Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-12-31


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 Sdeites that guardsthe future,
s8 The city streets resound with the malet blows
q Of the dough FOUNDERS making 'mochi," the Jap
sanese equivalent Of plum pudding. All debts are
paid. New clothes are bought. There aSos toys
for the children, and picture cards that bring good
fortune and are good to dream on when tied Be-
S3 curely to the wooden pillow. M 4: S,4 $ NJ
ss 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
4 come the ceremonial breakfast, when the health
of all the family must be drunk in that rice wine
called "zoni.'E Then visits must be paid to all
acquaintance. Father win wear no more the ira
ditional costume, fantastic and peculiar. For him
Il the frock coat now. OF European manufacture But
mother. in her quaint kmono and elaborate head
dress, will look Just as she has looked on New
Years day since time immemorial. sss3 sstf3
The children will be decked out in gorgeous
scolors they will throng the streets clattering
Il along on their wooden clogs in pigeon toed but
n joyful haste, and shouting .Banzai!" to friends
and foreigners. In the streets clowns will per
q form strange antics, exclaiming loudly mean
while: q 5s7
Hail. hail. We gods OF heaven and earth! Sig
nincant omens are in the air and the Suniverse is
full of lucky signs 80 .8 VI 55iiSss
TO Accompaniment Of flute and drum. two
) legged lions will give the lions dance in
and thither through streets and temple gardens.
:a Il 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 fy their brand new kites
The children viii play games with brightly col
ored balls, chanting countless rhymes. Grown
people will play New Years card games. The
shremen will give acrobatcs exhibitions on their
ladders. Every nook and corner Of Japan will be
IN gala dress and gala mood. II $Sq s.ssa5S
Northern France Is not far behind Japan in APP
probation Of the Significance OF the New Year
There Christmas, SO important on our calendar, is
scarcely celebrated, except by attendance at mid
night mass and by q festal supper But the last
night Of the year. Vigil OF ST. Slvestre" calls
-for observance, and the first day OF the new year.
lie jour de Fan, or lie jour detrene, Is dedicated
to the renewal Of friendship and to general gift
giving. 80 5s ss5
81 So universal, in fact, has the custom become Of
giving presents and pretty little souvenirs that the
expression ''bonne etrene" means good fortune
and NAL etrenne' misfortune. 81 Candy and flow
ers are acceptable gifts in France, but there is
only one real rule In the matter-a New Years
gift must not be useful @53 SS
S In most Scotch households, as in France. New
Years day takes the place OF Christmas. an evi-
dence of ancient sympathy when both countries
regarded England as q mutual enemy. On the last
night OF the year in rural district groups Of men
and boys 60 disguished from house to house sing
Ing curious songs such as this:
Rise up, good wife, and shakt yer feathers III #
Dinna think that we are beggars;
We are bairnies come to play si # sSS$Ss
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 chaked the house. in token OF =
good luck. Next morning all the children get up
early and view with wide and interested eyes the