Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-12-24

is another custom observed at this time. which II
called among US 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. II were to be
wished this custom which Is still SO common
among US at this season OF the year were laid
aside: as II Is directly opposite to the word Of
God"
II 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 ~Au gui menez'' ('to the
mistletoe go,0 which mummers anciently cried
in France at Christmas, or from "Au gueux
menez." t"Brins 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 US OF your white bread.
But Of your grey.
Hogmena. Hogmena.
Give cake and cheese, and let Us 90
away"
As they sang they collected what they called
their "faris--oAfen 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 were admitted. Then they received q
small gift OF money. went through the house and
left by the back door. That man should be the
nrvt visitor Of the year a general belief In
the British isles for centuries. nor is II yet ex
tinct
In Scotland the ceremony Of "frst-footing" has
almost entirely died out. but in some Of the re-
moter parts Of that country It Is pleasantly re-
membered- At the approach OF IL on New Years
eve hot pint" was prepared. This waA kettle
OF warm spiced or sweetened ale. with . 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 spiced ale and q
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 neishbors.
sent the kettle from friend to friend. and spent
the hours before dawn In sociability and good
cheer II they were the FIRST to enter . house after
twelve O'Clock they were the "nrst-foot' and re-
ceived especial favor.
In England. the nrstfooting parties were made
up generally Of the poor boys Of the village. who
carried ''wassail-bowr' decorated with ribbons.
and received In return for their profered drinks
and good wishes. cakes and cups OF ale. But In
Scotland AZ recently 100 years ago frst-footing
was q democratic social institution. In which few
were too proud to share. The principal streets
OF Edinburgh. It II 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 enigy Of . 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 cIavis-" They made
huge piles Of herring barrels. and set IRE to them
with peat The burning embers they carried home
to their houses . protection against whatever
evils the year might bring
On New Years day the Scotch Of bygone gen
erafions believed IRE should 90 out Of the
house. II IL were given. misfortune might be pre-
scented by throwing burning peat into . tub Of
water.
There is something suggestive Of the Russian
Easter in one "nrst-footins" custom once popular