Charlevoix county herald., 1906-12-29

fashion, Penelope was always awak-
ened from Incidence by the possession
of a new textbook, it's resplendent
cover, its crisp, clean pages the in
centives to an ambition that the dis
carded old volume could never have
called forth.
In Just such manner the Great
Teacher stimulates the grown-up
Penelope 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
TENDER %, the Greeks of Solon's time
on December 81, and the Greeks OF the
Pericles period on June Fl.
From julius Caesar on, the Roman
civil year commenced January 1, but
the Jewish ecclesiastical year had al
ways begun at the vernali equinox,
March %, and this spring opening
day-of bud and blossom and uni
versal observation-disclosures 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 25, 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
in 1882, restored January 1 as New
Years day. The Catholic countries
enthusiastically accepted it, but the
Protestant ones adopted 1t slowly, and
it was not until 1852 that conservative
England fell into line.
The ancient Romans honored the
whole of January by Offering sacri.
fees on IL affairs to the god with two
faces, whose namesake the month
was.
Janus am I: Oldest of potentates;
Forward 1 look, and backward. and be-
I 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
| tie, was simply showered with New
Years contributions-"gold for he1
! 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 tax rather than a privilege, and
during the rule of the austere Crom
well it died a natural death-nevel
bobbing up again to make a 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, It!
name derived from the old Saxor
phrases: Wass Hael--"To YOU
health!"
Until Queen Elizabeth's reign, one
wassail love-cup was handed abou
! the charmed circle gathered round thu
great bowl, but afterward the health
was more hygienically, If less pic
turesquely, drunk in individual cups.
I The poor carried an immense wood
en- bowl, decorated with gay ribbons
around the nelghborhood. begging
small coin to pay for the precious in
gradients that made up the festiv'
J concocsion. ---..---