Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-01-05
THE NEW YEAR
AND ITS CUSTOMS.

When pigtails and school were her
fashion. Penelope was always awaken
ed from Incidence by the possession
of a new textbook. It's Respondent GOV.
or. its crisp. clean pages the Incentives
TO an ambition that the discarded old
volume could never have called forth.
In just such manner, the Great
Teacher stimulates the grown-up Pene-
lope to new thought, new purposes,
new endeavor, by again and again plao.
ing bran new year in her eager
hands
The new-year idea is almost as old
and universal as the instinct of inn
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 fol
lows the Gregorian calendar.
The ancient Egyptians. Pheonieans
and Persians began this year on Sep
TENDER %, the Greeks OF Solon's time
on December 81. and the Greeks of the
pericles period on June 81.
From Julius Caear on. the Roman
civil year commenced January |, but
| the Jewish ecclesiastical year had al
ways begun at the vernal equinox. on
March %, and this spring opening day
of bud and blossom and universal
hopefulness--bec the honored one
with Christian nations generally
throughout the medieval period.
In the latter end of the eleventh cen.
tury. England, which had been
starting It's records on December 25
I began quite accidentally TO pay HON
age TO the old Roman divinity. Janus
for by chance William the Conquerors
coronation took place on the first OF
January, and the birthday of the Nor
man rule became the birthday of the
year as well. Remembering the Loyal
old Saxon spirit--conquered but not
tamed-we are not surprised TO learn
however. that. soon the inhabitants oi
England fell into the more general hab
IL of indulglng In new-year festivities
upon the 25th of March.
The Gregoria calendar, formulated
In 1882, restored January | as New
Years day. The Catholic countries
enthusiastically accepted II. but tn,
Protestant ones adopted II slowly, ant
II was not until 1862 that conservative
England fell into line.
The ancient Romans honored thu
whole of January by Offering sacrifices
on IL affairs TO the god with two faces
whose namesake the month was.
Janus am l. oldest of potentates;
Forward ! look, and backward an,
below
| count, as god OF avenues and gates.
The years that through my portal
come and GO"
While the whole month was KEEP
the first day was the gala occasion
Litigation was suspended, reconcile
tons affected, impressive procession
made to the capitol. offerings laid o.
the affairs, the emperor surprised b.
magnificent gifts, visits exchanged CIV
! erywhere, feasts spread in hospitabl
houses streets ringing with laughte
and music Of masqueraders
The giving of New Years gifts wa
not confined 10 old Rome. The PEI
SLAMS always exchanged New Year
eggs, and il was the pretty custom o
the Druies to give a sacred sprig O
mistletoe to the faithful on their Ney
Years morning. while the bestowlng O
presents upon the monarch became al
absolute obligation
Queen Elizabeth. the peoples favor
lite, was simply showered with New
Years contributions-"go for hel
purse, chains, necklaces. bracelets
rings, embroidered gowns and nantes
petticDats. smoeks stockings and gar
ters: and for the royal larder fat oxen
sheep, geese. turkeys, vans, capons
fruit, preserves marchpanes and
sweetmeats."
! fS~~ o@pA AAAA IAHAoiu was regarded
as sax rather than privilege, and
during the rule of the austere Crom.
well II died natural death--neyer
bobbing up again to make a popular
bow. as sometimes happens to a dead
stage hero recalled to life by the au-
dience's applause.
Closely associated with the new
year seaon is the wasail bowl. it's name
derived from the old Saxon phrase:
Was Hael-"To your health"
Until Queen Elizabeth's reign. one
wasail love-cup was handed about the
charmed circle gathered round the
great bowl, but afterward the health
was more hygenically. If less plctur.
esqnely. drank In individual cups.
The poor carried an immense wood