The state herald., 1904-12-30
) New Years
Customs In
Many Lands I
t.}~Ik~--.-Nr-ss-vl--..-N-'

While there is growing disposi-
ton TO allow the celebration Of New
Years day to fall into disuse. II still
retains It's rank as the most ancient
festival of the world. Even before the
Christian era its was observed as a
day sacred to the god Janus. The old
Romans made II n public holiday and
exchanged presents of gilded fruit.
while the Greeks inductod their new
ly elected magistrates into Office. The
Druids. too, held the first day OF the
new year In particular honor and VEN
Grafton, and the survival OF many OF
their pagan rites and superstitions Is
ntill to be found In Wales. Brittany
and the southwestern portions OF Eng
land.
Nowhere else. unless II be In Ger
many, is there such variety OF cakes
and pastry as may be found in a
Scotch bake shop. Besides the Scotch
earaway cakes and the Christmas
squares there IS shortbread known
as pltcaithy bannocks. which are
highly ornamented with sugar and
notices, such as "a Happy New
Year" or "a Merry Aud Yule." Then
there are the rye loaves. popular In
the Thrums district. black and rich
and filed with fruit and peel. and the
Scotch buns. composed entirely Of
eggs, chopped fruit and peel, incasod
In n crust which Is not TO be eaten.
In Scotland as well the old custom
prevails OF consulting the Bible on
New Years morning 10 see what fate
has In store for the coming year. The
sacred book must be laid on the table
and the one consulting Il must open
II at random and place finger on the
chapter to which the book opens.
This is then read and accepted as the
ultimntum.
In France II is the most important
day OF the year In the way OF friendly
meetings and appointments and social
and family reunions. The TYPICAL
Frenohman on this day always dimes
nt home with his parents. II he has
any, and no outside attraction Is suf-
iicient to lure him away from the per.
formance OF this alinl duty.
New Years customs In Russia arc
specially interesting. In the morning
the princes OF the imperial family.
court functionafles and servants of
the palace come In regular order to
present their homage TO the emperor.
who kisses nil the members OF his
family and the highest OF the officials
three times. according To Russian
fashion. In the streets the people
kiss each other. whether acquainted
or not. This ceremony was suppressed
for a time. but was re established n
few years ago under the reign OF Al.
exnnder II. In the provinces the hand.
soonest horse In the yillngc IL rayly
decorated with evorgrocns and bor.
flea. and directly after breakfast is
conducted TO the house OF the noble.
man. followed By all the boys OF the
village. who have been up since day.
break fuslliading friends and foes with
whont md dried peas. Tho motley
procession In mot nj the door by the
master. who admits II. horse and nll,
to tho parior. where NIL tho family arc
assembled.
Next comes n procession Of real
nnimaia-thc OK. COW. goat and hog
niKo garlandod with greens and Der.
ricB and led by the children. These
lcss favored animals arc not invited
In. but slowly flo In front OF tho
house. that the family may view the
parade from the w7udowH. AZ the
heels OF this cayalcndc come tho old
women Of the community. bearing a
nuttcrlng contingent Of barnyard
fowls. also ,riokod out In greens.
which they bos,ow ns pteaonts TO the
mister