The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
NEW YEARS ~ RUSSIA.
The Csnr's Kissi.s Contract-Two Weeks
OF Festivities.


New Years customs In Russia are interest
ing. In tho morning the princes OF the i'm
perlsl family. pcrsonages OF the court. function
aries OF the capital, and servants or the pal
ace come In regular order TO present their hon.
ages and good wishes TO the Emperor, who
Kisses all the members Of his family and all the
high officials three times. according 10 the Rus
sian fashion.
On Easter Sunday the Emperor Is obliged ny
custom TO kiss in the same manner every indi-
vidual he meets, even the lowest OF his sub
iccts. the most miserable Of beggar.. THIS kiss
is intended to call the Russians attention to
the fact that they are all brothers In the ortho-
iox religion.
But on New Years day the Emperor gives
his frnternni kiss. as we have said. to his fsrni-
ly and the high functionaries In his service
only; and the reople In he streets kiss each
other, whether theT are acquainted with each
other or not, The favored ones who ha 20 been
kissed by the Car arc permitted TO kiss tho
hand NJ tae Empress. The IN OF hand
kissing was suppressed for n time. hut IL wns re-
established q Few years ago under tho reign OF
Alexander III.
Tho festivities commence on tho olst NJ De-
ceni6er, ard are ended on the 9th ot january.
gather together to play games and To dance,
On New Years Day, at breakfast, dinner, and
supper, the guests, standing around 'he table.
SN hs' 80 VI thN IaNlH
peror, and offer good wishes to each other,
Masters give presents to their servants, but
don't give presents To each other, MS they dn ON
Christmas. On. Christmas Dar, 10 all the fam.
lies. the table 10 set with profus!on. and hos.
p!tality Is offered to every body la high SUI
ciety they drink champagne. while tho com.
mon people drink brandy.
At this time, also. they devote Themselves to
auRural practices. They throw melted lead
Into water. and from the figures form Vi Nv the
suddenly cooled metal they endenvor to mako
Horoscopes. The young girls try to learn
whether they Will BIO married. aud To know
something OF the face. the qualities, and tho
fortune OF their future husbands. Al mid.
night they st down between two mirrors hy
the side or which two candles are placed. They
look into ono mirror and into the other un ~
they can see twelve lights. In this way ,omo OF
tho gir.sL fancy they see in the mirror the
image OF their nance. and that gives them hope,
There Is also the Epiphany. the Day OF Kings.
" Is the hrst feast Of the Russian year, The
blessing OF water IL carried on with great
pomD. Tho Emperor, resided nv the clergy
~ the orthodox church, presided over by the
Bishop or Novgorod. proceeds from the Winter
ialhce TO the New, where q wooden cha rel
i erected, IL Is surmountrd ny u cross, aud in
me interior there are paintings representing
the baptism OF Christ.
A hole IL made IN the Ice. the assistants re.
cite the usual prayer. and In front OF the altar.
where there are relics and holy books, the
Blshop, plunges the cross into the water OF the
river three times. Then, with a little water,
which he takes up In n precious vase. he sprin-
In turn thu people approach the. hole. and
each one carries away some OF the holy water,