The Red Cloud chief., 1913-12-25


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 deites that guard the future
The city streets resound with the maet blows
OF the dough Founders making "mochi" the Jap
anese equivalent Of plum pudding. All debts are
paid. New clothes bought. There are toys
for tho children, and picture cards that bring good
fortune and are good to dream on 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
Ia 80 much to do In celebration First there will
como the ceremonial breakfast. when the health
OF all tho family must be drunk In that rice wine
called "zoni" Then visits must be paid to all
acquaintance. Father will wear 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 as she has looked on New
Years day since time immemorial
Tho children will be decked out In gorgeous
cOiors: they will throng the streets, Gathering
along on their wooden clogs In pigeon toed but
Joyful haste. and shouting 'Banzai!" to friends
and foreigners. In the streets clowns will per.
form strange antics. excaiming loudly mean
while:
Hail. hail. ye gods Of heaven ard earth! Sig.
nihcant on,ens are In the air. and the universe IL
full OF lucky signs"
To accompaniment Of flute and drum. two.
legged lions will give the "lions' dance" in
masQue. Strange masqueraders will dart hither
and thither through streets and temple gardens
Will bo happy time for Japanese children
Sor three glad days every little girl will expect
TO play her favorite game Of shuttlecock and bat
uedore 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
nremen will give acrobatic exhibitions on their
ladders. Every nook and corner of japan will be
In gala dress and gala mood
Northern France Is not far behind Japan in ap-
probation OF the significance OF the New Year
There Christmas. SO important on our calendar is
scarcely celebrated, except by attendance at mid.
night mass and by festal supper But the last
night OF the year, the vigil Of St. Svestre" calls
for observance. and the first day Of the new year
'le jour de lan." "e jour detrene" is dedicated
70 tho 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 "bonne etrene" means good fortune
and 'mal etrenne" misfortune. Candy and flow.
ers are acceptable gifts In France but there ia
only one real rule in the matter-a New Years
gift must not be useful
In most Scotch households. as in France, New
fears Day takes the place OF Christmas, an evil
dence OF ancient sympathy when both countries
regarded England as mutual enemy On the last
night OF the year. In rural district. groups of men
and boys go disguished from house to house sing
Ing curious songs suctHas this:
Rise up, good wife. and shak' yer feathers
Dinna think that we are 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 chalkcd the house, in token of
good luck Next morning all the children get up
sasV ana view with wide and interested eyes the