Middletown transcript., 1895-12-28
NEW YEAR PORTENTS
ANCIENT sUPERsTITIoNs REGARDING
THE WEATHER.
THE Twelve Days Succeeding Christmas
Supposed to Be Indices For the Ensuing
Year-Curious Customs and Beliefs Of
Many Lands.

Many Lands.
The 12 days from Dec. &c to Jan.
have long been recognized as indices O,
the weather during the following year
The ancient texts referred to distinctly
assert this, Sanscrit proverb running
thus, ''The 10 nights are an image Of
the year" Another text from the same
sources evidently refers to the same pc.
.riod, "The Rhibhus (storm demons,
sleep for IL nights and days in the
house Of the sun god Savitar."
In northern Germany it is said that
| as the weather is during each of the IL
days, SO it will be during the CORE
spending months Of the year to come.
A like belief exists to this day in Lam
caahire and Northamptonshire, Eng
land, and very old writer (1590) re-
cords the current notion in his day that
the 10 days served as an index of the
coming years weather. It was said in
one English port that If the wind blew
hard on the fifth night (Dec. 30), ships
at sea would be in great peril the COM
ing year.
The inhabitants of the Vosges noun
tains restrict this prophesying period to
that Of our holidays, from Christmas to
New Years, and are willing only to
say that these six days indicate the
character Of the weather for the succeed
ing six months.
In one part Of our own country it is
said that 'the first three days Of Janu-
ary rule the coming three months"
while in another place the 10 days are
said to be the skeys Of the year."
OF New Years day itself we have
the authority Of very old weather
prophet-the author of the Shepherds g
Kalendar the generally ominous
portents to be drawn from the weather
on that day, ''H New Years day in the
morning open with dusky red clouds, it
denotes strife and debates among the
great ones and many robberies that
year." More recently it is said Of this
day, IF the morning Of New Years
day is red, it portends foul weather and
great need" While Of the second day
Of the year it is said, CAS- the weather
is this day, SO it will be in September. +"
In the Book Of Presidents" (prece-
dents), 1914, Jan. 1, 2, 8, and are |
set down as unlucky days. Another |
chronicle says: January. OF this first |
month, the opening day, and seventh,
like sword will slay."
The first day of the year is often re-
garded as the proper time to make GER
tain divinations with reference to many
events affecting the future. In North
the master of the family
then tempts fate by opening the Bible
with his eyes shut and obtaining from
the passage first touched with his finger
some indication Of the events Of the
coming year.
Among the Wends young maidens
hasten the advent of the chosen husband
by going to the henhouse on New Years
eve, striking the perch right among the
hens, while repeating to themselves
the following doggerel:
II cackles the hen,
You win have a man;
II cackles the hen,
Who knows whenf
Certain observances are supposed to
obtain luck for the year following. In
me part Of modern Greece all In the
house go out early New Years morn
ng, then return to the dwelling bearing
'ach branch ON which the leaves are
veil dried. These are cast on the open
Ire, each wishing at the same time
'ood luck to the family. The drier the
caves, the greater the fame and the
'etter the augury.
In the north Of England new clothes
re put on for luck the first day Of the
ear.
An odd ceremony is recorded Of one
ocality in England. Bands of straw
Tere put under the feet on New Years
ay while at table. When the meal was
nished, one person got under the table
nd another one sat on his back and |
rev out the bands Of straw. These
7ere taken to the orchard and bound
ound trees, which were thereby insured
} bear full crop Of fruit the next ]
ear.
In parts Of France it is regarded as Z
nlucky to lend anything on New {
ears day.
The fire must be watched with great s
ire on the first day Of the year. In Lam i
sshire, England, it is said that II It do I
ot burn through the night Of New 9
ears eve, bad luck will visit the 8
ousehold that year; nor must any one @
} given live coal, or even lighted I
indie at this time, for the bad luck /
ill then visit the recipient Of the gift. r
At Auspach the shadow thrown ON '
70 wall by the candles on the Christ :
as tree, on New Years evening will,
any one is to die soon, represent his
adow headless.
In Roumania the New Year begins u
ith ceremony Of blessing the waters, Ii
% priest performing a mass and Il
the streams with holy water b
lille blessing them.-St. Louis Re- Il
Iblic. q
Queer Welsh Beliefs =,