such as the Jewish Passover
or the Feast of Tabernacles; but the twenty-fifth of December, the
birthday of the sun, was ever the favorite date.

Pope Julius, who reigned from 337 to 352 A. D., after a careful
investigation, considered it settled beyond doubt that Christ was born
on or about the twenty-fifth of December, and by the end of the fifth
century that date was very generally accepted by Christians. The
transition from the old to the new significance of Yule-tide was
brought about so quietly and naturally that it made no great
impression on the mind of the masses, so nothing authentic can be
learned of the early observance of Christmas.

The holly, laurel, mistletoe, and other greens used by the Druids
still served as decorations of the season, not as a shelter for
fairies, as in former days, but as emblems of resurrection and of
immortal hope.

The glorious luminary of day, whether known as Balder, Baal, Sol, or
any other of the innumerable names by which it was called by the
primitive peoples, still gladdens the hearts of mortals at Yule-tide
by "turning-back" as of old; only to-day it yields its place to a
Superior Power, in whose honor Yule-tide is observed.

* * * * *

All Christendom owes a debt of gratitude to its pagan forbears for the
pleasant features of many of its holidays and especially for those of
Yule-tide. The Fathers of the early church showed rare wisdom in
retaining the customs of these ante-Christian festivals, imbuing them
with the spirit of the new faith and making them emblematic of a purer
love and hope.

New Year's Day as a feast day is one of the oldest, if not the oldest,
on record. It is mentioned by Tacitus in the First Century, but first
referred to as a Christian festival about the year 567.

In Rome the day was dedicated by Numa to the honor of god Janus, for
whom Julius Caesar named the month of January. Numa ordained that it
should be observed as a day of good-humor and good-fellowship. All
grudges and hard feelings were to be forgotten. Sacrifices of cake,
wine, and incense were to be made to the two-faced god who looked
forward and backward. Men of letters, mechanics, and others were
expected to give to the god the best they had to offer of their
respective arts. It was the great occasion of the entire year, as it
is now in many countries.

The date of New Year's Day has varied among different nati