Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-23

EEJ ENGLAND.
TITS -
ia lGLAND ard Scotland have re
LIZ tanned many of their interest

~ tanned many of their interest
ing customs of olden times
this being especially true of Scotland.
Weeks before the New Year begins,
the village boys. with great secrecy,
meet in out-of-the-way places and re-
hearse their favorite ballads. AS the
time draws near they don improrised
masks and go about from house TO
house singing and cutting many
quaint capers.
The thirty-first OF December is
called "Hogmanay," and the children
are told that If they go 10 the cor
ner they will see man with as many
ewes as the year has days. The chill
dren of the poorer classes go from
house to house In the better districts
with a large pocket fastened TO their
dresses or a large shawl with foid
In front. Each one receives an oaten
cake. a piece of cheese. or sometimes
a sweet cake. and goes home at night
with a good supply of homely New
Year cheer for the rest of the family
The Scottish elders celebrate the
day with a supper party, and as the
clock chaps" IL, friend Sreets friend
and wishes him "a guide New Year
and monv o. them" Then. with great
formalitv the door is unbarred to let
the Old Year out and the New Year
in. and all the guests sally forth into
the street to first foot" their ac-
quaintances.
In Edinburgh a great crowd gathers
around the church in Hunter square
and anxiously watches the CLOCK
There Is absolute silence from the
first stroke of 70 until the last
The old folks now go to bed but
the young have other business on
hand. Each girl is expecting the first
foot from her sweetheart. and there
is much stratagem displayed In out
whiting her occasionally, and having
some serving maid or grandmother
OMEN the door to her lover.
The weather is carefully observed
at this season, for 1t is supposed TO
betoken that which is 10 cpJne. There
is a rhyme current in Scotland which
runs thIs:
II New Years eve tina night wind blow
eth south
II betokeneth warmth and growth;
n west much milk. and fish in the sea;
II east. the trees will bear much fruit;
II northeast. fee II. man and brute
During the last century all work wa
laid aside on the afternoon OF the
tbirty-first. and the men Of the ham
lot went 10 the woods and brought
home loads of juniper bushes. Each
household also procured pitcher OF
wafer from the dead and living ford
meaning the ford in a river. by which
messengers and funerals crossed. This
was brought In perfect silence and
without being allowed to touch the
ground in it's progress. as contact
with the earth would have destroyed
the charm.
The rites next morning were sup
posed to protect the household
azainst witchcraft, the evil eye and
other devilments. The father rose
first and taking the charmed water
and a brush. treated the rest OF the
family TO a vigorous baptism. which
was generally acknowledged with any
thing but gratitude.
Coming back. the thrifty Scotch
man closed all the doors and windows
and put the juniper bough on the fire.
When the smoke reached the suEoSat-
ing point. the fresh air was readmit-
ted Then the cattle were frmigated
in the same manner. and the painful
soIemnifies Of the morning were over.
On New Years day a superStitious
Scotchman will neither lend nor give
ANYTHING whatever out Of his house.
for he fears that his luck may 20 too.
and for the same reason. the floor
must not be swept II the fire goes
out i, is a sign OF death