Gilpin observer., 1906-12-27

= 49, 20 =--- s-
When pigtails and school were her
fashion, Penelope was always awal-
ened from incidence by the possession
of a now textbook, it's resplendent
cover, its crisp, clean pages the in.
centives to an ambition that the dis
oarded old volume could never have
called forth
In just such manner the Great
Teacher stimulates the grown-up
Pcuelope TO new thought, new pur-
pose, new endeavor by again and
again placing a bran new year in her
eager hands.
The new-year idea is almost as old
and universal as the instinct of i'm.
mortality, but the first of January has
not always been the starting point
for the procession of months, and
even now by no means the whole
world follws the Gregorian calendar.
The ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians
and Persians began their year on Sep
tember %, the Greeks of Solon's time
on December 81, and the Greeks of the
Pericles period on June 81.
From julius Caesar on, the Roman
civil year commenced January l, but
the Jewish ecclesiastical. year had al
ways begun at the vernal equinox.
March 25. and this spring opening
day-of bud and blossom and uni
versal opefulness-became the hon
ored one with Christian nations gen.
orally throughout the medieval
period.
In the latter end of the eleventh
century, England, which had strange
ly enough been starting its annual
records on December %, began quite
accidentally to pay homage to the old
Roman divinity Janus, for by chance
William the Conqueror's coronation
took place on the first of January, and
the birthday of the Norman rule be-
came the birthday of the year as WELL
Remembering the loyal old Saxon spir-
it-conquered but not tamed-we are
not surprised to learn, however, that
soon the inhabitants of England fell
into the more general habit of indulg-
ing in new-year festivities upon the
25th of March.
The Gregorian calendar, formulated
Years day. The Catholic countries
enthusiastically accepted it. but the
Protestant ones adopted 1t slowly. and
1t was not until 1852 that conservative
England fell into line.
The ancient Romans honored the
whole of January by offering sacri-
fees on 12 affairs to the god with two
faces, whose namesake the month
was.
Forward look, and backward, and be-
low
count, as god of avenues and gates.
The years that through my portals
come and CO."
While the whole month was kept,
the first day was the gala occasion.
Litigation was suspended, reconcilia.
tions effected. impressive professions
made to the capitol, offerings laid on
the affairs, the emperor surprised by
magnificent gifts, visits exchanged
everywhere, feasts spread in hospit-
able houses, streets ringing with
laughter and music Of masqueraders.
The giving of New Years gifts was
not confined to old Rome. The Per.
SLAMS always exchanged New Years
eggs, and it was the pretty custom of
the Druids to give sacred sprig of
mistletoe to the faithful on their New
Years morning. while the bestowing
of presents upon the monarch became
an absolute obligation.
Queen Elizabeth, the peoples favor
ite. was simply showered with New
Years contributions-"gold for her
purse, chains. necklaces, bracelets,
rings, embroidered gowns and man.
ties, petticoats, smocks, stockings and
garters; and for the royal larder fat
oxen, sheep. geese, turkeys, swans
capons, fruit, preserves. marchpanes
and sweetmeats."
But soon this custom was regarded
as a tax rather than privilege, and
during the rule of the austere Crom.
well 1t died a natural death-never
bobbing up again to make popular
bow, as sometimes happens to a dead
stage hero recalled to life by the audi.
ence's applause.
Closely associated with the new
year season Is the wassail bowl, its
name derived from the old Saxon
phrase: Wass Hael-"To your
health!"
Until Queen Elizabeth's reign, one
wassail love-cup was handed about
the charmed circle gathered round the
great bowl, but afterward the health
was more hyglenically, II less pic
turesquely, drunk in individual cups.
The poor carried an immense wood.
en- bowl, decorated with gay ribbons,
around the nelghborhood, begging
small coin to pay for the precious In
do G1s.A Al,ta