The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-12-22
By RUDOLPH DE .zApp


In other countries, however the day
is very generally observed. though OF
late years England has not paid so much
attention to II as formerly The stern
religious code which once ruled Scotland
has partially relaxed. and the canny Scot
now enjoys a half-hearted Christmas and
very joyful New Year.
Weeks before the New Year begins. the
village boys. with great secrecy. meet in
cut OF the way places and rehearse their
favorite songs. AS the time draws near.
they don masks and go about from house
70 house, singing and making merry. The
thirty-first of December is called Hog
manay." and the children are told that
If they go to the corner they viii see
man with as many eyes as the year has
days.
The children Of the poorer classes go
from house 10 house in the better dis
tricts with a large pocket fastened TO
their dresses, or a large shawl with
fold in front Each one receives an oat
cake. piece of cheese. or sometimes a
sweet cake, and goes home at night with
good supply Of homely New Year cheer
for the rest of the family
The Scottish elders celebrate the day
with supper party, and as the clock
''claps" twelve. friend greets friend and
wishes him "a guide New Year and mony
o. them" Then. with great formality,
the door is unbarred TO let the old year
out and the New Year in, and all the
guests sally forth into the street 70 first
FOOT their acquaintance.
Edinburgh Watches Clock.
In Edinburgh great crowd gathers
around the church in Hunter square and
anxiously watches the clock. There is
absolute silence from the first stroke of
twelve until the last. The old folks then
go TO bed. but the young have other bust
ness on hand. Each girl is expecting the
first foot" from her sweetheart, and
there is much stratagem. displayed in
outwitting her occasionally, and having
some serving maid or grandmother open
the door 20 her lover The weather is
carefully observed at this season. for it
is supposed 20 betoken that which is 70
come. There is IA rhyme current in Scot
land which runs thus:
n New Years eve the night wind bloweth south
Il he;okcucth warmth and growth,
II west mucn milk, and fish IN the sea:
4
II east. The trees viii bear much fruit;
u northeast fee II. man and brute.
During the eighteenth century all work
was laid aside on the afternoon OF the
thirty-frst, and the men OF the hamlet
went TO the woods and brought home
loads Of juniper bushes Each household
also produced "a pitcher of water from
the dead and living ford" meaning the
ford in a river. by which passengers and
funerals crossed.
This was brought in perfect silence,
and without being allowed to touch the
ground in its progress. as contact with
the earth would have destroyed the
charm. The rites next morning were
supposed TO protect the household against
Witchcraft and taking EVIL eye; and
other devilments. The father rose first,
and taking the charmed water and
brush treated the rest OF the family TO a
vigorous baptism. Coming back, the
thrifty Scotchman closed all the doors
and windows, end put the juniper boughs
on the fire When the smoke reached the
sUffocating point the fresh air was read
mitted-
Cattle Are Fumigated.
Then the cattle were fumigated in the
same manner, and the painful solemnities
of the morning were at an end. on New
Years Day a Scotchman will neither
lend nor borrow nor give anything what
sOeyer out of his house, for he fears that
his luck may go too, and for the same
reason the floor must not be swept. II
the fire goes out It is a sign Of death.
The Russians have a very pretty cere-
mOny. on each New Years day a pile
OF sheaves is heaped up over a large pile. !
and the father after seating himself be-
hind, the pile, asks the children II they
can see him. Upon their replying that |
they cannot. he says he hopes the crops
will be so fine the coming year that he |
viii be hidden in the fields.
The Russian New Year is twelve DAYS /
later than ours. and is a gala occasion |
Tor all There Is a grand celebration OF I
mass in the morning. and the rest Of the /
day is devoted to cOngratulatory visits /
Good wishes that cannot be carried in i
this way are inserted in the newspapers |
In military and official circles ceremonial |
visits are paid. The Russians are great /
at fortune telling, and on New Years /
eve the unmarried ladies and gentlemen /
send servants into the street, or go out |
themselves, 70 ask the names of persons
they meet
These viii be the names OF persons |
they will severaily marry. and many a |
bashful Russian lover has speeded him |
self IN his suit by taking care to be the /
first man his lady's servant met When /
midnight is reached. each member of the /
family salutes the other with a kiss. be-
ginning with the head Of the house. and
then retire, after wishing each other a |
happy New Year
The hospitable Norwegians and Swedes
spread their tables heavily for all who
IL,
great banquet I'm the Exchange. given
to the king and his family. On this oc.
casion the monarch throws aside 'the
divinity which doth hedge a king" ana
mingles with his people as citizen to citi-
zen, in true democratic fashion.
Emperor ut Public Bali.
The aged Emperor Francis joseph. Of
the dual monarchy Austria-Hungar on
New Years Day mingles with his sub
jects, no matter whether high or low
at a great ball which is given at the
city hall in Vienna. In his younger DAYS
the gallant Francis Joseph was often
seen on these occasions to lead of the
coullion with one of Vienna's most fas-
cinating cheyenne bourgeoise"
The Danes greet the New Year with a
tremendous voliey Of cannon, and old
Copenhagen is shaken to its very founda-
ton at midnight It is also considered a
delicate compliment to fire off a gun or
a pistol under the bedroom window of
ones friend at a very early hour.
The jewellers in Cape Town, South
Africa. are an exception to the general
run of English colonists. After the Gus
tom OF the early Dutch settlers they
celebrate New Year for an entire week.
Every house is full OF visitors. every