Christmas Day.
The feast of our Saviour’s nativity was undoubtedly celebrated in the early ages of Christianity. It is named Christmas-day from the Latin “Christi missa,” the mass of Christ, and thence the Roman Catholic liturgy is called their Missal, or Mass book. About the year 500 this day became generally observed in the Catholic church.
Christmas Boxes. The mass was called Christmas, the box, Christmas-box, for the collecting money that the priests may say masses to the Saints for those who presented them.
George IV.
Mr. Croker asked the king why he was styled “George the Fourth.” His Majesty replied, because his father was George III. Not at all, observed Mr. Croker, it is because Your Majesty is king of England, France, and Ireland, and so forth.