The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-01-01
NEW YEARS DAY.
Some Account OF II In Ancient and
Modern Tlmes-HOw II Is Cele.
brated In Other Lands
and ClImes.
Tho Chinese MOther-ln.Law- Fairies and
PrognOstIcs- Custom Of Bestowlnu
New Years Glfts-The Pig
for vasllys Eve.

times In different nations, In Europ
there was diversity OF opinion rs +
where the year actually did begin unit
the eighteenth century the claims o
Christmas, the AnnunciatiOn, Eaate
and March first and twenty.hfth bcinl
respectively urged, The twenty.iiftl
OF March was observed as the day il
England until 1852, when 1t wa
changed TO the present day. In Scot
land, James ri. made the change 1t
1900; France, 1864; Holland, Germany
and Russia in 1900, and Swede in 1868
New Years festivities may be re
ferred back to the time OF the patri
archs, when the first day OF the new
year was n time OF rejoicing. With
the Greeks and Romans 1t was also d
day Of rejoicing, The Roman saluta
ton was, "a lucky and happy new
year to you!" and the first entry mer.
Nllauln uluut III Nllcll buOhh NdHI
"Praise be to God D." Considered from
religious standpoint the day Is cele.
brnted as the feast of the circumcision
of Christ. The religious significance,
however, seems to be fast dying out,
and is now probably provocative OF
very little more than the making of so
many pious resolutions, to be broken
rs rapidly AS they were made.
THE CUSTOM OF BEsTOwINd NEW
YEARS GIFTS
come down from the Romans, all
of whose presents were OF somewhat
symbolic nature, and were all typical
of friendship and affection. In clden
times pins and gloves were esteemed
valuable presents, but these articles
were worth more then than now.
Capons were also esteemed valu-
able gifts, and to this day are con-
sidered among the old Creole families
of Louisiana and Florida rs the most
appropriate gift from one head OF n
family to another. In Venice books
are the principle gifts; in france toys
for the children and jewelry for those
of an older growth, bonbons accom-
panying each gift. In America the
gifts are confined to no particular ar
ticIes, and are appreciated for their
money value more than in any other
Christian nation.
The DIuids, on New Years Day,
went forth to cut the mistletoe aud
distribute it among the faithful. In
France, also, the mistletoe was gather
ed, and Druids OF an inferior order
went about crying "Au g,W Tau ne'g"
In Paris, for over two hundred and
forty years, the "Feast of Fools" was
celebrated on the first OF January, and
the festivities were characterized by
all sorts of absurd and indecent sports,
which had finally to be stopped.
THE RUSSIAN "ovsEN."-A PIC For
VAsILY's EVE,
The name is by sOme derived from
ores, oats, aud by Others connected
with cessna, spring. 1t was formerly
celebrated on the first of March, In
1913 it was shifted around to the first
of September, and finally, nl7OO, was
again changed TO January first. Ovsen
Is represented IA Il "goOd youth" VINO
appears with the new year, to clear
the way, aud brings rich
gifts OF fruitfulDess from Para
disc for deserving mortals. On New
Years Eve the boys go about from
house to house scattering grain OF va
rious kinds, but chiefly oats, and sing
ing songs, while the guests pa take OF
a collation., the principal dishes being
pigs feet prepared in various styles
There have been many strange GUS
toms for this day among the Russian
people, and of those still preserved,
probably the most peculiar Is one kept
nm nv the inhabitants of the White
Russia. On New Years Eve they lead
about from house to house two youths
ONE called the rich Kolyada, Is
dressed in new holiday attire
and wears on his head a
wreath or crown made OF
ears Of rye; the otner they call poor
Kolyada, and be is dressed in ragged
anti and wears a wreath of threshed
out straw. When the party arrives
before a cottage they wrap up each o.
the youths in long covering, and tel
the owner OF the house to choose be
tveen the two. II he selects the ricl
Kolyada, a good harvest and plenty o
money awaits him, and his visitors re
ioiee in his prospective good fortune
and a song il sung; II he choose th,
Door Kalyada, the singers warn hin
to expect poverty and probably death
In lieu of the old sacrifices to the oil
Rods, presents are now given to tn
Orsen singers, and they ask for II II
terms such as
"Give us a pig Tor vasily's Eve.'
sAcREp CHARACTER or THB FEsTIyA
IN THE EAST.
In Siam three days previous to Tn
opening Of the New Year, Ylfst
announced bya B'ahaman astrologsI
the voices Of the buyer and seller Al
hushed, and all accounts are close
| They proprltlste the various demon