Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-12-25

HfXl GynI tory way IN WnlCn TO speed lne Olu
tS&ySSSs year and welcome the new.
Perhaps might proitably follow
their example. Certainly their way of waiting for
the new year at home, or at the home of their
friends with games and songs and domestic cheer.
was less expensive than our way. Also 1t Is a
matter for regret that the pleasant customs of
paying New Years calls and of giving New Years
presents has disappeared. All the ritual of the day
is gone; even the newsboy brings only prosaic
calendar nowadays, instead of the elaborate poetic
address which in years gone by set forth his
claims on the worlds generosity And New Years
resolutions exist chiefly in the imagination OF hu.
morous writer's
Now. 1t is true that the apparently harmless
customs of paying calls and giving presents
New Years day were not regarded with favor by
all critics OF morals and manners Early In the
eighteenth century Henry Bourne. NJ A, "curate Of
the parochal chapel of All Saints, in Newcastle
upon Tyne" wrote Antiquities vulgares. or
the antiquities of the common people, giving an
account of their opinions and ceremonies. with
proper reflections upon each of them; shelving
which may be retained and which ought to be
laid aside" And he felt that he must be very
careful indeed with his discussion of New Years
calls and gifts He approved of them. in modera-
ton; but he wanted to be on the safe side
AS the vulgar are always very careful to end
the old year we'll" he wrote. (pointing his satire
by means of italcs) so they also careful of
beginning well the AS they end the
former with hearty compotation, they be-
gin the latter with the sending of presents. which
are termed New Years gifts to their friends and
ncquaintances; the original of both which Gus
toms is superstitious and sinful; and was observed
that the succeeding year might be prosperous
and successful"
! He calls many writer's to witness the antiquity
Of these customs quoting from Bishop Stillingfeet,
Claus Wormius, Schener, "Snorro Sturleson, and
the poet Naogeorgus." Then he writes: And no
doubt, those Christians were highly worthy OF
censure. who imagined as the heathens did, that
the ling of hon
lucky, and omen of the success of the following
year For this was the very thing that made sew
eral holy men, and some general councils, take
notice OF, and forbid such custom: because the
observance of it. out of any such design and view
was superstitious and sinful. we told In
place of St Austin. the observation of the caends
of January is forbid. the songs which were wont
to be sung that day, the feastings. and the
presents which were then sent as a token ana
omen of a good year. But to send present at
that time out of esteem. or gratitude, or charity
Is no where forbid.
"On the contrary. it is praiseworthy For the
ancient fathers did vehemently inveigh against the
observations of the calends or January yet IL
was not because of those presents and tokens OF
mutual affection and love that passed. but because
the day itself dedicated to idols. and because
of some prophane rites and ceremonies they op-
served in solemnizing II.
IF then send New Years gift to my friend.
1T shall be token OF my friendship; II to my bene-
factor a token of my gratitude; II to the poor
(which at this time must never be forgot) 1t shall
be to make their hearts sing for joy, and give
praise and alteration to the giver of all good gifts
At any rate. still say Happy New Year!
whether or not the words have any special sig.
nihcance to u.s. In the time of the learned Bourne
there were those who regarded this phrase with
deem suspicion. He writes: Another old custom
at this time is the wishing of a good New Year.
either when a New Years gift is presented. or
when friends meet. Now, the original of this
custom is heathenish as appears by the feastine
At-1,fr oh Fara n pS
for a good year and it was customary among the
heatheps on the calends of January. to go about
and sing New Years song. Hospinian there
fore tells that when night comes on. not only the
young but also the old of both sexes, run about
here and there. and sing song at the doors OF
the Weather people. in which they wish them a
happv New Year. This he speaks indeed OF the
Christians but he calls it an exact copy OF the
heathens custom.
But however, ] cannot see the harm OF retain
tnr this ancient ceremony so it be not used super
stitiously nor attended with obscenity and lewd-
ness For then there will be no more harm than
wishing a good each others welfare and prosper
itv. no more harm than wishing good day. or
good night; than in bidding one godspeed.
In Philadelphia there has been preserved up
IN recent years the custom of New Years mum
ming" BOYS and girls-men and women also. to
.ome extent-dressed in fantastic clothes and with
tbeir faces painted masked. could be seen In
tho streets up to recently, begging and playing
nracticnl foxes. They did similar things in eight
aenth century London, by no means to the APPROX.
al Of the curate of the parochial chapel of All
saints in Newcastle-on-Tyne. He writes; There