The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1912-12-27

the celebration, which is distractingly mad and
merry one God-cakes, triangular in shape filled
with mincemeat and about half-inch 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 pound Feasting is really the
chief feature Of the Scottish celebration more
than at Christmas or any other time of the
year Steanning hot wasse 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 to 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 being born, the Gar
attends public mass and precisely on the stroke
OF IL o'clock hundred cannons 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 cross to prevent
Satan from crossing the threshold.
In the rural sections the Russian children
make the day peculiarly their own, for, armed
with peas and grains Of wheat they sally forth
in bands early New Years morning stop at
every house, enter and wake the inmates with
bombardment Of peas or by scattering the wheat
over the sleepers Later in the day they choose
the very finest horse raised in the village that
year. decorate it and present it to the noblemau
who is master of the village. In return he scat
tiers small coins among them. Their elders, too
make presents to the nobleman such cows
sheep and fowls. The strangest of all Russian
customs. perhaps is the gathering around ja1
of water by each family group in the belief that
If their faith is sufficiently strong the miracle
performed by Christ in Cana of Galilee when he
turned the water into wine will be repeated.
New Years day in Japan is picturesque I'd
the extreme The emperor holds a formal court
reception, much as our chief executive does
xuh;o oh To- otto NV he ;pl.
high officials of the Japanese government. The
celebration among the people lasts five days
and preparations for it begun long before
The fronts of all houses are covered with em
blematic decorations; branches of pine and oil
bamboo planted in large vases filled with
the projecting roofs of the houses are strung
garlands of plated straw. These latter bear
leaves of certain trees, shell fish and other
charms believed to be potent factors in bringing
good luck to the household
The people flock to the temples which are
open all New Years night, and there cook their
zoom sort of rice cake, always eaten before
the sun has risen. Later, New Years day.
there is much visiting and tea drinking and ey.
change of good wishes for the coming year II
he can do better, the very poorest o!
peasants wraps pieces of dried fish in paper
tied with a peculiar red and white string used
only on this occasion, and sends them to his
friends his New Years gift The Japanese
year date falls simultaneously with our own
they having adopted the Gregoran calendar in
1872.
The Jewish New Year is usually celebrated
some time in September and Is called Rosh Hos
hanah. also Yom Hardin, which last means DAYS
of Judgment New Years eve is observed With
fasting and the day itself with feasting MAY
you be in favor with God this New Year" is the
Jewish form Of salutation, from which the Gen.
tile greeting Happy New Year" is said to be
contraction