Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-01-08

The poor people carried round on the
last day Of the year bowl ornamented
with ribbons, and begged for the where
withal to get it filled, so that they, too,
might enjoy the wassail.
At the monasterles, then so numerous 10
England, the abbot stood behind an enor-
nous wassail bowl. which was called, in
their ecclesiastical language, Poculum
Caritatis,'' - and having drunk to all, the
others drank in regular succession, the one
to the other, until the wassail had gone
the round of the tables.
A relic of this custom is still retained by
the corporation of the city of London. A
double-h audled aagon of spiced wine is
placed before the lady mayoress, if she be
present, or, in her absence, before the
presiding officer, and she or he, standing
up and holding the fagon in both hands,
drinks to the health of the company, as
called out by the toast master. He then
passes it to the person on his left hand,
who, also standing, drinks to his left hand
neighbor, and so on, in turn, until all
have partaken. The ceremony is known
as that Of the Loving Cup"
The ringing out of the old year and
ringing 10 of the new has, among some of
the Meshodists, given place to singing in
the rew year, and in Yorkshire, England,
is known as the Watch Night Service. y
The congregation having assembled, and
the usual services having been performed
SO as to terminate shortly before midnight,
a psalm is sung, after which perfect
silence is maintained, each person being, OF
supposed to be, engaged in silent prayer
until the hour Of II strikes. At the first
stroke of the clock all join in the Wesleya
| hymn
Come, let Us anew
Our journey pursue
Roll round with the year,
etc, etc.
The celebration of new years eve and
day is much more marked in Scotland
than in England, and its greater promin.
ence may be in some sort attributed tc
there being no Chstmas festival permissi-
bic by the Calvinistic regime In this
connection it may be observed that to the
same cause, operating upon the Puritan
settlers Of New England, may be traced
the more notable celebration Of the day in
America. Till within very few Yeas
the drinking from the wassail bowl, at the
passing away Of the old year prevailed in
Scotland. In that country, as in some
others which shall be namcless, excesses
are too much the order of the day-and
so general is the custom of indulging
freely, on the plea that it comes but once
a year. that, by midday, persons OF
standing and position, even, may not
untrequenty be seen in the streets of the
larger cities whose uncertain gait betray:
the depth Of their potations Nor are
these cases entirely confined TO the stronger
sex. The police have instructions, it i,
presumed, to be conveniently blind, so long
as the peace Is preserved, so that few
arrests for intoxication are made.
The custom of " first footing " is gen
orally prevalent in the " Land o'Cakes.
Parties, generally consisting of men only
with an abundant supply Of whisky, visit
the houses Of their friends, as soon after
midnight as may be, to wish them toe
comp pImcnts of the season; and the persor
who first enters house for that purpose il
denominated " first foot" The toast mos
in vogue is, A guide new year to ye
and mony may ye see Forty years agC
a rule obtained in some sort that all lade
found out of doors after II o'clock were Ii
able to pay the forfeit of kiss. As many
parties were given on new years eve, OF
course numerous of the fair sex were ou
after that hour, and none would venture t.
take their departure except in carriages
and even these were stopped frequently BY
parties of young men, and the inmate;
compelled TO submit TO the inevitable New
years salute. As the melancholy prince
says, I" 1t IS custom more honored in tht
breach than in the observance" but young
men Of that day were of Z different
opinion. The writer remembers being one
Of a party which stopped the carriage O
Sir Alexander Keith Of Ravelstone A.
there were four horses, and as the posti
ions drove very rapidly, the feat was not
accomplished without considerable risk
two of the undergraduates being thrown
| beneath the horses feet. The carriage was
stopped, however, and the old gentleman
acknowledged the capture, and counseled
the three ladies within to make no fuss
about it, but quietly resign themselves te
their fate. In this case most of the young
gentlemen were personally acquainted with
the baronet's family. This habit admitted
however, of much abuse, and was the oc
casion of many serious broils, 50 that
people began to set their faces against the
custom, and it has, consequently, of late
years, fallen into disuse.-Appzeton',
| .J0urU07