The Red Cloud chief., 1912-12-26

the celebration, which 10 q distractingly mad ana
merry one Godcakes. 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 q penny apiece all
the way up to one pound Feasting 10 really the
chief feature Of the Scottish celebration. moro
20 than at Christmas or any other time Of the
year. Steaming hot wassel, too. 10 carried from
door to door and INDUCED In by neighbors and
friends.
In Russia the Julian calendar 10 still in vogue
and January 1 there corresponds to January II
Of our calendar. The Russian festival begins on
New Years eve and lasts until the fourteenth
day Of the New Year. At midnight. % the old
year 10 dying and the new being burn. the CsaP
attends public mass. and precisely Tn 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, 4 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 q
bombardment Of peas or BY scattering the wheat
over the seepers. Later in the day they choose
the very finest horse raised in the village that
year. decorate Il and present II to the nobleman
who 10 master Of the village. In return he scat.
ters small coins among them. Their elders too.
make prasents to the nobleman, such a. cows.
customs perhaps. 10 the gathering around . jar
Of water by each family group in the belief that.
II their faith 10 sufficiently strong. the miracle
performed by Christ in Cana Of Galilee when hs
turned the water into wine will be repeated.
New Years day In Japan 10 picturesque to
the extreme The emperor holds formal court
reception, much as our chief executive does,
which is attended by the foreign diplomats and
high oficials Of the Japanese government. The
celebration among the people lasts I'VE days.
and preparations for It are begun long before
The fronts Of all houses are covered With EN-.
olematic decorations; branches Of pine and Of
bamboo are planted In large vases filled with
earth and placed before the doors. and over
the projecting roofs Of the houses are strung
garlands OF plated straw. These latter bear
leaves Of certain trees. shell Ash and other
charms believed to be potent factors IN bringing
good luck to the household
The people flock to the temples, which ars
open oil New Years night. and there cook their
xoomi. sort Of rice cake always eaten bsfors
the sun has risen. Later. on New Years day.
there II much visiting and tea drinking and a.
change Of good wishes for the coming year II
ne can do no better. even the very porest Of
peasants wraps pieces Of dried Ash In paper.
tied with . peculiar red and white string used
only on this OCCASION and sends them TO his
friends % his New Years gift. The japanese
new year date falls simultaneously with our own
they having adopted the oregorian calendar 10
The Jewish New Year 10 usually celebrated
some tims In September~and 10 called Rosh Hos
hanah, also Yom Hardin. which last means dayp
OF Judgment New Years eve 10 observed WITH
fasting and the day itself with fsastins. may
you be In favor with God this New Year b ths
Jewish form Of saiutation. from which the Gen.
tile greeting. Happy New Year" 10 said 70 b
contraction.