graphs of Dr. A. Tille, "Die Geschichte der
deutschen Weihnacht" and "Yule and Christmas"; to Dr. Feilberg's Danish
work, "Jul," the fullest account of Christmas |6| customs yet written;
and of course, like every student of folk-lore, to Dr. Frazer's "The
Golden Bough."

References to authorities will be found at the end of the volume, and are
indicated by small numerals in the text; notes requiring to be read in
close conjunction with the text are printed at the foot of the pages to
which they relate, and are indicated by asterisks, &c.

[Transcriber's Note: The 'small numerals' are represented in this
ebook by numbers in {curly braces}. The footnotes appear at the end
of the ebook and are indicated by numbers in [square brackets]. Page
numbers from the original edition have been retained and appear in
the text between |pipe characters|.]

I have to thank Mr. Frank Sidgwick for most kindly reading my proofs and
portions of my MS., and for some valuable suggestions.

C. A. M.

|7|

CONTENTS

PREFACE 5

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION 15

The Origin and Purpose of Festivals--Ideas suggested by
Christmas--Pagan and Christian Elements--The Names of the
Festival--Foundation of the Feast of the Nativity--Its
Relation to the Epiphany--December 25 and the _Natalis
Invicti_--The Kalends of January--Yule and Teutonic
Festivals--The Church and Pagan Survivals--Two Conflicting
Types of Festival--Their Interaction--Plan of the Book.

PART I--THE CHRISTIAN FEAST

CHAPTER II
CHRISTMAS POETRY (I) 29

Ancient Latin Hymns, their Dogmatic, Theological
Character--Humanizing Influence of Franciscanism--Jacopone da
Todi's Vernacular Verse--German Catholic Poetry--Mediaeval
English Carols.

CHAPTER III
CHRISTMAS POETRY (II) 53

The French _Noel_--Latin Hymnody in Eighteenth-century
France--Spanish Christmas Verse--Traditional Carols of Many
Countries--Christmas Poetry in Protestant
Germany--Post-Reformation Verse in England--Modern English
Carols. |8|

CHAPTER IV
CHRISTMAS IN LITURGY AND POPULAR DEVOTION 87

Advent and Christma