The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-01
NEW YEAR PORTENTS.
Ancient superstitions Regarding The
Weather.

AucleuI ouperSIlsloNs ne dIuinS Inc
Weather.
The IL days from Dee. 26 to Jan. 6
have long been recognized as indices of
the weather during the following gear.
The ancient texts referred to distinctly
assert this, a Sanscrit proverb running
thus, ''The II nights are an image of
the year" Another text from the
same sources evidently refers TO the
same period, "The Rhibhus storm de-
mons sleep for II 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 corre-
spending months of the year to come.
a like belief exists to this day in Ian
cashire and Northamptonshire, Eng
land, and very old writer $500 re-
cords the current notion in his day that
the II days served as an index Of the
coming years weather. 1t was said in
one English port that if the wind blew
hard on the fifth night dec. 30, ships
at sea would he in great peril the COM
ing year.
The inhabitants of the Nosges 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 sue
ceeding 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 II days are
said to he the ''keys of the year"
OF New Years day itself we have
the authority of a very old weather
prophet-the author of the "Shep-
herds Kalendar''-fo the generally
ominous portents TO be drawn from
the weather on that day, "If 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 re-
Gently it is said of this day, "If the
morning of New Years day is red, it
portends foul weather and great need"
While on the second day of the year it
is said, GAS the weather is this day, so
will il be in September"
In the "BOok of Presidents; (prece-
dents, 1914, Jan. l, >, 3, 1, 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
Northamptonshire the master of the
family this tempts fate by opening the
Bible with his eyes shut and obtain
ing from the passage first touched with
his finger some indication Of the
events of the coming year.
Among the Wends young maidens
hasten tine advent Of the chosen hus-
band by going to the henhOuse on
New Years eve, striking the perch
right among the hens, while repeating
to themselves the following doggerel:
Ifcackles the hen,
You will have a man;
Ifclckles the hen.
Who knows whens
Certain observances are supposed to
obtain luck for the year following. In
one part of mOdera Greece all in the
house go out carly New Years MORN
ing, then return to the dwelling bear
ing each branch OH which the leaves
are well 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 the table. When the
meal was finished, one person got un-
der the table and another one sat on
his back and drew out the bands of
straw. These were taken to the or
chard and bound round trees, which
were thereby insured TO bear "A full crop
of fruit the next year.
In parts of FIance it is regarded Us
unlucky to lend anything on New
Years day.
The fire must be watched with great
care on the first day of the year. In
Lancashire, England, it is said that if
il 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 wa
ters, the priest performing mass and
sprinkling the streams with holy water
while blessing theIn.-.S. Louis Re
public.
Two Valuable Friends.