The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-01-04
New Years Day Customs.

Inc observance OF the nrst day OF the
year, reckoning from whatever date.
seems to have been, among all intelligent
nations, of festive character. As the
feast of Janus occurred on this day, the
ancient Romans made of it a high holt
day, taking care, in the meantime, that
all they thought. said and did should be
pure, virtuous and honorable, believing
that everything which occurred during
this day was ominous of the events of
the year it ushe.ed in. They presented
themselves in the streets and forum clad
in festive attire, exchanged generous
salutations, one with another, and dis
tributed presents called strene, consist.
ing of copper coins, having on enc side
the double head of Janus and on the
other ship, dates, figs, honey-cakes and
other CONNECTIONS. BY some of the
Roman Emperors this bestowal of New
Years presents was made an important
source of personal revenue, until modi-
fed by an edict ofthe Emperor Claudius,
who regarded it as ill-hecoming the
dignity of the Office TO receive what
came in the shape of largesses. The
early Christian Emperors, however,
tolerated them, Notwithstanding they
were condemned by ecclesiastical coun-
ellis rs a relic of paganism.
But the bestowal of gifts at the New
Years tide was not peculiar to the Ro-
mans. The ancient Druids, we find,
cut with appropriate and special cere-
monies, tufts of the sacred mistietoe
from the bark of the oaks consecrated to
their great Sutates, and distributed
them to the people through the Gauls.
Hence, on account of the great curative
virtues attributed to the mistletoe, New
Years gifts, in certain parts of France
to this day are called Guy-f -an-neaI.
The Saxons of the North, according to
Bishop Stillingfeet, observed the New
Years festival with more than accus.
toned jollity; drank, sent presents from
one to another; and made uproarious
merriment; and, despite all the opposi-
ton of ecclesiastical councils, the ana
themas threatened or executed, the
practice of feasting and gift-making on
New Years day continued through the
middle ages-the interchange of pres
ents, with wine and wassail, being dis
tnguishing features of the first day Of
the year, even among Kings and the
nobility, while their vassals initiated
these practices to the extent of their
ability.
Henry III, of England, is charged
with having extorted New Years gifts
from his courtiers and the people; and
Queen Elizabeth wardrobe and jewelrv
are said to have been almost wholly
supplied from these annual contribu-
tions or leyes upon the subjects. From
Nichols work on the Progresses and
PROFESSIONS f Her Majesty Green Eliza.
beUh," it appears it was anciently the
custom at court for the sovereigns both
to receive and give New Years pres
ents. He says "The greatest part if
not all the peers and peeresses of the
realm, all the Bishops, the chief officers
of state, and several of the Queens
household servants-even down to her
apothecaries, master cooks, sergeant of
the pastry, etc.--gave New Years gifts
to Her Majesty, consisting of rich wear
ing apparel, money, plate, jewels, trink-
cts, sweetmeats and such objects of oertu
as were then at commando" while DR..
Drake, in the generally received appre-
citation of the character Of the Virgin
Queen, says: although the Queen
made returns of New Years largesses
in plate and other articles of value, she
t.ok care that the balance should be IN
her favor
According to the Monthly miscellany
Of date as late as December, 1892, it
seems that the English nobility were
accustomed "every New Years tide !"
to send the King purse with gold in it.
Under the Tudors and the Stuarts the
custom of exchanging presents existed,
and those of the New Years tide were
given and received with mutual good
wishes and congratulations among all
conditions of the body-politic. An
orange stuck with cloves and gilt nut
meg were conventional presents of the
period. Tenants sent landlords capons
on New Years day; tallow chambers
complimented their patrons with the
best of their wares grocers gave of the
choicest dainties of their stock, while to
ladies came presents of pins and gloves,
or instead a small quantity of money -
originating the term "pin money" and
"glove money" which still attaches to
the amount allowed or spent by wives
and daughters in the smaller necessities
of the wardrobe.
Pennant, in stories of the Scotch
Highlanders, tells us that on New Years
day these people burn juniper before
their cattle and that in Scotland upon
New Years eve children run from door
to door, asking for bread and cheese,
which they call mag money" to an
old ditty that begins:
4" Get up, guide wife, and bnno sweir Il. e., lazy,
And deal your cakes and cheese while you are
here:
For the time will come when yen be dead,
And neither need your cheese or bread"