New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-04
ADAMS BIRTHDAY.
c CELEBRATIONS OF NEW-YEAR'S DAY IN
MANY LAMBS.

rank as the most ancient 1eStlVal vi "'O Wv"
Both the Jews and the Mahomctans regard 'lo
first day of their respective years as the anniversary
of the birth, or rather creation day, OF Adam, ana
celebrate it with all kinds vi rejoicines ana en-
tertainraents, while in olden times before 'n'
Christian era it was observed as day sacred To
the Pagan and Mugwump god Janus. Inc Romans
made it public holiday, and selected IL d. inv
proper date fer the exchange OF presents Oh si"G"
fruits. II was the day, moreover OH VIM" Wv
newly elected magistrates Of the Atheniah hePu'
lie as we'll as those of the mighty commoh"eaIU"
on the banks of the Tiber. entered upon thelr
duties The Druids also held the first day OF Tue
year in particular honor and Vencratlon ana eve"
now number of pagan superStitions IN conncc-
ton Herewith have survived among the pcdSdh,lS
of Brittany, Wales and the southwestern counties
Of England To this day the lower classes oil
the districts lust named retain firm belief IN
the misunderstanding properties of the mlstctoe
while the pcoplc who live along the shores OF inc
BAY of Biscay are absolutely convinced thai
at the moment when the clock strikes twelve Oh
New-Year's Eve, the Notwithstanding doss'
horses. sheep. oxen and pigs-become endowed
for the space of one hour with the power OF Speech
and that the huge Druidical monoliths known as
Dolmans. or Menhirs, eXtricate themselves irom
their sockets for the purpose of rolling down upon
the scashorc TO refresh themselves by dip IN
the briny deep.
OF all the countries of Europe it is undoubtedly
France which has retained the largest degree OF
od-time regard for New-Near's Day. In treat
Britain with the exception of certain districts III
the southwestern counties and in Wales, the day
passes almost entirely unobserved and Is not even
regarded as a public holiday. In Germany Ill
Scandinavia. i'm Austria and in the Latln coun-
tries of Southern Europe. the Importance formerly
attributed to the first day of the year has ncen
entirely overShadowcd by the popularity awarded
10 Christmas while Faster has superseded New
Years Day as the greatest of all public festivals in
Russia. in Greece and indeed, among all nations
that belong to the Orthodox faith. The only
form of Observance accorded to the first of Jan
uary in the domnionS If the Car is long and
sparsely attended service at church in the
ing and bout of heavy drinking in the after
noon and evening. The libations. however, are
invariably preceded by a prostratitn before the
icon sacred picture which constitutes an i'm
portant feature of every MuScovitc household.
A small oil lamp burns before the portrait of the
saint, and every now and again one of the drink
ers viii stagger up 10 il and dcvoutly cross himself
presumably with the object of avcrting by means
Of divine assistance the disasrceahc consequences
of intoyicatioH.
In Scandinavia, too the New Year is ushcred
in with heavy and COpious rotations In lien of
n species of homebrewcd small beer-ne oil, which
is powerful ale. is drunk from horns or from
silver or wooden tankards. The drinking horns
those of the OK, an animal extinct,
and are not only of great antiquity, but also OF
much beauty Many of them old enough 10
have been used by the wOrshippers OF Thor and
Odin for tOaSts their return from successful
raids, or on the occasion of a marriage or burial,
when they sung the songs celebrating the virtues
of the heroes who had died on the battlefield and
had entered, full armed, into Vahalla. Drink
ing from these horns requires peculiar llnack,
otherwise the contents certain to fall on one.
In France New-Ycar's Day-the Jour de IAN
continues to be observed the great festival
and public holiday of the year All public Offices
and stores are closed. business Of every kind is
suspended, and young and Old rich and poor,
abandon themselves TO merrymsking. There is
genuine holiday expression noticeable upon every
face, and all alike appear intent getting all
the enjoyment possible out Of le JoIr de IAN
"the" day of the year. II is observed as a kind
of universal birthday the birthday not alone of
Adam. but also of every of his descendants.
general interchange of presents takes place and
the LIST of January is looked forward 10 through
ont the wear by children the day which
they receive all their finest toys, and by servants
as the date on which they receive their most
a somewhat heavy tax upon the head Of a house
hold. For not only is he expected 10 make a
handsome present Of money TO his coachman, his
butler, his groom Of the chambers, and 10 the
other subordinate members of his establishment.
but also 10 the post1nan. the policeman on his
beat, to the butchers boy. the groccryman, and IN
fact 10 every tradcSman's cmpoye who has
attended 10 the requirements Of his household
during the preceding twelve months. On the
shopkccpers, too. the Observance Of the day fall,
somewhat heavily. For they are obliged if they
wish to retain the custom Of the houses which
they serve, 10 send presents TO the cook or the
butler, the cOachman or the valet or
lady's maid. as the may be The
religious ceremonies Of the day take the form Of a
high mass which Is c.ltbfated with extraordinary
pomp and magnifcence.
Although the japanese have Ecsitatcd yet 10
borrow the religious faiths Of the Occidcnt, they
have shown no such compunc'ion in the ofoption
OF our holidays and festivities. and nowhere in the
world is New Years Day celebrated with more
universal reOicngs than in Japan. The streets of
the capital u well those of the small towns
and even village, arc thrOneed from early morn.
ing until late at night with crowds Of big Japs
and little laps Of fat Jlps and Thin Japs Of
JdpS in fact, Of every variety and description, all
anayed in their most ceremonial attire. The
latter sad to relate longer consists Of the pct-
uresquc sJlE kimOnOS and robes that impaired
grace and dignity to them wcarers hut Of Euro
Nan evening dress, with cOllapsibe opera hat,
white tie ana sWallOW-tail coat complete. BEING
made by japanese taloIs, the chi of the garments
is gcOmctrlcal rather than anatomical, aud tie
aspcct presented thereby would be sufficient (,
furnish either London OF NewlOfk tailors with a
whole troop OF full-bloOdei nightmares The coat
is so constructed that from the collar TO the coat
ends il sticks out almost at a right angle with
tie line of the back, while the two trcast flaps
protrudc in front like couple OF pigeons Wigs
Add to thi, high hit several sizes too large
and only kept on the head by handkerchief
rolled in a ball and carefully placed between tie
rim and the forehead, pair Of high hoots-Wcll
inntnnS-.lnnrn with the tops not mnder, but Oycr