Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-01-02

the pcasaniry Of Wales and Inquire
with reeari 10 their folk lore concern
lug New Years Day. aud its myshc
eve, they win tell you the legend %
two Welsh Rip Van Wrinkles, who,
while wandering among the ravines OF
their native mountains on one New
Years I've, encountered two fairy
maidens, who cnticed them across a
fairy bridge into fairy land, where
they spent n period OF such blissiul
happiness that It seemed but one day.
Returning 10 their friends ON the NOR
row hey found that seven generations
mad ived aud died during their al
sence, which had extended overa cen
fury.
One Of the oldest and most universal
OF all New Years customs among tht
pcOple Of Wales, ami one around winch
cluster many popular super.utionsi y
that Of having a bonfire lighted oy
each household at nightiall on New
Years eve This wns done by bnlh
the Celtic and Germanic nations, snd
like them the peassntry Of Wales ~
vest these New Years Eve fires Wit
peculiarly sacred character. Ihey
were intended both to light the spifil
of the old year on It's psssngc anu To
greet with cheerful welcome the COM
INK OF the new. In proportion M these
fires were large and bright, OF small
aud dull; ~ they were kindled readily
OF with difficulty, aud ~ they burned
slowly or briskly, 40 It was believed
would be the happiness or unhappiness,
tho good or III fortune OF the house,
hold TO which that IRE pcftained.
Should New Years Eve hTc die out
from any cause before the hour OF mid
night, such nm event In considered a
certain precursor Of death and disaster.
In many part OF Wales the ashes OF
the New Years fire above alluded 10
are carefully preserved from year 70
year. Special virtue IL attached 10
these ashes In the cure Of certain form.
Of disease. For the "fslling sickness"
lepileptic iitsl, and indeed for any
form OF commissions, they are regarded
NJ n specific. They arcalso thought 10y
the believers In such things 10 possess
some power NJ love philtres, but, Ike
all such potions, they must, Of course,
be administered without the knowledge
Of the psrson to be influenced by them.
It's generally believed by all the native
antiquarians with whom have cou-
verfrd on this subject, that the great
majority OF these Welsh supsrslitlons
associated with the New Year Eve
fire are unquestionably derived from
the Germanic and Celtic nations men
toned above AZ the originator- OF the
custom OF lighting out the old year anu
welcoming the lew with onflrc.
In many parts Of Wales to sec ones
shadow In the moonlight upon New
YEARS Eve II believed 10 he an iuftlli.
ble sign that the person seeing II VIII
die before the expiration OF the coming
new year, Will. for an unmarried
woman n ne her face reflected In water
upon New lenr's day, bet0kens that
she il destined IN live aud die In "a
state OF single bleassduess.
Among the pleasantest features OF
the New Years season In Wales Il the
hearty, whole-souled hospitality aud
cordiAlity manifested by the people on
every hand. Tn. many sturdy viz
tues for which the character II Justly
famous, then shine out In most re-
-plendent fashion. Their. IL universal
merrlmen, and rejoicing, and the
stranger and sJo1rner among thee
most worthy people IN heartily wei.
coined to the hearts and heafthstonvs,
the business anu the hosums Of their
families. AnrLINA PATTI.
CRAIG Y Nos Cas- 81, Dee.