CHAPTER IV

CHRISTMAS IN LITURGY AND POPULAR DEVOTION 87

Advent and Christmas Offices of the Roman Church--The Three Masses of Christmas, their Origin and their Celebration in Rome--The Midnight Mass in Many Lands--Protestant Survivals of the Night Services--Christmas in the Greek Church--The Eastern Epiphany and the Blessing of the Waters--The Presepio or Crib, its Supposed Institution by St. Francis--Early Traces of the Crib--The Crib in Germany, Tyrol, &c.--Cradle-rocking in Mediaeval Germany--Christmas Minstrels in Italy and Sicily--The Presepio in Italy--Ceremonies with the Culla and the Bambino in Rome--Christmas in Italian London--The Spanish Christmas--Possible Survivals of the Crib in England.