Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 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 "mochi,' the Jap
anese equivalent of plum pudding All debts are
paid. New clothes are bought. There toys
for the children, and picture cards that bring good
fortune and are good to dream on when tied
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 will
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 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.
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 "Banzai!" to friends
and foreigners. In the streets clowns will per-
form strange antics, exclaming loudly mean
while:
Hail, hail. We gods of heaven and EARTH Sig
nifcant omens 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
nasque. Strange masqueraders will dart hither
and thither through streets and temple gardens
1t will be happy time for Japanese children.
For three glad days every little girl will expect
to play her favorite game of shuttlecock and bat
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
fremen 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 an
probation of the significance of this 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
Right of the year, the vigil of ST. Silvestre" calls
for observance and the first day of the new year
"ie jour de an, lie jour d'etrene," 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 is
ouly 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 evil
dence of ancient sympathy when both countries
regarded England mutual enemy. On the last
night of the year, in rural district groups OF men
and boys go dsguished from house to house sing
ing curious songs, such as this:
Rise up, good wife, and shak yer feathers
Dnna 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 chalked the house, in token of
5000 luck Next morning all the children get up
'ariy and view with wide and interested eyes the