The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-12-27

the celebration which is distraetIngly mad and
merry one God-cakes, triangular in shape, filled I
with mincemeat and about haifinch thick. are
eaten on New Years day in both England and |
Scotland They are sold in large numbers and
can be purchased for from a penny apiece all
the way up to one pound. Feasting is really the
chief feature Of the Scottish celebration. more
so than at Christmas or any other tine Of the
year SteamIng hot wassel, too is carried from
door to door and INDUCED in by neighbors and
friends.
In Russia the Julian calendar is still in vogue
and January / there corresponds 10 January IA
Of our calendar. The Russian festival begins on
New Years eve and lasts until the fourteenth
day Of the New Year. At midnight as the old
year is dying and the new being born. the Gar
attends public mass and precisely on the stroke
OF IL o'clock hundred cannons are discharged
and the revelry begins AT the end Of the cele-
bration-two weeks hence-the people fast and
attend solemn religious services marking on the
doors OF their houses. also. q cross 10 prevent
Satan from crossing the threshold
In the rural sections the Russian children
make the dav peculiarly their own. for. armed
with peas and grains Of wheat. they sally forth
in bands early New Years morning. stop al
every house enter and wake the inmates with
bombardment of peas By scattering the wheat
over the sIeepers Later in the day they choose
the very finest horse raised in the village thar
year decorate Il and present it to the nohlenan
who is master Of the village IN return he scat
ters small coins among them Their elders, too,
make nresents to the nobieman, such as cows.
sheep and fowls The strangsst OF all Russian
customs perhaps is the gathering around iaI
OF water BY each family group in the belief thar,
IL their faith is sufficiently strong, the miracle
performed by Christ in Cana OF Galilee when he
turned the water into wine viii be repeated
New Years iay In Japan Is picturesque &c
the extreme The emperor holds formal court
reception much as chief executive does
which is attended By the foreign diplomats and
high officials of the Japanese government The
celebration among the people lasts FIVE DAYS
and preparations for il are begun long before
The fronts OF all houses are covered with en-
bIematic decorations: branches OF pine and Of
bamboo are planted in large vases filed viii
earth and placed before the doors and ove
the projecting roofs Of the houses are strunl
garlands OF plated straw. These latter bea
leaves OF certain trees. she'll fish and othe
charms believed to be potent factors in bringing
good luck to the household.
The people flock to the temples which ar
open alt New Years night. and there cook thei
zoomi a sort OF rice cake. always eaten befor
the sun has risen Later. on New Years day
there is much visiting and tea drinking and eS
change OF good wishes for the coming year
he can do better. even the very Forest Q
peasants wraps pieces OF dried fish. ia paper
tied with a peculiar red and white string use
only on this occasion. and sends them to hi
friends as his New Years gift The Japsnes
new year date falls simultaneously with our owl
they having adopted the Gregorian calendar 4
1879
The Jewish New Year IS usually celebrate
some time in September and IS called Rosh Hos
hannah also Yom Hardin. which last day
OF Judgment New Years eve is observed wit
fasting and the day itself with feasting. Ma
you be IN favor with God this New Year" Is ID
Jewish form OF salutation. from which the Gel
tile greeting. Happy New Year is said to be
contraction.