The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-31

Of the people, who by this day have betaken |
themselves TO their customary avocations,
STILL as the festivities of the Christmas season
do not properly terminate until "rweifth. day."
is not wholly neglected In the northern coun-
ties, especially, this is the case and there both
New Years Eve and New Years Day are en-
hvened by q great deal OF merry-making.
GIFTS AND SOUVENIRS.
In days Of yore the giving and receiving OF
tokens OF friendship were accompanied by
couched in the stall popular form of Wishing "a
happy New Year" 1t was sometimes the custom
TO pay these compliments at the door OF the re-
cipient, in the form of the song. But 1t was more
usual for the house to he entered early In the
ing the spiced bowl and addressing their hosts
with the salutations OF The season.. The gifts
were not necessarily OF muca @ lnIr,nsic , vatae;
New Years GIFT of tenant to his landlord was
usually In the shape OF cspon. Another COM
orange stuck full ofclovee One fthe most valua-
BILE presents was in the form of gloves, which
sometimes money wherewith TO purchase the
article, was given in It's stead, and this was
and the glove we're both sent In the beginning
of the sixteenth century metallic pins were
first brought into general dro use; g ana ,, so
they soon came to be in great demsnd ss
New Years gifts for ladies' sometimes money
for their purcbss was presented inste sd of the
pins: This was called "pin. money!" term
which has since passed into general accepta-
IN.
times for persons to send presents to heir
friends on New Years Eve; but on the follow
pients 10 wish them IA happy New Year," they
would ask for gifts In return.
THE ENGLISH KINGS AND QUEENS
appear to have been particularly fortunate in
the matter of receiving New Years gifts.
The custom can be traced back to the reign
of Henry w, and Matthew Paris has even
fST%St from his subjects. There is siill preserved
manuscript roll which shows that, In the reign
Of Philip and Mary, Sardnal poie presented nGs
of silver and gilt, and a representation In
enamel of the story Of JOB. In return for this
gilt, weighing l43A ounces. II has been said
ihat the magnificent wardrobe OF Queen Eliza
buttons from her subjects. 1t is certain that
duting her reign the practice was carried to
every etS Ee Year by the Queen were Inscribed on
roll, which was signed by herself, and duly
attested by the proper othcers. Inc llstof donors
the great officers of state down TO her Majesty's
dustman In all cases the Queen presented her
plate in return, proportional In weight to the
Velue of the gifts received by her. The exact
weight of the plate received 6y eSHn % person was
cessor, received many gifts of money OF con-
siderable amount. but there was a great falling
articles One year King James received from
the dignitarles Of the Church and State
No records of the gifts received aud pre-.
sented by Charles have been preserved.
THE ANCIENT wAssAIL BOWL.
Among the popular customs OF the New Year
season In the olden time was the assembling of
the family around bowl Of splced ale, which
was termed "lamb's WOOL" From this the
master OF the house would drink the healths of
the Others and then pass 1t to them in turn.
The expression "Waes haes"-which signifies
ITO your health"-was uttered at each pora-
tion; and from this circumstance the vessel
containing the liquor came to be known as the
Wdssdit or WasseI Bout. The poor, to enable
were accustomed to go the rounds Of the neigh
boIhood, carrying bowl decorated with rib
hons, and begging something whereWlth to
It is not surprising that the monks opened
the doors of their monasteries to the Wassel-
Bowl which in their language was styled
Poculun1 Cu,itatis. The abbot placed himself at
the head OF the table; and drank from the
rowl to the health of all present. and each of
them in turn then drank to the health OF the
others. -
Although the old. fashioned Wassail- Bowl has
long been O stranger to England, 1t was still
in vogue In Scotland to within recent period.
bers of the family would eacn take a sip from
the mixture of hot ale. spiced and sWeetened,
wishing the rest "A good health and happy
New Year, and many of themp' Then there
wasa general hand shaking and sometimes
dance.
members OF the family would sally forth, armed
with kettle of hot ale and an assortment of
buns and cheese, making exchanges with SINH
lar parties whom they encountered, and rush
ing into the houses of their friends with loud
and hearty wishes for future happiness. The
party that arrived first at each house obtained
what Wes called the "hrst-fOottug," and the
good luck which betided the family in conse-
quence was duly proporCioned TO the amount
of buns and cheese which the visitors still re.
| tanned.
| HOgnnandy. term which has puzzled anti
quarians and philologists not little 1t is still
| the custom in the country districts, aud in the
more retired towns, for the children of the poor
| TO have themselves arrayed In monstrous
| sheet, arranged in front in the form of a deep
| rocket. Thus attired, they go forth on the
Which, as they we'll know, the housewives have
| been preparing for several days In expectation
OF their coming. Arriving at the door, they cry
| out "Hogmanay," and receive their gifts.
| THE MUMMEBS IN SCOTLAND.
| The favorite night for the operations of the
| Ottisers or gttfzdTds, as the 'mummers" are
| called in Scotland, is New Years Eve. The
| boys who take part in the ceremony array
themselves in the old shirts oftheir fathers. and
| in fanciful head-rigs of brown paper. To these
| last is attached a sheet OF paper, which falls
down over the face and serves to conceal the
| features. Perforations are made at the proper
| places 10 permit the eyes, nose, and mouth to
perform their functions.
| dress OF q girl, with an old woman's cap upon
| his head and o broomstlck In his hand. Each
| squire is always known as "Bessie" Singing
| is the principal occupation OF these strolling
| masqueraders. but In some places they engage
in theatrical performances.
NEW YEARS DAY IN FRANCE.
The passage of New Years gifts between rela-
| tives and friends has fallen into decline in
England; but in France the practice is still kept
up. In Paris, especially. 1t Is held in such high
Jour dEirennes." An immense business is
| done by the confectioners, the Rue des Lom-
bards, In which they are principally located,
few few days Of the year by the wagons which
are to bear the sweet things of to the provinces
Jeweiry and fancy articles of all kinds are like
/ xuta In nurinO