Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-12-26

prosperous age plant" miniature pine tree
some bamboo. and some plum twigs to win for
her home by ornaments like these the favor Of the
jealous deities that guard the future
The city streets resound with the mallet blows
of the dough Founders making "mochl." the Jap
anese equivalent of plum pudding. All debts are
paid. New clothes are bought There are toys
for the children and picture cards that bring good
fortune and are good to dream when tied Sc
curely to the wooden pillow
o, happy New Year, Day will hardly dawn be-
fore each town and village will be stirring There
is much to do in celebration. First there win
come the ceremonial breakfast when the health
Of all the family must be drunk in that rice wine
called zont" Then visits must be paid to all
acquaintance. Father will no more the ira
ditional costume, fantastic and peculiar. For him
the frock coat now, of European manufacture But
mother, in her quaint kimono and elaborate head
dress, will look just she has looked on New
Years day since time immemoriaI
The children will be decked out In gorgeous
colors; they will throng the streets Gathering
along on their wooden clogs in pigeon toed but
joyful haste and shouting "Banzaii" to friends
and foreigners. In the streets clowns will per-
form strange antics. exclaiming loudly mean
while:
Hail. hall ye gods of heaven and earth! sig
nifcant omens are in the air. and the universe is
full of lucky signs
To accompaniment OF flute and drum two
legged lions will give the lions dance" in
masque. Strange masqueraders will dart hitheS
and thither through streets and temple gardens
For three glad days every little girl will expect
to play her favorite game OF shuttlecock and hat.
tledore. The boys will fly their brand new kites
The children will play games with brightly col.
ored balls, chanting countless rhymes Grown
people will play New Years card games The
iremen will give acrobatic exhibitions on their
ladders Every nook and corner or Japan will b.
in gala dress and gala mood.
Northern France Ia not far behind japan I'm an
probation of the significance of the New Year
There Christmas, SO important on our calendar. Is
scarcely celebrated, except by attendance ct mid
night mass and by a festal supper But the last
for observance, and the first day of the new year
lie jour de Fam" lie jour detrene" Is dedicated
TO the renewal of friendship and TO general gift
giving
So universal, in fact. has the custom become Of
giving presents and pretty little souvenirs that the
expression bonnie etrene" means good fortune
and NAL etEenne" misfortune. Candy and flow
ers acceptable gifts in France, but there 10
only real rule in the matter-a New Years
gift must not be useful
In most Scotch households in France New
Years day takes the place Of Christmas, an evil
dence OF ancient sympathy when both countries
night Of the year. in rural district groups OF men
and boys go disguished from house 70 house sing
ing curious songs, such this:
Rise up. good wife, and shak' yer feathers
Dinna think that we beggars;
We are bairnies come to play
Rise up and give us hogmanay
When they have received the cakes and coins
they expect they go on to the next place first
however, having chalked the house In token OF
GOD nrEy