Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-01-02
NEW YEAR PORTENTS
ANCIENT suPERsTITIoNs REGARDING
THE WEATHER.

Tho Twelve Days Succeeding Christmas
Supposed to Be Indices For tho Ensuing
Year-Curious Customs and Beliefs Of
Many Lands.
The 10 days from Dec. 26 to Jan. 6
have long been recognized as indices Of
the weather during the following year.
The ancient texts referred to distinctly
assert this, Sanscrit proverb running
thus, "The 10 nights arc an image Of
the year." Another text from the same
sources evidently refers to the same Pc
riod, "The Rhibhus (storm demons)
sleep for 10 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 12
days, so it will be during the CORE
spending months Of the year to come.
A like belief exists to this day in Lam
cashire and Northamptonshire, Eng
land, and very old writer (l590) re-
cords the current notion in his day that
the ~ 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 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 tho coming three months, "
while in another place the 10 days are
said to be tho keys Of the year.
OF New Years day itself we have
the authority Of a very old weather
prophet-the author Of the "Shepherd's
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; u
denotes strife and debates among the
great ones and many robberies that
year" More recently it is said Of this
day, "R 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, GAS the weather
is this day, so it will be in September. "
In the Book Of Presidents (prece-
dents), 1914, Jan. /, 2, 3, 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-
earded 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 Oh New Years
eve, striking the perch right among the
ucu5, NLl4o W thOAAoOA'S~'
the following doggerel:
II cackles the hen.
You viii have u man;
If cacklcs 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 20 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 fame and ths
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 Oh New Years
day while at table. When the meal was
finished, one person got under the table
and another one sat OH 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 full crop of fruit the next
year.
In parts of France it is regarded as
unlucky to lend anything Oh New
Years day.
The fire must be watched with great
care Oh the first day Of the year. In Lam
cashire, England, it is said that if it do
not burn through the night of New
Years eve, bad luck will visit the
household that year; nor must any one
be given u live coal, ur even Lighted
candle at this time, for the bad luck
will then visit the recipient of the gift.
At Auspach the shadow thrown OH
the wall by the candles on the Christ
mas tree, OH New Years evening will,
IL any one is to die soon, represent his
shadow headlcss.
In Roumania the New Year begins
with a ceremony Of blessing the waters,
the priest performing a mass and
sprinkling the streams with holy water
while blessing them.-St. Louis Re-
public.
Queer Welsh Beliefs.
In many parts of Wales to see ones
shadow in the moonlight upon Now
Years eve is believed to be all infallible
sign that the person seeing it will die