The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-12-26

"prosperous age plant" q miniature pine tree,
some bamboo, and some plum twigs, to win for
her home by ornaments like these the favor of the
jealous deties that guard the future.
The city streets resound with the mallet blows
of the dough Founders making "mochi," 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 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
is so much to do in celebration. First there will
come the ceremonial breakfast when the health
of all the family must be drunk In that rice wine
called "zoni." Then visits must be paid to all
acquaintance. Father will wear TO 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
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 sBanzai!" to friends
and foreigners. In the streets clowns will per-
form strange antics, exclaiming loudly mean
while:
Hail, hail, ye gods Of heaven and earth! sig
nincant 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 masqaeraders will dart hithef
and thither through streets and temple gardens.
It viii be q happy time for Japanese children.
For three glad days every little girl will expect
to play her favorite game OF shuttlecock and bat
tedore 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
f1remen will give acrobatc 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 a festal supper. But the last
night Of the year. the Vigil Of ST. Silvestre" calls
for observance, and the first day of the new year.
ee jour de lan, or 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 'bonne etrene" means good fortune
and mai etrenne' misfortune. Candy and flow
ers are. acceptable gifts In France but there ID
only one real rule In the matter-a New Years
gift must not be useful.
In most Scotch households. as in France, New
Years day takes the place of Christmas, an evt
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. such as this:
Rise up. good wife, and shak' yer feathers.
Dinna think that we are beggaTs.
We are bairnies come to play.
Rise up and give us hogmanay.
When they have received the cakes and coins
they expect they 60 on to the next place. first
however. having ehaked the house, in token d
good luck. Next morning all the children got NJ
early and REV with wide and interested eyes the