The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-01

carried bowl adorned with ribbons, round the
neighborhood, begging for someth ng wherewith
to obtain the means OF filing 1t, that they, too,
might'enjoy Wassail as well as the rich. The
custom OF the Wassail at the New Year was ob-
served in the monasteries as well as in private
houses, In front of tine abbot, at the upper room
of the reiectory table, was placed the mighty
bowl styled PocIdun1 OdrtdtIts, and from 1t the
Superior drank to all, and all drank In success
sion to each other.
Till a few years ago in Scotland, the custom
of the wassail bowl at the passing away OF the
old ear might be said to be still in comparative
vigor On the approach OF twelve o'clock hot
pirt was prepcred-that is, q kettle or a fagon
full OF warm, spiced and sweetened ale, with an
infusion OF spirits. When the clock had struck
the knell of the departed year each member of
the family drank OF this mixture good healCh
and happy new year and many OF Ihem,n to all
the rest, with hearty hand shaking, and per-
haps dance around the table, with the addition
Of a song to the tune Ct Hey toat.e tWitie:-
'Weel may We a. be
. Ill may we never see,
Here's TO the King
And the good companie' etc.
The elders of the family would then most pro.
badly sally out with the hot kettle, bearing
with them buns, short-bread, cheese, ETC., with
the design OF visiting their neighbors and inter
changing with them the same cordial greetings.
Reaching the friends house they would enter
with vociierous good wishes, and soon send the
kettle circulating. If they were the first to
enter the house SINCE IL o'clock, they were
deemed as the first foot; and as such ii was most
important, for the luck OF the family in the
coming year, that they should make their entry
not empty-handed, but with their hands full OF
bread, cakes, and cheese, of which, on the other
hand, civiltv demanded that each individual
in the house should partake
The custom of making presents on New Years
Day, os tar as regards the intercourse Of the adult
population, has become almost obsolete. The
practice is now limited TO gifts made b. parents
10 their children, or by the elder members OF the
family to the younger. The custom was doubt
less derived the Romano SuptOniua q nd
Tacltus both mention 1t. Claudius prohibited
demanding presents except on this day. Brand,
in his Popular Antiquities observes, on the
authority of Bishop Shlngteet, that the SaXons
kept the festival Uf the New Year with more than
ordinary ieasting and jollity, and with the pre-
senting OF New Years gifts to each other. Fos-
brook notices the continuation of the practice
| during the middle ages; and Ellis quotes Mat
thew Paris to show that Henry III eXtorted New
| Years gifts from his subjects.
New Years gifts presented by individuals tn
each other wee suited to sex, rank, situation,
| and circumstances. From Bishop Halls ''Sa.
| tires" (l598), it appears that the usual gifts Of
| tenants in the country to their landlords was a
| capon. Ben Jonson, in his Mdsqtte Of Christians
| introduces New Years Gilt" in a blue coat
| serving man like, with ali orange and a sprie OF
rosemary on his head, hIs hat Iull OF brooches
with collar of gingerbread, lis torch-bearel
carrying marchpane, with bottle on eltlel
nutmeg, was popular gift Ladies received
| presents OF gloves ana pins, or in lIer
| thereof, sum of money, whence tht
terms "glove money" and "pin money"
In this city, New York, ana Washington, thu
day is made the occasion OF social visits by gen
| tlemen among the families OF their acquaiutanc
"a custom dating back almost 10 the settlemen
of New York by the Dutch and originating Will
| them. Al one time the abuse of this custom
| through the habit of presenting wine to visitors
| was SO great that many thought II would haV
| been discontinued. This Is now, however, in
| great measure obvlated. The best class OF pee
| pie no longer offer wine to ,helr guests, or,
A cup of hot, fragrant collec or chocolate i
found to be a very welcome and agreeable sub
situte, and is so generally preferred that ever
where wine is provided it Is frequently left IN
touched. ReIreshment tables nave change
greatly within the past few years. Formerl
they were loaded down with substantial food
turkeys, hams. chcllens pies, ETC.. 90 thry M
light and elegant and much more attention
paC to the decorations.