The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-01-07


gay Tor exchanging gifts until In SONS
christian countries. Christmas day
was substituted. While In America
New Years day IL generally observed
40 holiday and as an occasion for
paving ceremonial social calls. 10
France. even now. New Year. pres.
eats have not entirely disappeared.
Ne" Years day 10 not observed on
January In every country. although
most naiions nowadays use the Ore.
korian calendar. aud consequently be-
sin their new year on that day. In
Russia the Julian calendar II still In
use. and A. a quarter Of day IN each
year Il lost by that system. there 10
nov an accumulated loss Of 10 days
January "a Russia. then. corresponds
To January ~ OF our calendar. The
MohAmnedan New Year. the Jewish
New Year and the Chinese New Year
owing 20 the peculiar systems OF keep.
Ing Time b. those people. are very elu.
sive dates. or seem 80 20 persons "a.
miliar only with the Gregorian cslsn.
Car.
As TO TIE CALENDARS.
The Jewish year Is solar. lunar. and
may consist of as few as s53 DAYS and
A. many as 3ss New Years day usu
ally falls In September. The Moham-
mcdan years usually Consist OF s54
days, being purely lunar. and the leap
years. which occur In certain twelve
months Of cycle OF 40 lunar years
contain 3b5 days The nrst day OF
Muharrem-New Years day-may In
course OF time make whole revolu-
ton Of the seasons. An Instance OF this
may be given. The FIRST OF Muharrem.
1906. fell on February Is, while the
Mohammedan New Year last year be
gan on March Z. Inasmuch a. Il IL
purely lunar. the MohRmmedan year
Is almost unique In the calendars OF
the world While the Chinese year eon-
forms 10 the eastern idea, being found.
ed upon lunar months. a month IL aid.
cd To every 80. 20 make time conform
with the solar year. Consequently.
the Chinese New Year may begin aay
time between January II and Fshrs-
AIRY rs.
REVOLVING NEW YEAR.
The ancient Egyptians had a var
more or less conforming 10 the Julian
style. inasmuch AS 10 contained .65
days. In course OF centuries this msds
New Years make a complete reytlu-
ton Of the seasons This fact, Only
recently properly appreciated by Pof.
Petrie. tho Egyptologist. led TO many
misconceptions and retarded the slu-
tion Of mysterious fsasts and des
which now sre perfectly well unner.
stood by .archseologists.
Anciently. In Rome. the new year
began IN March. In the neighborhcod
Of the vernai equinox. which woIld
seem To be a reasonable. n not Logical
time 10 begin the annual cycle Ma CHI
70 was. until the latter part VI he
sixteenth century. the day when he
new year began In most Christ an
Countries. Numa ID said to have made
the Roman year begin on Januay 1.
the day held by pagan Rome sac ed
In honor Of Janus. who was thus sip
posed 10 turn al once back upon he
old year and forward into the new ana
subsequently, New Years day was at |
various times and In different CHS
tian counties. celebrated on the yes.
ent Christmas. March I. March 70 The
Feast OF the Annunciation). and East
Or day.
CUSTOM OF GIFTS.
Almost everywhere the custom Of
making presents ON the first day OF |
the new year has been observed. Wlen
Il originated, or where. Il would be |
extremely difficult. II not actually i'm. |
possible. 10 say. II is sufficient 10 |
know that the observance has the
sanction OF remote antiquity. In he |
eighth century B. G. Tatius, king OF |
the Sabines, according 10 tradittns.
began the custom among the Romans.