Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-12-28

When pigtails and school were her
fashion. Penelope was always awak-
ened from incidence by the possession
OF new textbook, its resplendent
cover, its crisp, clean pages the in
centives % 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 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 Solons time
on December 81, and the Greeks of the
Pericles period on June 81.
From Julius Caesar on, the Roman
civil year commenced January 1, but
the Jewish ecclesiastical year had al
ways begun at the vernal 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 %, began quite
accidentally to pay homage to the ole
Roman divinity Janus, for by chance
William the Conqueror's coronation
took place on the first of January, ant
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, tha
soon the inhabitants of England fel
into the more general habit of induig
ing in new-year festivities upon the
25th of March.
The Gregorian calendar formulated
in 1882, restored January l as New
Years day. The Catholic countrie!
enthusiastically accepted 1t, but the
Protestant ones adopted it slowly, ant
England fell into line.
The ancient Romans honored the
whole of January by Offering sacri
fees on 10 affairs to the god with two
faces, whose namesake the month
was.
Janus am L; oldest of potentates:
Forward 1 look, and backward. and be
low
count. as god of avenues and gates,
The years that through my portal!
come and co.
While the whole month was kept
the first day was the gala occasion
Litigation was suspended, reconcilia
tions effected, impressive procession
made to the capitol, offerings laid OF
the affairs, the emperor surprised b,
magnificent gifts. visits exchanged
everywhere, feasts spread in hospit
able houses, streets ringing will
laughter and music of masqueraders
The giving of New Years gifts wa
not confined to old Rome. The Per
SLAMS always exchanged New Year.
eggs, and it was the pretty custom o
the Druids to give sacred sprig O
mistletoe to the faithful on their New
Years morning, while the bestowin,
of presents upon the monarch became
an absolute obligation.
Queen Elizabeth, the peoples favor
lite, was simply showered with New
Xaar'c nt,,ihuti 60, l..
purse, chains, necklaces, bracelets
rings, embroidered gowns and man
ties, petticoats. smocks, stockings an
garters; and for the royal larder ia
oxen, sheep, geese, turkeys, swans
capons. fruit, preserves, marchpane
and sweetmeats."
But soon this custom was regarde
as tax rather than privilege, an
during the rule of the austere Cron
we'll 1t died natural death-neve
bobbing up again to make a popula
bow, as sometimes happens to dea
stage hero recalled to life by the aud
ence's applause.
Closely associated with the ne,
year season Is the wassail bowl. II
name derived from the old Saxo
phrases. Wass Hael-"To you
health!"
Until Queen Elizabeth's reign, on
wassail love-cup was handed abou
the charmed circle gathered round tn
great bowl. but afterward the healt
was more hygienically. II less pi'
turesquely. drunk in individual cups.
The poor carried an immense woot
en- bowl. decorated with gay ribbons
around the neighborhood. begin
small com TO pay for the precious ii
gradients that made up the festiv
c0ncootion.