The Democratic advocate., 1876-01-01
New Years Day, the first day of the Year

| The custom of celebrating by some re
ligious observance, generally accompanie
by festive rejoicing, the first day Of tn
year, appears to have prevailed anon
most Of the ancient nations. The Jews
the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Romans
and the Mohammcdans, although differing
as TO the time from which they reckonet
the commencement Of the year, all re
garded it as day Of special interest. Ii
Rome, the year anciently began in March
and when Numa, according to the ancieD
legend, transferred it to the lst of JaDua
ry, that day was held sacred to Janus Bi
Jrons, who was thus supposed to turn al
once back apon the old year and forward
into the new. On the establishment oi
Christianity, the usage of solemn inau.
guration Of the New Year was retained
but considerable variety prevailed, both as
to the time and us to the manner of its
celebration. Christmas Day, the Annun-
citation March 25th,) Easter Day, and
March 1st, have all, at different times or
places, shared with the 1st Of January the
honor Of opening the New Year; nor was
it till late in the 10th c., that the 1st Of
January was universally accepted as the
first day of the New Year The early
fathers-Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine,
Peter Chrysologus, and others-in reproba-
tion Of the immoral and superstitious OBJ
servances Of the pagan festival, prohibited
in Christian use all festive celebration /;
and, on the contrary, directed that the
Christian year should be opened with a
day Of prayer, fasting, aud humiliation.
The mandate, however, was but partially
observed. The festal character Of the day,
generally speaking, was pertinaciously pre-
served, but the day was also observed as a
day Of prayer; and this character was the
most readily attached to it when the year
began with the LIST of January, as that
day, being the eighth after the nativity Of
our Lord, was held to be the commemora-
tion of his circumcision Luke ii. 21.)
The social observances of the first day
Of the New Year appear to have been in
substance the same in all ages From the
earliest recorded celebration, we fnd notice
of feasting and the interchange Of presents
as usages of the day. Suetonius alludes
to the bringing Of presents to the capital;
and Tacitus makes similar reference to
the practice of giving and receiving New
Years gifts. This custom was continued
BY the Christian kingdoms into which the
Western Empire was divided. In Eng.
land we find many examples of it, even as
a part of the public expenditure Of the
court, so far down as the reign of Charles
H.; and, as all our antiquarian writers
mention, the custom Of interchauging pre-
sents as common in all classes of society
In France and England it still subsists
although eclipsed in the latter country BY
the still more popular practice Of Christ
mas gifts. In many countries, the nigh
New Years Eve, "St. Sylvester's Eve,
was celebrated with great festivity, whicl
was prolonged till after IL o'clock, wher
the New Year was ushered in with con
gratulations, complimentary visits, ant
mutual wishes for a Happy New Year
This is an ancient Scottish custom, whicl
also prevails in many parts of Germany
where the form of wish-"Prosst (for tn,
Lat, prosit) -Neu-j -jahr"-"May the New
Year be happy"-sufhciently attests tn
antiquity of the custom.