December 14. St. Spiridion Bishop and Confessor. SS. Nicasius Bishops and Martyrs. Brumalia. Ambrosiana.-Rom. Cal. The Brumalia or Bacchanalia were feasts in honour of Bacchus, held at Rome, and instituted by Romulus in imitation of the Greeks, who held similar festivals by the name of Dionysia, from the Greek Dionysus, which signifies Bacchus. These were feasts of great importance, but were attended by great licentiousness and other excesses. Their form and solemnity were first introduced into Greece from Aegypt by a certain Melampus; and if we admit that Bacchus is the same as Isis, the Dionysia of the Greeks are the same as the festivals celebrated by the Aegyptians in honour of Isis. They were observed at Athens with more splendour and ceremonious superstition than in any other part of Greece. The years were numbered by their celebration; the Archon assisted at the solemnity, and the priests that officiated were honoured with the most dignified seats at the public games. At first they were celebrated with great simplicity, and the time was consecrated to mirth. It was then usual to bring a vessel of wine adorned with a vine branch, after which followed a goat, a basket of figs, and the panna. The worshippers imitated in their dress and actions the poetical fictions concerning Bacchus. They clothed themselves in Fawns' skins, fine linen, and mitres; they carried thyrsi, drums, pipes, and flutes, and crowned themselves with garlands of Ivy, Vine, Fir, &c. Some imitated Silenus, Pan, and the Satyrs, by the uncouth manner of their dress, and their fantastical motions. Some rode upon asses, and others drove the goats to slaughter for the sacrifice. In this manner both sexes joined in the solemnity, and ran about the hills and country, nodding their heads, dancing in ridiculous postures, and filling the air with hideous shrieks and shouts, and crying aloud, Evoe Bacche! Io! Io! Evoe! Iacche! Io Bacche! Evohe! With such solemnities were the festivals of Bacchus celebrated by the Greeks, particularly the Athenians. In one of these there followed a number of persons carrying sacred vessels, one of which contained water. After these came a select number of noble virgins, carrying little baskets of gold filled with all sorts of fruits. This was the most mysterious part of the solemnity. Serpents were sometimes put in the baskets, and by their wreathing and crawling out they amused and astonished the beholders. After the virgins, followed a company of men carrying poles, at the end of which were fastened pan. The heads of these men, who were called paropago, were crowned with Ivy and Violets, and their faces covered with other herbs. They marched singing songs upon the occasion of the festivals, called φαλλικα ασματα. Next to the φαλλοφόροι followed the upakoi in women's apparel, with white striped garments reaching to the ground; their heads were decked with garlands, and on their hands they wore gloves composed of flowers. Their gestures and actions were like those of a drunken man. Besides these, there were a number of persons called xxvopopo who carried the xvov or mystical Fan of Bacchus; without their attendance none of the festivals of Bacchus were celebrated with due solemnity, and on that account the god is often called Aizvirns. The festivals of Bacchus were almost innumerable.-All these festivals in honour of the God of Wine, were celebrated by the Greeks with great licentiousness, and they contributed much to the corruption of morals among all ranks of people. They were also introduced into Tuscany, and from thence to Rome. Among the Romans both sexes promiscuously joined in the celebration during the darkness of night. The drunkenness, the debauchery, and impure actions and indulgencies, which soon prevailed at the solemnity, called aloud for the interference of the Senate, and the consuls Sp. Posthumius Albinus, and Q. Martius Philippus, made a strict examination concerning the propriety and superstitious forms of the Bacchanalia. The disorder and pollution which were practised with impunity by no less than 7000 votaries of either sex, were beheld with horror and astonishment by the Consuls, and the Bacchanalia were for ever banished from Rome by a decree of the Senate. They were again reinstituted there in length of time, but not with such licentiousness as before. Eurip. in Bacc.-Virg. Aen. 11, v. 737. Diod. 4.-Ovid. Met. 3, v. 533, 1. 4, v. 391, 1. 6, v. 587. Bacchus and Circe produce Comus. Hence MiltonWithin the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in Cypress shades a sorcerer dwells, Of Bacchus and of Circe born, great Comus, Deep skilled in all his mother's witcheries; And here to every thirsty wanderer By sly enticement gives his baneful cup, With many murmurs mixed, whose pleasing poison Fixes instead, unmoulding reason's mintage That brow this bottom glade; whence night by night In their obscured haunts of inmost bowers. December 15. St. Eusebius Bishop. St. Florence Abbot in Ireland. Orises at VIII. 7. and sets at 111. 53'. COELUM. The temperature still declines, and the weather in general gets worse. We have at this time often some very dark mornings, which usher in tolerably fine days. They are called the Dark Days afore Christmas." The following Table will shew the periods when the greatest and least altitudes of the mercury in the Barometer have happened during ten years. Table of the Highest and Lowest States of the Barometer. In December 1821 it was much lower than it has been recorded before or since for a long while; it frequently fell that winter to below 28.30, and once to 28:17. Flying Dragon.-A remarkable figure of a flying Dragon is seen in an old picture of some grand French Festival, in the possession of the late Mr. Gough of Enfield. Probably this was some pyrotechnical machine, as inflammable air was not then known. In later times, Balloons, shaped like Elephants and other animals, have been sent up in France. December 16. St. Ado Bishop and Confessor. St. Alice Empress. St. Beanus Bishop in Ireland. O Sapientia. This is the beginning of an anthem in the Latin service to the honour of Christ's advent, which used to be sung in the church from this day until Christmas Eve. COELUM.-We gave yesterday a Table of the Plus and Minus of Barometrical Pressure for ten years. We subjoin today a Table of the Temperature for the same period, taken from Howard's Climate of London. Greatest and Least Degree of Heat by Fahrenheit's Thermometer, for each Month. FLORA. The flowers mentioned as continuing in blow in January, also afford their beauties in this month. Evergreens, Firs, Ivy, Laurel, and that most beautiful plant the Arbutus, rich in flowers and fruit at the same time, serve to enliven this dreary month. In April or in May, A pleasant garden, full of fragrant flowres, When the fresh earth, new clad in garments gay, We see it marred with winter's storms and showres. ARIOSTO, by Harrington. The Common Arbutus Arbutus unedo or Strawberry tree, rises to the height of twenty or thirty feet, but rarely with an upright stem: it usually puts out branches very near the ground. The leaves keep on all the winter, and are thrust off in the spring by new ones; so that it is always clothed with leaves. Although few flowers are to be seen out of doors in December, the hothouse contains many a blooming inhabitant; among these, the Rose attracts our notice. This flower, when blown by artificial heat, is more delicate and beautiful than those which ornament our gardens in June, lovely as they are; being usually more free from blight, and those insects which sometimes destroy our garden Roses. December 17. St. Olympias Widow. St. Begga Saturnalia per septem dies.-Rom. Cal. The Saturnalia were festivals in honour of Saturn, celebrated the 16th or the 17th, or, according to others, the 18th of December. They were instituted long before the foundation of Rome, in commemoration of the freedom and equality which prevailed on earth in the golden reign of Saturn. Some however suppose, that the Saturnalia were first observed at Rome in the reign of Tullus Hostilius, after a victory obtained over the Sabines; while others support, that Janus first instituted them in gratitude to Saturn, from whom he had learnt agriculture. Others suppose, that they were first celebrated in the year of Rome 257, after a victory obtained over the Latins by the dictator Posthumius. The Saturnalia were originally celebrated only for one day; but afterwards the solemnity continued for three, four, five, and at last for seven days. The celebration was remarkable for the liberty which universally prevailed. The slaves were permitted to ridicule their masters, and to speak with freedom upon every subject. It was usual for friends to make presents one to another, all animosity ceased, no criminals. were executed, schools were shut, war was never declared; but all was mirth, riot, and debauchery. In the sacrifices |