Page:King Edward VII, his life & reign; the record of a noble career 1.djvu/32

 full of happy wonder at the German Christmas tree and its radiant candles". The Christmas tree was then, for this country, a recent importation from Germany, due to Prince Albert. The custom is said to be traceable to the Roman festival known as the Saturnalia, or great festival of Saturn, celebrated on December 17 and 18 as a religious observance, but lasting, in popular usage, for seven days. Among the gifts bestowed on children were wax tapers and clay dolls, which at once remind us of Christmastree decorations. From Italy the festival, in some form, passed with the conquering legions into such parts of Germany as were subdued.

The Queen and Prince Albert had resolved that the ceremony of christening the young Prince of Wales should be performed with great solemnity and splendour. The choice of sponsors required some thought. The difficulty of selecting as godfather one out of many distinguished royal relatives was avoided by an appeal to the sovereign of the chief Protestant nation on the Continent. General approval was accorded to the invitation thus sent to Frederick William IV of Prussia. That monarch, an accomplished, intelligent personage of good intentions, but weak character, consented to come over, and did visit this country, in spite of much intriguing interference from pragmatical politicians in other leading European nations, who persisted in assigning political importance to his presence in England. He was met by Prince Albert on his arrival at Greenwich, and conducted to Windsor, where the Queen received him at the grand entrance of the castle with the usual ceremonial kiss and profound curtsies. He was a stout, middle-aged man, with amiable features and little hair, agreeable and humorous in manners and conversation. The Queen soon made him feel quite at home, and, at the festivities following the ceremony, she persuaded him to resume his dancing, long laid aside, and become her partner in the royal quadrille.

The christening ceremony took place in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. This famous edifice has been the scene of many services in which royalty has played the chief part, gay or grave, festive or solemn, in connection with life or death. There the