The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-12-30
NEW YEARS DAY.
The Manner of its Observance in Various
Countries.
Gala Day In All Ages and Under Every
Sun.


that of the early French settlers who made
" LIE jour de ran,' as they called it, one or re-
Cancellation, when all family fcuds were settled
without the intervention OF Il lawyer. Now it
is marked, principally, by resolutions for the
future, recOllections of the past and egg-nOg in
the present, the recOllectiOns corresponding in
All inverse ratio with the egg-llOg and the reSO-
buttons.
Precisely when the custom of celebrating
new years day originated is u matter of doubt.
Most authors attribute it to the Romans, but
facts have recently been discovered which
tend to prove that the day WIS celebrated by
nations cOntempOraneOus with and prior to the
Romans. january l was not universally OBJ
served as the first day of the year until about
century ago, when all the European countries
had adopted the new calendar.
New years day was observed by great civil
and religious ceremonies among the Romans.
In very early times boughs of vervain were
presented to the Roman rulers rs emblems OF
course of ages and it became usual to make
gifts of figs, dates, honey and gilded nuts. AS
the empire grew in wealth, the value OF the
gifts increased. INSCRIPTIONS Caligula had
fortunes thrown at his feet. 1lberluS would
receive no gifts at all.
Among the pOpulace the day was observed by
Teasing and prOpilating Juno, the naughty
protector of the day, by sacrifices of new wine,
new filnkinccnSe and cakes made OF new meal
and new salt. Their salutatOn was. Annun
novum taustum feicenque tib-a lucky and
superstitiOns, one of which was I hat they must
begin some work and quit it without finishing
it. Lending anything to ncighbor was coll
Sidered an unliicky omen.
The Greeks celebrated the first month of the
new year with great rejOicings but spent the
three days preceding in prayers, expiration and
sacrifices SO, also, was the custom of the He
brcws. Their last month, Elui, was II time for
prayers and fasting but as soon as the morn of
the new year dawncd the fact was announced
by the blowing of trumpets.
ID. -. a \tw tI ri fl
cOOred eggs, symbols of their belief that the
world dropped from an egg broken by the
horns Of Il bull bestrode by Mitha the Sun
God. The Chinese adjust all their business
matters on the day. If all accounts are not
settled the creditors rush into debtors house
and seize all his goods. The wealthy are en-
allow no empty mouths" they say. Numer-
Gus offerings are made to The Gods and eX-
changed among relations and friends. The
Japanese make presents of rice cake, crayfish,
oranges and artificial cabbage their symbols
of prosperity and health. In Siam the coming
OF the New Year is announced by astrOlOgers
few days beforehand. Then all business is
settled and the peyple retire into their houses,
which they fasten securely tor vent the ell
trance of evil spirits. AS the evil spirits al
ways scatter on the first day of the new year
the doors are thrown open on that day and the
pOpulace emerge into freedom. The priests
then receive valuable gifts. The HindOOs, on
the first Of the year-SOme time in April-can
enter any house and do as they please. Pitch
erS and other utensils are dedicated to the Gods
and the spirits of their ancestors and the
women reverentially wash the idols and the
sacred COWS. Every woman is obliged to en-
terrain Brahmin or invite some lady friend to
her house and anoint her head. by the Druids
OF Britain and parts of France the
first day of the year was observed
with impressive ceremonies. Priests and peO-
pie assembled for the gathering of the sacred
mislrtoe, Il plant SymboliHlng youth and i'm
mortality, and bands shouted all 'laT kI%, An
gui ran neuf to the miStletoe to the New Year.
Ibpin = 4 n. ,l.Il
in England and Scotland. The head of tn,
family drinks from i large bowl OF lambs
wool or spiced ale to the health Of all the
family and each in turn drinks 10 the others.
Long ago the the poor people would send their
children singing doggerel and carrying Orna-
mentcd bowls i'll the streets, by way oi appeal
ton on New Years day century ago and his
defendants are inclined the same way. One
of his customs is thus described:
AT the approach of l. O'Clock IA kettle or
tiugOn of spiced and Sweetened ale, with an
infusion of spirits is prepared, and Immediate
ly on the stroke of the hour each member
drinks to the health of the other, wishing him
a happy new year and plenty of them. After
this rite has been thoroughly and sOlemnly
performed the whole company provide them
selves with buns or.sbor bread and cheese and,
kettle i'm hand sally forth to their neghbOrS.
Parties meeting in the street stop to exchange
good wishes. The kettle circuates and on
they go again to meet friends, probably at the
next corner and repeat the performance.
after the stroke of Il on New Years
morning is known as the first foot,
and il is very necessary to the good luck of the
occupants that the guest come provided with
short bread and cheese. Civilty also requires
that each member OF the family shall partake
of the refreshments brought by the early
guest So common was this custom in Edin-
burgh al one time that the streets presented a
gayer appearance between Il and O'Clock OH
New Years eve than ever they did at midday"
The midnight carOuSals were stopped because
.,f flki AL ,l,ran f hn
condition of reyellers. There was another
farm of tirst-fOOting, \ young man would
quietly escOnce himself by Il door and wait for
the appearance of his inamOrata, then kiss her,
But great WAS the disappointment of the youth
and loud the laughter of spectators when
the door was opened by person other than his
sweetheart, perhaps by her grand dame. In
the town OF Coventry il was customary to dis
tribute triangular bits of pastry filled with
mince- meat, which were known as Gods cakes.
In Paris at the present time New Years Day is
celebrated to greater extent than anywhere
else, and the giving of presents is an absolute
mania, The man who rules supreme on that
day is tine confectiOner, for everybody buys
b bis even he has Obtain to tighten
All other gifts are ACCOMPANIED BY horizons,
and it is estimated that $l0O,0U are spent in
Paris for them on the first of every year.
Among the + - ladies only are exempt
from making = to their friends on New
Years Day. 1t was once the custom in Man
haitian to kiss every one met, and the custom
X y i'll kept up in some parts of Germany and
HOiiaHd In Scotland, too, ladies were thus
sulllted and Miss Burnett tells that her lips were
quite sore from fre,,llent SalutationS. Besides
kissing the Manhattan Islandsrs paid more at
tcntion TO drinking, and Washington irving
says that on one New Years Day Peter Stuy-
Eesan, Geugcd the city of Manhattan with
Holland gin aii. cherry brandy, and the women
became the most bEkissed lot in the colonies
A number of odd supersfitiODs regarding New
Nna,'E DAY held in the old rin