Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-01-02
NEW YEAR P0RTENTS
ANCIENT 5UPERsTiTIoNs REGARDING
THE WEATHER.

The Twelve Days Succeeding Christmas
Supposed to Be Indices For the l:nsuing
Year-CurIous Customs and Belief. of
Many Lands.
The 12 days from Dec. 20 to- Jan 8
have long been recognized as indices Of
the weather during the following year.
The ancient texts referred to distinctly
assert this. a Sanscrit proverb running
thus, THE - 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 12 nights and days in the
house Of the sun god Savitar F"
In northern Germany il is said that
as the weather is during each of the l2
days, so it viii be during the CORE
spending months of the year to &Dme.
A like belief exists TO this day in Lam
cashire and Northamptonshire, Eng
land, and a very old writer (l590) re-
cords the current notion in his day that
the l2 days served as an index os the
coming year weather. 1t was 500 4
one English port that if TIE vinC .vw
hard on the fifth night (D,c. ; >, is
at sea would be in great letil he ~
ing year.
The inhabitants of the Nosges l.. an
tains restrict this prophesying period 20
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-
airy rule the coming three months,
while in another place the - days are
said to be the keys Of the year
OF New Years day itself we have
the authority of a very old weather
prophet-the author of the Shepherd
Kalendar for the generally ominous
portents to be drawn from the weather
on that day, "If New Years day i'll the
morning open with dusky red clouds, it
denotes strife and debates among the
great ones and many robberies that
year. F" More recently it is said Of this
day, IF the morning -cf-Sew Years
day is red, it portends foul weather and
great need. While of the second day
of the year it is said, "As the weather
is this day, so it will be in September. +"
In the Book of Presidents" (prece-
dents), 1914, Jan. /, 2, 8, and are
set down as unlucky days. Another
chronicle says: january. 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
amptonshire 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
If cackles the hen,
You viii have man,
If cacl,les the hen,
Who knows when?
Certain observances are supposed to
obtain luck for the year following. In
one part of modern Greece all in the
house go out early New Years morn
| ing, then return to the dwelling bearing
each branch ON which the leaves are
we'll dried. These are cast on the open
fire, each wishing at the same time
good luck to the family. The drier the
leaves, the greater the flame and the
better the augury.
In the north of England new clothes
are put ON for luck the first day OF the
year.
An odd ceremony is recorded of one
locality in England. Bands Of straw
were put under the feet on New Years
day while at table. When the meal was
finished, one person got under the table
and another one sat on his back and
drew out the bands of straw. These
were taken to the orchard and bound
round trees, which were thereby insured
to bear "a full crop of fruit the next
year.
In parts Of France it is regarded as
unlucky to lend anything on New
Years day.
The fire must be watched with great
care ON the first day of the year. In Ian
cashire, England, it is said that if 1t do
not burn through the night Of New
Years eve, bad luck will visit the
household that year nor must any one
be given live coal, or even lighted
candle at this time, for the bad luck
will then visit the recipient Of the gift.
At Auspach the shadow thrown on
the wall by the candles on the Christ
mas tree, on New Years evening will.
if any one is to die soon, represent his
shadow headless.
In Roumania the New Year begins
with ceremony of blessing the waters.
the priest performing q mass and
sprinkling the streams with holy water
while blessing them. Louis Re
public.