The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-12-25

49, ETH az strangers. Yet we. who ridi.
r. -. Al eule their traditions and superstitlons,
It1TTA can find, II seems more satisfac.
I1Wl~ &QItory way in which 10 speed the old
K--Z@esNsn year and welcome the new.
Perhaps we might probably 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 iess expensive than our way Also II is q
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
10 gone; even the newsboy brings only prosaic
calendar nowadays. instead or the elaborate poetic
address which In years gone by set forth his
Chains on the worlds generosity. And New Year'a
.resolutons exist chiefly in the imagination OF hu.
morous writer's,
Now. Il Is true that the apparently harmless
customs OF paying calls and giving presents on
New Years day we're not regarded with favor by
All critics % morals and manners. Early In the
eighteenth century Henry Bourne NJ. A., 'curate OF
the parochihl chapel OF All Saints, In Newcastle
upon Tyne" wrote "Antlqultates yulgares. or
the antiquities Of the common people. giving nm
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
A the vulgar are always very careful to end
the old year well. he wrote. (polnting his satire
by means Of ltallcs1 $50 they are also careful OF
beginning web the new one AS they end the
former with hearty compotation so they be.
gin The latter with the sending or presents which
are termed New Years gifts to their friends and
acqualntances: the original OF both which GUS
toms ID superstitous 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 stillingneet.
Claus Wofmiua Scheffer, "Snorro Stnrleson," and
"the poet Naogeorgus." Then he writes: "And no
doubt those Christians we're highly worthy OF
censure. who imagined as the heathens did that
the sending OF present then was In any way
lucky, and omen Of the success OF the following
year. For this was the very thing that made
erai holy men, and come general councils. take
notice Of and forbid any such custom; because the
observance OF H. out OF any such design and view.
was superstitous and sinful we are told In
place OF ST. Austin the observation OF the calends
OF January il forbid. the songs which we're wont
20 be sung on that day. the feastlngs. and the
presents which were then sent as a token and
omen OF good year But 10 send present at
that time out Of esteem. or gratitude or charity.
10 no where forbid
"On the contrary Il Is praiseworthy, For the
ancient fathers did vehementy inyeigh against the
observations OF the calends OF January; yet Il
was not because OF those presents and tokens OF
mutual affection and love that passed; but because
the day itself was dedicated TO idols and because
OF some prophane rites and ceremonies they OBJ
served In solemnizing Il
'If then | send New Years gift TO my friend.
Il shall be token OF my friendship; II 70 my bene-
factor token OF my gratitude; II TO the poor
(which at this time must never be forgotl II shall
be to make their hearts sing for Joy, and give
praise and alteration 10 the giyer OF all good gifts
At any rate we sim say Happy New Year,"
whether or not the words have any special sig
nlhcance TO us In the time OF the learned Bourne
there were those who regarded this phrase with
deep suspicion. He writes Another old custom
at this time is the wishing OF good New Year.
either when a New Years gift Is presented, or
when friends meet. Now the original OF this
custom is heathenish appears by the feasting
and presents before mentioned. which were wish
for a good year. and Il was customary among the
heathens on the calends OF January. to go about
and sing New Years song Hospinan. 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
happy New Year This he speaks indeed OF the
Christians but he calls II exact copy Of the
heathen's custom.
,But however cannot see the harm OF retain
ing this ancient ceremony 1t be not used super
stitiousiy, nor attended with obscenity and lewd.
ness For then there will be no more harm than
wishing good each others welfare and prosper
ity; no more harm. than wishing good day. or
good night: than in bidding one godspeed.
In Philadelphia there has been preserved up
to recent years the custom of New Years mum
ming Boys and girls-men and women also, to
some extent-dressed in fantastic clothes and with
their faces painted or masked could be seen in
the streets up to recently begging and playing
practical jokes. They did similar things IN eight
zenith century London. by no means to the approx.
ri OF the curate of the parochial chapel of All
saints in Newcastie-on-Tyne He writes There