The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-01-01

and sane. It lasts for several days
and Is full of color, noise and action
from start to finish. Firecrackers.
Chinese lanterns. tea, feasting aud
carnival all play their part and the
new year is initiated In a way to put
ginger into his young life. The popu-.
lar greeting is "Kunghi." which is to
say. Il humbly wish you joy or ''Sin-
hi" MAY JOY be yours" From this
it will be seen that the Chinese have
'hl'' old time. Not only do lanterns
abound. but artificial flowers and red
notices ornament the houses Even In
the United States the laundries are
abandoned while the Celestials pay
ceremonial calls and decorate every
thing In sight with red paper. Euro
peans also paint the town red on New
Years. only they do 1t In a different
way.
New Years is celebrated for thir-
teen days In Persia and Is the most
important festival Of the year. 1t fur
nishes a precious opportunity for the
beggars who camp ON u mans door
step and blow horns until he gives a
present. The festival Is called "No
ROOF" and combinej our Christmas
and Easter. Sweets are prepared long
In advance, and eggs are boiled and
colored. The observance begins on
March 25, and for thirteen days there
after business is suspended. Presents
are given, among them being coat Of
honor for important persons. for which
a price Is often exacted, much in ex-
cess of the value Of the garment. An
other NO ROOF" custom Is for dele
cations Of Persians to visit the tombs
of the departed and send up walls
both loud and long.
New Years Is a great day for the
children In the country towns of Rus
STA. The boys carry peas and wheat.
showering those they like with wheat
and those they dislike with peas. Vari-
Gus domestic animals are gayly deco
rated and led about the streets. There
Is also ceremony Of changing water
into wine. which is harmless enough.
since 1t does not increase the wine
supply.
The great feature of the German
New Years is Sylvester Abend." CORE
spending In some measure to our watch
parties except that more liquid re-
freshment Is absorbed The punch
bowl is the center of attraction. but
the punch Is usually made OF a mild
Rhine wine and does little II any
HARM III fares 1t with the man wear
ing Y high hat on this night. for it is
smafhed with great enthusiasm. In
Frankfort on the Main a pretty custom
Is observed Promptly on the first
stpke OF II every shutter In town flies
oIfn ana head appears with the
shout. "Prosit Neujahr.~ II Is az quick
u withdrawn. and the shutters are re.
Hosed before the clocks have finished
booming the hour.
The French give Christmas n re,i.
gions observance. so that New Years
IL the great popular holiday. Gifts are
eSehanged and calls are made ON Jan.
! and all through the month.
The English observance OF New
fe'rs u not largely different from
ours. except that the old year Is swept
ou ny men and boys dressed as CHM
Iiey sweeps and Is ruug out with muf.
ned bells which change 10 a clear and
Joyous note ut the stroke OF u. Il
y 10 'his custom that Tennyson re-
fers IN his In Memorin M" ~ often
new"
me crowds before n. I'nul's I'm Lon
"oi' on New Years eve nre even
';rr"ter and more noisy than those b..
'orv rrsnity. New York. though peoDls
"ao have only heard the Gotham an
unSy deom this iu,n.us sa. -