Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-04
NEW YEARS DAY CUSTOMS.
Peculiar Obscrvances in Dinere,
Countries The Giving of Presents.

tFrom the Staats-Zeitungl
Like the customs of Christmas, which,
in their origin, are cuIions mixture of
poetry and mysticism, of symbolism and
superstition, those that belong to the
observance of New Years Day are also to
large extent relics of usages and ideas
that date from early heather ages.
In France New Years presents play an
important part. The French derive their
term for these presents, ctrenneS, from
the Latin word .Strcni0. the name of a
goddess whom the Romans venerated as
the patroness of gifts. There was grove
in Rome dedicated to this goddess, where
it was customary to get fresh twigs to
give with presents to friends and relatives
on New Years Day At first the presents
consisted only of figs, dates, and honey,
which were intended to represent the
sweet and pleasant elements of life; but
costly. During the sway of the Emper-
ors, Roman subjects made New Years
gifts to their sovereign, Augustus re-
ceived such quantities Of these that he
had gold and silver statues made of them.
Tiberius did away with the usage, be-
cause he considered it too troublesome to
on the contrary, reintroduced the CUSTOM
and even made up for his predecessor s
refusal to receive presents by requiring
those that had been offered to him to be
given to himself as arrearages.
The custom of making New Years gifts,
Notwithstanding attempts to suppress it,,
was continued after Europe became
Christian. For n time present-making
was transferred to Easter but later it was
again associated with the 1st of January.
At one time III Franco there was great ex-
travagance in the custom. In the reign
of LouisXIV., on the LIST of January, 1878,
Nine, de Montespan received cup OF
gold, set with emeralds and diamonds,
besides two goblets, furnished With Gov
ers that were likewise studded with pre-
cious stones At present the gifts most
frequently consist in France of sweet
meats tastefully arrayed in handsome
boxes, OF of vases, bronzes, rare por'
celain, or other works of art.
Many interesting customs had thell
, origin i'll the early days of the German
people, with whom the winter solstict
was always n high festival. In Voigtland
a district of Saxony, maidens are accus
toned to walk on New Years Eve-ant
they prefer the hour of midnight-in re
} tired hooks of gardens, and shake trees OF
; fence pickets, or even wash poles, an,
! inquire about their future lovers; ant
from whatever direction they then hea
the barking or howling Of dog, or an,
other marked or sudden noise, from tha
direction will the lover come.
: On New Years, or, as it is also called
: Sylvester Eve, the maiden of Mecklen
l burg, with her back to the door, throws
, slipper over her head. If the toe of tn
fallen slipper points to the door, sh
: leaves the house during the following
year to go into service il not, she re
mains at home.
In the villages near the Vosges noun
+ tain range, the well dance was general
custom forty or fifty years ago, and ma
still be retained in many places. Earl
| on the morning Of New Years Day, be
! fore the ringing of the church bells, tn
t unmarried young women of 'villag
: would dance around the running well o
q fountain of the place, which they bad pre-
= viously adorned with small fir tree, all
e would sing a song to the dance that date
n unquestionably, though in distorted form
!, from dim antiquity. The object of thi
!, custom was to provide the dancing maiC
+ ens with lovers during the coming yael
o and to bring good luck and fortunat
n crops to The village, and make the wat,
+ of the veil healthy for the cattle,
l. In Denmark there is curious custol
: of breaking bottles, pots, and disht
d against the house door, custom that
d turned to advantage for annoying an en-
3 my by breaking vessels against his dos
" that are filled with filth, or, if the chan'
n is good, they are even thrown into Il
d house. 1t is popular superstition
Denmark that any person who snuffs OF
l. q candle on New Years Eve dies durir
Q the following year,
l. In Spain Sylvester Eve is OF great III
's portance to the young folks. On that ev
J. in accordance with All old custom, Il
A. names of the young people are thrown /
d to two separate urns, one for each Sc
Iy Then the names are drawn alternatel
y one from each urn, and the young IN,
n who participate in the sport become Il
2, recognized lovers and escorts during Il
le whole succeeding year of the respecti
h. maidens whom this lottery accords
Is them. Should it happen that the san
in two names are drawn together two yea
C. in succession, it is considered an ONT
n, favorable to a more lasting relationshl
O. and usually so results.
er In European countries, in which u
is Julian calendar is still in vogue, the ca
at nival celebration begins already at Chris
h mas, and is conducted in way quite di
as erent from that Of Western cuuntriC
al The Russian carnival is divided in
IN two parts-the New Years celebratio
&C. which is conducted with dance, iestin
". and masquerading, and the so-callel Br
he ter Week, or festal time that prece'les t
,r- strict fasts. The sports, mummeri'
tn iests, and practical jokes that charact'
mt lied the Roman Saturnslia and Lup'
us Gala mark to-day the Russian New Yea
he celebration. They still continue in &