it is that those
who have been born men are clothed in women's dresses, and by the
vilest change effeminate their manly strength by taking on the forms
of girls, blushing not to clothe their warlike arms in women's
garments; they have bearded faces, and yet they wish to appear
women.... There are some who on the Kalends of January practise
auguries, and do not allow fire out of their houses or any other
favour to anyone who asks. Also they both receive and give diabolical
presents (_strenas_). Some country people, moreover, lay tables with
plenty of things necessary for eating ... thinking that thus the
Kalends of January will be a warranty that all through the year their
feasting will be in like measure abundant. Now as for them who on
those days observe any heathen customs, it is to be feared that the
name of Christian will avail them nought. And therefore our holy
fathers of old, considering that the majority of men on those days
became slaves to gluttony and riotous living and raved in drunkenness
and impious dancing, determined for the whole world that throughout
the Churches a public fast should be proclaimed.... Let us therefore
fast, beloved brethren, on those days.... For he who on the Kalends
shows any civility to foolish men who are wantonly sporting, is
undoubtedly a partaker of their sin."{23}

There are several points to be noted here. First, the zeal of the Church
against the Kalends celebrations as impious relics of |171| heathenism:
to root them out she even made the first three days of the year a solemn
fast with litanies.{24} Next, the particular offences should be
observed. These are: first, the dressing up of men in the hides of
animals and the clothes of women; next, the New Year auguries and the
superstition about fire, the giving of presents, and the laying of tables
with good things; and last, drunkenness and riot in general. All these we
shall find fully represented in modern Christmas customs.

That Roman customs either spread to Germany, or were paralleled there, is
shown by a curious letter written in 742 by St. Boniface to Pope
Zacharias. The saint complained that certain Alamanni, Bavarians, and
Franks refused to give up various heathen practices because they had seen
such things done in the sacred city of Rome, close to St. Peter's, and,
as they deemed, with the sanction of the clergy. On New Year's Eve, it
w