Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-12-29

is another custom observed at this time, which is
called among mumming; which is changing
of clothes between men and women; who when
dressed in each others habits go from one neigh
boris house to another and make merry with
them in disguise, by dancing and singing and
such like merriments. 1t were to be
wished this custom which is still common
among at this season of the year were laid
aside; as 1t is directly opposite to the word of
God"
1t is possible that "mumming" is related in
some way to the performance which marked "Hog-
manay" in England and Scotland. "Hogmanay"
was the last day of the year. Some scholars think
the word comes from the Greek "agia mene,"
Choly month";; others from the Saxon "halig
monath," which has the same meaning; still others
from the French phrase eau gui menez" (''to the
mistletoe go!') which mummers ancienty cried
in France at Christmas, from eau gleux
menez," ('Bring to the beggars!'D Whatever the
origin of the word may be- Hogmanay was the
time for much amateur begging.
The children went from house to house, singing
such songs as:
"Hogmanay trololay
Give of your white bread.
But none Of your grey,
Hogmena Hogmena,
Give us cake and cheese and let US go
away"
AS they sang they collected what they called
their "farls"-oaten cake and cheese. From this
developed the letting in" of the new year Par
ties of men and boys went through the town. They
stopped at the front door of every house and sang
until they we're admitted. Then they received
small gift of money, went through the house and
left by the back door. That man should be the
first visitor of the year general belief in
the British isles for centuries, nor is 1t yet ex-
tinct.
In no Of first. ha
almost entirely died out, but in some of the
moter parts of that country it is pleasantly re-
membered At the approach of IL on New Years
eve "hot pint" was prepared. This was Kettle
of warm spiced or sweetened ale with a liberal
infusion of spirits. When the clock struck, every
member of the family drank to the new year
Then the elders of the family went out into the
street carrying the kettle of spced ale and
supply of buns, cakes, bread, and cheese When
they met a party of friends similarly engaged
they stopped to exchange greetings and sips of
ale. They went to the houses of their neighbors,
sent the kettle from friend to friend and spent
the hours before dawn in sociab1lity and good
cheer. If they were the first to enter house after
twelve o'clock they were the "frstfoot" and re-
ceived especial favor
In England, the first-footng parties were made
up generally of the poor boys of the village, who
carried "wassailbowl" decorated with ribbons
and received in return for their proffered drinks
ana SOOQ WISHES CAKES ana cups OF ale.- buI III
Scotland as recently as 100 years ago firstfooting
democratic social institution, in which few
were too proud to share. The principal streets
of Edinburgh, it is said, were more crowded be-
tween twelve and one on New Years day morning
than at noon on business days.
simple ceremony, not yet obsolete, consisted
in unbarring the front door the clock struck
twelve to let the old year out and the new year
in In the Island of Guernsey the children paraded
the streets CARRYING the effigy of a man. emble-
matte of the dying year. This they buried at
midnight on the seashore, with elaborate ritual
At Burghhead in Morayshire, they kept New
Years eve by Burning the clavie." They made
huge piles of herring barrels and set fire to them
with peat. The burning elnbers they carried home
to their houses a protection against whatever
evils the year might bring
On New Years day the Scotch of bygone gen.
erations believed no fire should go out of the
house. If it were given, misfortune might be pre-
sented by throwing burning peat into a tub of
water.
There is Something suggestive of the Russian
Easter in "frstfooting" custom once popular