24.23. 23. Of Festivals.
When religion appoints a cessation from labour it
ought to have a greater regard to the necessities of mankind than to the
grandeur of the being it designs to honour.
Athens was subject to great inconveniences from the excessive number
of its festivals.
[30]
These powerful people, to whose decision all the
cities of Greece came to submit their quarrels, could not have time to
despatch such a multiplicity of affairs.
When Constantine ordained that the people should rest on the
Sabbath, he made this decree for the cities,
[31]
and not for the
inhabitants of the open country; he was sensible that labour in the
cities was useful, but in the fields necessary.
For the same reason, in a country supported by commerce, the number
of festivals ought to be relative to this very commerce. Protestant and
Catholic countries are situated in such a manner that there is more need
of labour in the former than in the latter;
[32]
the suppression of
festivals is therefore more suitable to Protestant than to Catholic
countries.
Dampier observes that the diversions of different nations vary
greatly, according to the climate.
[33]
As hot climates produce a
quantity of delicate fruits, the barbarians easily find necessaries, and
therefore spend much time in diversions. The Indians of colder countries
have not so much leisure, being obliged to fish and hunt continually;
hence they have less music, dancing and festivals. If a new religion
should be established among these people, it ought to have regard to
this in the institution of festivals.
Footnotes
[30]
Xenophon, "On the Republic of Athens," 3, 8.
[31]
Leg. 3. Cod. de feriis. This law was doubtless made only for the Pagans.
[32]
The Catholics lie more toward the south, and the Protestants
towards the north.
[33]
Dampier, "Voyages," vol. ii.
