Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-01-07
NEW YEAR PORTENTS
ANCIENT SUPERSTlTiONS REGARDING
THE WEATHER.

lite "CA TEN.
The Twelve Days Succeeding Christmas
Supposed to Be induces For the Ensuing
Year-Curious Customs and Beliefs of
Many Lands.
The IL days from Dec 26 to JAN 6
have long been recognized as induces of
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 po-
riod, 1.-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 corre.
spending months Of the year to come
A like belief exists to this day in Ian
cashire and Northamptonshire, Eng
land, and a very old writer (l590) ro-
cords the current notion in his day that
the IL days served as an index of tho
coming years weather. 1t was said in
one English port that if the wind blow
hard on the fifth night (Dcc 3O), ships
at sea would be in great peril the com
ing year.
The inhabitants Of the Vos3cs 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 1.-The first three days of Janu
airy rule tho coming three months, >
while i'll another place the IL days are
! said to be the keys of the year. -
OF New Years day itself we have
the authority Of very old weather
prophet--the author of the ''Shepherd 8
Kalendar ''-for 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 robberles that
| year. More recently it is said Of this
day, IF the morning of New Year s
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. l, 2, 3, 4 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
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 Year S
eve, striking the perch right among the
hens, while repeating to themselves
the following doggerel:
II caclzles the hen,
You will have a man;
! If cackles 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 Oh 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 tho 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 anc
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 nex1
year.
In parts of France it is regarded a!
unlucky to lend anything on New
Years day.
The fire must be watched with grea
care on the first day Of the year. In Ian
cashire, England, it is said that if it d.
not burn through the night Of New
Years eve, bad luck will visit tn
household that year nor must any on
be given a live coal, or even Lighted
candle at this time, for the bad luc]
will then visit the recipient Of tho gift
At Auspach the shadow thrown OF
the wall by the candles on the Christ
mas tree, on New Years evening will
if any one is to die soon, represent hi
: shadow headless.
In Roumania the New Year begin
with ceremony Of blessing the waters
the priest performing mass AM
sprinkling the streams with holy waite
while blessing them. Louis Re
public
s