The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-01-02
THE NEW YEAR.
a Day That Has B~en Celebrated for
centuries BY the Eng lIsh and Romans.

a Day That IBas Is~en Celebrated FOR
! Centuries by the English and Romans.
i 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 a
smile Of cheerful recollection. il not
with feeling OF heartfelt thankful
ness. And We are bound by every rule
OF justice and equity to give the New
Year credit for Icing good one. until
no proves himself unworthy the conf
dence we repose in him" A very
wholesome reminder this, that it Is
well TO cherish with genuine gratitude
the mercies and cheerful experiences Of
the year that has flown. Hone is
naturally so strong that any coming
time Is. as the great writer has said il
should be. generally confded in until
II 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
Incorporating and exchanging gifts at
that time is very old one. In En-
gland. great many years ago. young
people used TO carry around on New
Years eve what was called the Wassail
Bowl. the word ''wassailr being de-
rived from the Anglo-Saxon, and mean
ing "be in health The concoction in
the bowl was made up OF ale.
nutmeg. sugar and roasted
crabs or apples A briefer de.
scription OF its contents is spiced
ale, and draught from the Wassail
Bowl was the same as drinking health.
And in this connection we read: I'm
the Monthly Miscellany for December.
1922. there is an essay on New Years
Gifts, which says that the Romans were
great observers OF the custom OF New
Years gifts, even when their year con-
sisted only Of ten months, Of thirty-six
days each, and began in March: also.
when January and February were added
by Numa TO the ten others. the calends.
or first OF January. was the time when
they made presents" Even Romulus
and Tiberirs ordered certain offerings
to be made on Now Years day .-as
tokens OF good fortune for the coming
year" And "Tacitus makes mention
Of an order Of I'll berius. forbidding the
giving or demanding New Years gifts
unless il were on tho caiends 1.-THE frst
day Of each month among tho Romans)
OF January. at which time as well 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 60 in his
tory the more superstition We nd m. xed |
up with various fixed observances II
is in reality trying to read mans rec
ords OF old-timc 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. IL possible. for
coming time. As the world becomes
more enlightened and the bigotry ana
superstition OF past ages melt away in
the light OF advanced knowledge and
y TX ntE ton NtttibHS< ~ - y DltSttu LUlnK
that We retain many Of tho cheering.
pleasant features Of the customs Of
,.dcn times The Wassail Bowl. with
Is too highly-seasoned contents. Is q
hing OF the past, but the feeling Of
rood fellowship it engendered still re-
mains. Gifts are no longer req uircd az
IN exact time nor relied upon to bring
rood fortune in their train. neverthe-
ess disposition to give freely and
generously at our winter holidays IL
me OF the strong impulses OF both old
md young At the present day. And
many simple gift whose intrinsic
ralue Is almost worth nothing IS the ono
most highly priced because OF the gem
line affection and thoughtfulncss which
the Offering. In wishing
ach other "A Happy New Year. there
! not always q realization OF how much
cpends on ourselves in the matter Of
mothers happiness The wish may
K genuine enough. but each member
I the home circle should strive 10 ace
n such way as TO promote harmony
nd happiness throughout the house.
OLD And in view OF the teachings Of
he past and the light and comfort Of :
he present. how bravcly and trustingly |
hould the New Year be met -Christiar 4
/ Work.