The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-01
NEW YEARS DAY "
Antiquity OF its Customs and Celebration
as "a Religious Festival -MerrymallIngs
OF the Day-Ancient and Modern Fes-
tivities-New Years ''CaIls'' in our City.

As New Years Day, the first of January, bears
a prominent place in the popular calendar, for
many ages it has been celebrated in the various
parts OF the world as a religious aud social esti-
val. With the post biblical Jews the new year
commenced and still commences with the au-
tumnal month, First, the first day being cele-
brated by them with considerable ceremony. The
Romans made an especial holiday OF 1t, Offering
sacrifices to Janus, whose principal festival oc-
Cured on this day. and taking care that all they
thought, said, and did should be pure and favor
able, since everything was Omiuous for the oc-
currences of the whole year. They appeared in
the streets in festive garments, exchanged
kindly salutations, and gave each other presents
called steaG, consisting OF gilt dates, figs,
honey cakes and copper coins, having on one
side the double face of Janus, and on the other
ship. This practice ofgivlng presents was made
by some of the Emperors an important source of
personal revenue, until modified by the Emperor
Claudius.
The day is held in the Catholic Church as the
festival OF CrconlceStO DOnljni, and observed as
feast in the Church OF England on the same
account. In the Roman Church the following
saints sam are honored on this day:-st. Eulgentius,
Bishop and Confessor; st. 0dilo or GLOW, Sixth
Abbot of Cluni; ST. Almachus, Martyr; st. En-
gendus, Abbot; st. Fame or Fauchen, Virgin of
ireland; st. Mochua or Mochin, or Claunus,
Abbot IN Ireland; and st. Mochua, or Cronaw,
of Bulla, Abbot in Ireland. In the Jewish
Church in the sixth century, OF the festival OF
the Feast OF the Circumcision was observed on
the first day of January, in commemoration OF
after December twenty.ffth, which was fixed
upon by that creed to be observed as the
nativity.
1t has ever been custom among Northern
nations to see the old year out and the new one
In with the highest demonstrations of merrl-
ment and conviviahty. To but few does it occur
that the day is memorandum of the subtrac-
ton OF another year from the little sum OF lite;
with the multitude, the top feeling is desire to
express good wishes for the next twelve months
experience of their friends and be The subjects
OF similar benevolence on the part OF others,
and to see this interchange OF cordial feeling
take place, as far as possible in festive clrcum-
stances. 1t is seldom an English family fails TO
sit up on the last night of the year till IL o'clock,
along with few friends, to drink In happy New
Year to each other over cheerful glass. Very
frequently, too, persons nearly related, but liv-
ing apart, dine with each other ON this day, TO
keep alive and cultivate mutual good feeling.
To the same good purpose works the Old custom
OF giving nltle presents on this day.
"lhe King Of Light father Of aged Time,
hath DrouPht about that day when is tue prlme'
10 the slow ghdlng months when every eye
Wears symptoms OF q sober jollity."
In England the merry y-makings of New Years
Eve and New Years Day are OF very ancient
date. The head OF the house assembled his
family around bowl of spiced ale, comicaliy
called 'lamb's wool, " from which he drank their
healths, then passed it to the rest that they
might drink too Polwhole thus describes it:-
"A merry bowl. to deck the jovial day,
EIash'd nom ITS ample round sqnlike ray
Fuh many Gentry 1t shone forth 70 grace
The festive spirit OF the Audart0n race,
IS, 10 the sons OF sacred Union dear.
1t welcomed with lambs wool the rising year"
The word that passed amongst them was the
ancient Saxon phrase Wars hdeL-to your health.
Hence this came to be recognized as the Wassan
or Wassel Bowl The poorer classes OF people