The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-12-26


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10 Q joicing and we'll
wishing.
1t was the great
day for exchanging gifts until, in some
Christian countries, Christmas day
was substituted. While in America
New Years day is generally observed
as a 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 IS days
January 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-
s1ve dates, or seem so to persons IA
miliar only with the Gregorian calen-
dar.
FESTIVITIES OF THE DAY
In some countries, notably in Great
Britain and in some cities in Canada
and the United States, the new year is
welcomed in by festivities on the eve
of the day. In Scotland, for instance,
it is customary to celebrate New
Years eve with some festivity, which
is prolonged until past midnight. At
the stroke Of II every one present
wishes each other a Happy New
Year" The custom is also common
in many parts of Germany, where the
salutation is 'Prosit Neu Jehr.''
Similar to this custom are the re-
igious watch meetings" held in some
of the churches in this country on
New Years eve. In England on New
Years eve, in some houses, a curious
custom, or superstition, is observed.
At the stroke of II, which ushers in
the new year, the party, already wait
ing on the stairs, begin to ascend the
stairway backward, taking a step at
CfF cfn fI111u
mounted means happy month, every
stumble a reverse. OF course, it is
one of those playful superstitions
which are not taken seriously.
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 Psychologist, 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 III March, in the neighborhood
of the vernal equinox, which would
seem to be reasonable, if not logical
time to begin the annual cycle. March
rs 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 /,
Il hO1I
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 25 (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
it originated, or where, it would be
extremely difficult, if not actually i'm
possible, to say. 1t is sufficient to
know that the observance has the
sanction of remote antiquity. In the
eighth century B. c. Tatius, king of
the Sabipes, according to traditions,
began the custom among the Romans.
At first the gifts were merely emblem
attic and of little price, being branches
cut from the wood consecrated to
! Strenia, the goddess of strength.
These were presented to the king as
an omen of good fortune. The gifts
became more pretentious as time went
on, and in later centuries some Of the
Roman emperors demanded New Years
presents of great value from the
'magnates" of those days. AS the
Roman rulers were gentlemen who
were not to be trifed with, the pres
ents usually appeared on time after
notice to the wealthy was given.