Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-31
Wassail, or Egg-nog?

Wassail or Egg-nog?
The wassail bowl, in England-,of ale, nut
meg, sugar. toast and roasted crabs or ap-
ples-and the egg-nog, in the United States,
are part Of the New Years celebration. In
Scotland New Years is more generally cele-
brated than Christmas. There is observed
among all classes custom of giving and re-
ceiving. It is the day of the bagpipe and
good will.
Persians celebrate the day by exchanging
presents of eggs. The Druids distributed as
New Years gifts branches of the sacred
mstletoe. In Anglo-Saxon and Norman Eng
land, New Years gifts were common. For
long time the custom of offering gifts to the
sovereign was observed
Wolsey, it will be remembered, gave Henry
VIII gold cup, and it is recorded that
Bishop Latimer handed Henry New Testa-
ment with leaf doubled down at Hebrews
1874: "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood
striving against sim"
In the old days of Rome the Emperors ex-
acted from their subjects tribute of pound
of gold.
AS a church festival, New Years is of
subordinate Importance. One of the GUS
toms, however, generally observed by the
churches throughout the world, is the watch
night service. In this country this service
is quite generally held in churches of all de-
nominations. In the confession of sin, earnest
prayer, singing of hymns, and preaching, the
worshipers prepare themselves spiritually
for the new year When the old year passes,
and the clock strikes 12, the mood of intro
spection is changed into one OF joy and con-
graduation.
The Chinese New Years
Among all nations that observe the new
year. it is a period OF preparation, convlvi-
ality and merriment. The Chinese share this
spirit on February IS, when differences are
adjusted, debts paid, gifts exchanged and
the joss houses and streets resound with the
noise of fire. crackers, which splutter, crack
and blaze with the inherited hope of driving
the devils away.
There has grown. up in the United States
a new form Of New Year observance
The hummer" Of Philadelphia is a de-
velopment OF the 'bell snickler'' OF so years
ago, and the fiesta hints OF the New Orleans
Mardi Gras The American no longer stays
at home If he happens to live in the city
and drinks his egg-nog or wine by his own
fireside as the clock strikes 12. Instead, he
goes 10 Nuo StIeclHs MNpIo ne DloWS a NORM
wears a masque throws confetti and yelIs
at the top of his voice. Then he viii go TO
a fashionable cafe and make himself be-
lieve he is seeing the new year in by eating
and drinking.
In San Francisco the streets are illuminated
and thronged with people, who compete with
one another in making hideous noises. More
recently this unrestrained impulse of good
win has been organized and reduced to some
intelligent form Of order. so that the ceIebra-
tion takes the form OF gorgeous pageant. In
Pasadena and Los Angeles flowers are used
in street pageants. and the New Years greet
ings are expressed on magnificent scale OF
beauty and decorum.
Philadelphia's Comic Supplement
Philadelphia has the mummers' pageant
which Is peculiar to this city. Each year this
representation Of festive Philadelphia IN.
ereases IN size ana significance. This year
Il promises 10 snrDaas all previous years Ia
its fantastic, artistic unique and original de-
signs significant Of the oitys prosperity ana
the nations progress Il VIII sc lhe comic
supplement 81 the years. hisfors ma dag
pageant q fnn and nalio
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