The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-12-31

bearing tneS0 lnlngS In m1nQ, IL would
seem that now if ever the good old
new years custom should hold sway.
It seems, however, that with the
advance of commercialism in this
country the sentimental observances of
the day are being lost sight of, and
even the custom of making good reso-
lutions on New Years. morn is in disuse.
"We'll glance o'er the year that is dying so fast,
:. just in the same old way,
And VOW that the next will not be as the last,
just in the same old way;
Wen VOW that we'll shed our transgressions and
sins,
As animals in spring shed their old winter
skins,
And enter the new year as bright as new pins,
Just in the same old way"
The custom of observing New Years
Day, can be traced back as far as.
the time of Moses, and with variations.
has descended through the ages to us.
The ancients celebrated the beginning
of the new year, tho their manner of
celebrating differed as much as the
time which they marked off on their
calendars. Egyptians, Persians, Jews,
Hindoos, Romans, Chinese and Mo-
hamedans reckoning different times as
the beginning of the new year. The
Jews still celebrate their own new year,
as distinguished from the Christiaa
new year, the dates to the two being
months apart.
Among the Romans the day was
dedicated to the double faced deity
Janus, who faced the future and also
the past. Cases of sifted meal, incense,
salt and wine were offered him. They
always aimed to begin the day indus
triously, either by calling or doing
something in the way of work, that
they might be prosperous during the
year. The Romans considered it lucky
to begin any new enterprise, or enter
upon new Office on New Years Day,
and even after the change took place
in the Roman calendar making January
the first month instead of March, the
day was considered sacred. PliDy says
that on the 1st of January people
wished each other health and prosperity
and sent presents to their friends, and
there was great feasting and rejoicing.
The Druids on New Years Day per-
formed the ceremony of cutting the
mistletoe. Preparations were made for
banquet and sacrifice under the oaks
where the mistIetoe grew and two
white bulls were tied by the horns.
Then q Druid clothed in white mounted
the tree and with golden knife cut
the mistletoe and received it in white
cloak thrown over his hand. The
sacrifices were then made and prayers
offered to God. to send blessings on his
own gift.
In England many of the old super
stitions are believed in the rural
and agricultural districts. Should
you desire to know who Of your re-
lations are going to die during the
year, all you have to do is to dress
in white and go to the parish church at
II o'clock, midnight, repeat the Lords
Prayer, and Lol procession of the
spirits of the doomed ones will pass
before you. But woe betide you if
you speak to one, for then yours will
join the number. In the counties of
Dorset and Devon, where the celebrated
cider is made, the farmers on New
Years Eve invite their friends and
just on the stroke of twelve they all
march to the orchard, and chanting an
old Saxon ditty, march around it; then
selecting a tree in the center they join
hands and encircle it, sing hymn.
invoking the fairies of the orchard to
give them a plentiful harvest of apples.
At the end of the hymn bowl of mead
is passed around and each person drinks
to the health of the fairies. They leave
the bowl at the foot Of the tree for the
fairies after their departure.
The old superstition that the first
person to enter house on New Years
morn must be man, is still to be
found in many OF the rural districts;
so also when sweeping the house on
New Years morn to sweep the dirt ont
of doors you would sweep out all your
good luck for the year. Perhaps the
most enjoyable Of the modern English
customs is the heralding In Of the new
year By the chimes or pealing Of the
bells. bell pesiing there being quite Z