The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-12-26
THE NEW YEAR.
A Day That Has Been Celebrated FOR
Centuries by the English and Romans.


Charles Dickens, in one of his
Sketches" says: Next to Christ
mas day the most pleasant annual
epoch in existence is the advent Of the
New Year There must have
been some few occurrences in the past
year to which we can look back with q
smile OF cheerful recollection, if not
ness. And VIC are bound by every rulo
Of justice and equity to give ths New
Year credit for being good one, until
he proves himself unworthy the conf
dence we repose in him" A very
wholesome reminder this, that it is
we'll to cherish with genuine gratitude
the mercies and cheerful experiences of
the year that has flown. Hope is
naturally SO strong that any coming
time is, as the great writer has said it
should be, generally confided in until
it proves itself unworthy the expecta-
tions inspired at its approach. A little
research reveals tho fact that the cele-
bration of New Years day and eve dates
back for centuries and the custom of
merry-making and exchanging gifts at
that time is very old one. In En-
gland, a great many years ago, young
people used to carry around on New
Years eve what was called the Wassail
Bowl, the word "wassail' being de-
rived from the Anglo-Saxon, and mean
ing "be in health" The connection in
the bowl was made UP of ale.
nutmeg, sugar, and roasted
crabs or apples. A briefer de-
ale, and draught from the Wassail
Bowl was the same as drinking health.
And in this connection we read: "In
the Monthly Miscellany for Decem Der,
1892, there is an essay on New Years
Gifts, which says that the Romans were
great observers Of the custom of New
Years gifts, even whom their year con-
sisted only of ten months, of thirty-six
d.; each, and began in March; also,
.,i..n January and February were added
by Numa to the ten others, the calends,
or first OF January, was the time when
they made presents" Ever Romulus
and Tiberius ordered certain offerings
to be made on New Years day 'as
tokens Of good fortune for the coming
year" And "Tacitus makes mention
of an order OF Ti5erius. forbidding the
giving or demanding New Years gifts
unless it were on the calends 1.-THE first
day of each month among the RomansJ
of January, at which time as we'll the
Senators as the knights and other
great men, brought gifts to the EN-
peror, and, in his absence, to the Capt.
toll" The farther back we go in his
tory the more superstition we find mixed
up with various fixed observances. 1t
is in reality trying to read many rec
ords of old-time customs, so continually
must one run against omens, signs, in
dications OF good luck or bad luck, i'll
fortune or good fortune. But tracing
many modern customs. sports and
observances back, they are found to
be very ancient ones, and to have
originated in what would seem an
honest desire to produce happiness and
to secure good fortune. if possible. for
coming time. AS the world becomes
more enlightened and the bigotry and
superstition Of past ages melt away in
the light OF advanced knowledge and
higher convictions, it is blessed thing
that we retain many of the cheering,
pleasant features of tho customs of
oiden times. The Wassail Bowl, with
its too highly-seasoned contents, is a
thing of the past. but the feeling OF
good-fellowship it engendered still re-
mains. Gifts are no longer required at
an exact time nor relied upon to bring
good fortune in their train, neverthe-
less a disposition to give freely and
generously at our winter holidays is
one of the strong impulses of both old
and young at the present day. And
many simple gifts whose intrinsic
value is almost worth nothing is the one
most highly priced because of the gen.
uine affection and thoughtfulness which
prompted the Offering. In wishing
each other "a Happy New Year" there
is not always realization of how much
depends on ourselves in the matter OF
another's happiness. The wish may
be genuine enough, but each member
of the home circle should strive to act
in such way as TO promote harmony
and happiness throughout the house
hold. And in view of the teachings OF
the past and the light and comfort OF
the present, how bravely and trustingly
should the New Year be met.-Christian
at Work.