The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-12-27
NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.

pre-eminently juvenile festival
The bays rise with the sun, fill their
pockets with dried peas and wheat
and go in bands from house toulouse
AS doors are never locked, it is easy
for them to effect an entrance. They
use the dried peas upon their enc
mics, the gentler wheat upon their
friends, hurting the first and sprink-
ling the latter upon all whom they
lind asleep. There is also process
sion of real animals, such as the OK.
COW, goat, and hog, led BY the child
rem.
In China and Japan 1t is the uni
versal rule that all debts must be
paid and accounts settled with the
ending of the old year. The holiday
is legal one for three days only, but
it's celebration actually continues
much longer Many shops are closed
for fortnight.
The fashion of paying New Years
calls, now dying out with us. Is still
in vogue in China, but there it is
the men who receive as well as who
pay the visits, Chinese women TAX.
ing no part whatever in social life.
Every Chinaman. except among the
very lowest classes, expects to re-
ceive visits from his interiors, and to
pay them to those who are above
him in station In some cases
sending a card is deemed sufficient.
These cards consist Of thin strips OF
scarlet paper with the name Of the
sender written on them in black
Sometimes good wishes are added.
People meeting in the streets salute
each other by crying "knng-hi!" CT
wish you joy) or "Sin-hi!"
lmay JOY be yours), so that 1t seems
possible that our custom of saving
Happy New Year" as we'll as that
If paying New Years visits, may
,ome to us from the Chinese.
A curious attribute of the period
n Japan and China as well as in
Korea is the fact that it Is a common
for the community. From
he moment child makes its appear
nee he Is spoken of as year old,
Ill the beginning of the next calen-
ar year, when he is credited with
mother year.
1t is said in Scotland that those
rho desire to learn what fate or
ortune the New Year has in store
Or them may do so by consulting the
ible on New Years morning before
reakfast. The sacred book must be
lid upon table, and those who wish
, consult 1t must open II at random
nd place finger upon one or other
the chapters at which it is oppos
1. This chapter is read and is be-
eyed to describe, In some way, the
appiness or misery during the en-
ling year Of the person making the
ial.
In Belgium, on st. Sylvester's day,
: New Years Eve, the children
rive to secure d sugar uncle or
sugar aunt" as the relative who
Ills a victim to their wiles IL tech
cally termed. On that day the
lildren employ every artifice to get
ter older members Of the household
lder lock and key, Ana-uncle en-
rs the room to search for the pa
II which he had. mislaafd, Presto,
here comes a patterfng rush Of feet
the hallway, the door ii slametd.
e key rattles in the lock. He must
lemnly covlnant with them that he
III pay to them whatever ransom
ely may demand ere the prison door
u swing open. When the prison a
has promised all that is asked the u
company restores him to
'erty.
Nv Years day is made a happy and
cry festival in the gloomy old roy
palace at Madrid. The queen re-
mt takes care that all, down to the
mblest Of the servants, get share
the so-calied 'aguinafdos, or
w Years benefits and bounties, to
able them to have their rejoicings
d feastings.
New Years day, with the Hebrew
a solemn occasion, though not a
'urnful one. tits day OF Mem
al for human as well as divine
mories. New Year, say the Rab-
is should inaugurate new life.
should set us to asking what am
LONG with my life?' 1t should
If us to the task of self-recollect-
/. self-scrutiny
With the New Year commences a
red period known as the Ten
va Of Panitance su ca1Iad from