Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-25

good fortune attended all enterprises and
friendship begun and cemented on the first day
of the new year, because gifts were considered
az omens of success for the ensuing month.
The Roman magstracy Invariably entered up
ON Its duties on New Years morning, and the
whole nation knelt in prayer with the early
dawn. The day was esteemed sacred, as it
looked back upon the year just passed and for
ward upon the year to come. 1t was observed
in various ways. The rulers banqueted after
the manner of the gods, copying the intellect
ual and vocal music throughout the meal.
Gentlemen not infrequently paused between
the courses to sing songs with Tyre accompani-
mcnts The peasantry Wore fcstal garments in
the streets, and journeyed great distances to
the Emperor-a compulsory tribute. They
also gave gifts to each other OF dates, figs,
plums, cakes and copper coins with the
double head of Janus upon them. No one
would lend anything or suffer neighbor to take
fire out of his house, or anything of iron, on
New Years Day. The Christians borrowed
these customs and ceremonials; but the early
fathers of the Church condemned them,
calling them all idolatry. Claudius l., who
was reformer as we'll as a tolerable scholar
and an author, modified the fashions by de-
cree produced chiefly on account of his dislike
to the pagan performances attending presen-
tations. 1t was this monarch who converted
the southern portion of the British Isle into
a Romance province and waged war with
New Years observances in his own country, he
was instrumental in spreading the contagion
through the European countries, and 1t was
caught and perpetuated in England for a sue
cession of centuries. The Dutch who had
genuine love for all holidays, called New
Years Day ''the great day OF cake" as visitors
were generally treated to cake, wine and
punch. They initiated the delightful custom
of New Years calls, and introduced it into
New 1ork-when the city was but little fur
station. The Dutch ladies remained at home,
decorated their houses with all the art at their
command, and in their silks and satins well
coined the dignitaries of the colony. No gen
tleman of the old Dutch school, who esteemed
himself eligible to the good society, ever
thought of emitting to call upon every lady of
his acquaintance on the first day of the year.
The fashion grew in popularity as the city
grew, and as the English and French contrib
uted to the increasing population they adopted
the established custom with special Zest.
Washington admitted it when he was our first
President and a resident of New York. Dur
ing the present century other cities have
copied it from New York, until it seems to
have found favor in almost every place of any
size on this continent.
The records of these early festival days are
for the most part worth preserving as curious
illustrations of natural history. The close re-
scmblance of tho ceremonials in different
climes and among nations speaking different
languages, is an interesting study, and may
form an element in the solution of many u
troublesome problem. The English, the
French, the creole and the Dutch, although
widely separated from each other on our
broad wilderness shores, have been animated
with similar Christian spirit, and have each
carefully contributed to keep alive the sense
of a sacred celebration of the event of the Ma
tivity, even to the end of the period allotted
to social pleasures.