The Brookhaven leader., 1884-03-13
Russian New.Year Festivities.

Inc nuSSldnS nave our custom OF
"open house" New Years day, and the
ladies of the colony in Paris receive ex-
aotly the same as les grandeS danes
AmcricaI2cS in New York or Chicago.
At the Russian embassy there was not so
much ceremony this year as the years
previous, for Prince Orloff is at st.
Petersburg. One of the most attractive
Russian salons in Paris is that of Mime.
De Kosak off Bourdoukoff, and the
gracious hostess spent the whole day
receiving her friends Of all nationalties.
She was assisted by her cousin, Mile.
Bernar, young lady celebrated for her
esprit. 1t is pleasure to be acquainted
with a Russian girl. A Frenchman is
astonished at the independence of
American young ladies, but the Russian
girls have an education very smilar. A
French girl who expresses an opinion,
or WHO makes remark without giving
mamma" as authority, is considered a
marvel, or is looked upon as destroy
ing all her prospects Of "beau mar
rage" But an American or Rus sian
girl is pardoned the originality of
expressing her ideas. couple Ameri-
can with Russian girls, because they are
strikingly alike.
But [ reserve my enthusiastic admira-
ton of ia demoiselle Rus e'' and re-
turn to the New Year" Instead of
our salutation, Happy New Year."
the Ru SLAMS say, IS. Nowim Godom,
S. Nowim Sohastiem''- Year,
new hap iness;" or, "Pozdravolayon
S. Nowim Godom''-'I hope YOU will
have happy New Year" At each re-
past during the day the que is stand,
raise their glasses and toast the En-
peror.
From Russian friend | heard the
descriI ton of the celebration in Ru STA
YESTERDAY Saturday. Alexander III.
and suite let Gatschina for st. Peters
burg. This morning all the royal
princes courtiers, officials and retain
ers of the Winter Palace came TO wish a
''happy New Year" to Emperor,
and he in return ssed each one on the
mouth three mes. write explicitly
"on the mouth" because for four wears
have not seen any one kissed in that
manner, the French salutation being on
both cheeks. At Easter the Emperor
goes through the same ceremony, only
he sses every one he meets, even to
the filthiest ggars. This is to recall
the fact tina, all are brothers in religion.
But t q Russian aristocracy found this
manner of embrac ng too contaminat-
ing, and discontinued it. "New Years
day" twenty-three years Ego the cere-
mony of hand-kissing was abolishC d,
but the Empress re-establis, ed it to-
day. Tie kiss that the Emperor
rlaced on the mouth was conveyed by
the recipient to the hand of the EN-
press.
The festal period begins really on De-
cember 81. During two weeks the
young people amuse themselves with
loween, and terminate the festivities
the 9Th of January, Epiphany. On this
day all the rivers in Russia a"e blessed.
At st. Petersburg the Emperor and inn
perial family assist at the ceremony.
On the frozen Neva is placed gilded
chapel, surmounted by cross. The
interior is decorated by pictures repre-
senting the baptism of Christ. This
chapel is covered by branches of pine.
In the center of the chapel the ice is
broken. and around the opening made
ale stationed the Emperor, courtiers, and
clergy. all in gala dress. The Bishop
of Novgorod, alter praying before the
altar. where are paced the relics and
holy books. plunges his cross three
times in the water of the river, which is
baptized. for the time being, the Jordan.
Afterwar6 he dips some of the water
into precious vase and sprinkles the
assembly. This is the signal for the
crowd to fill the bottles and pitchers
with which they are provided. They
carry off enough of the water to last
until next year, and use it the same as
holy water is used by the Roman Cath
olics.