The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-12-31


day for exchanging gifts until, in some
Christian countries, Christmas day
was substituted. While in America
New Years day is generally observed
as holiday and as an occasion for
paying ceremonial social calls, in
France, even now, New Years pres
ents have not entirely disappeared
New Years day is not observed on
January 1 in every country, although
most nations nowadays use the Gre
gorian calendar, and consequently be-
gin their new year on that day. In
Russia the Julian calendar is still in
use, and as quarter of day in each
year is lost by that system, there is
now an accumulated loss of 13 days.
January 1 in Russia, then, corresponds
to January IA of our calendar. The
Mohammedan New Year, the Jewish
New Year and the Chinese New Year,
owing to the peculiar systems of keep
ing time by those people, are very elu-
sive dates, or seem SO to persons fa-
miliar only with the Gregorian calen.
dar.
AS TO THE CALENDARS.
The Jewish year is solar-lunar, and
may consist of as few as 353 days and
as many as 385. New Years day usu-
ally falls in September. The Moham-
medan years usually consist of S54
days, being purely lunar, and the leap
years, which occur in certain twelve
months of cycle of 80 lunar years.
contain 355 days. The first day Of
Muharrem-New Years day-may in
course of time make a whole revolu-
ton of the seasons. An instance of this
may be given. The first of Muharrem,
1906, fell on February 25, while the
Mohammedan New Year last year be-
gan on March Z. Inasmuch as it Is
purely lunar, the Mohammedan year
is almost unique in the calendars Of
the world. While the Chinese year con-
forms to the eastern idea, being found
ed upon lunar months, month is add
ed to every 80, to make time conform
with the solar year. Consequently,
the Chinese New Year may begin any
time between January 21 and Febru-
ary %.
REVOLVING NEW YEAR.
The ancient Egyptians had a year
more or less conforming to the Julian
style, inasmuch as it contained 365
days. In course of centuries this made
New Years make a complete revolu-
ton of the seasons. This fact, only
recently properly appreciated by Prof.
Petrie, the Egyptologist, led to many
| misconceptions and retarded the solu-
ton of mysterious feasts and rites
which now are perfectly well under.
stood by archaeologists.
Anciently, in Rome, the new year
began in March, in the neighborhood
of the vernal equinox, which would
seem to be reasonable, if not logical
time to begin the annual cycle. March
25 was, until the latter part of the
sixteenth century, the day when the
new year began in most Christian
countries. Numa is said to have made
the Roman year begin on January 1,
the day held by pagan Rome sacred
In honor of Janus, who was thus sup
posed to turn at once back upon the
old year and forward into the new, and
subsequently New Years day was, at
various times and in different Chris
tian countries, celebrated on the pres
ent Christmas, March 1. March Is (the
Feast of the Annunciation), and East
er day.
CUSTOM OF GIFTS.
Almost everywhere the custom of
making presents on the first day of
the new year has been observed. When
1t originated, or where. it would be
extremely difficult, IL not actually i'm.
possible. to say. It is sufficient to
know that the observance has the
sanction of remote antiquity. In the
eighth century B. C. Tatius, king OF
the Sabines. according to traditions,
began the custom among the Romans.
At first the gifts were merely emblem.