Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-01-15
NClU lGaIS0|d !
lIInC0InanCe|
Lost IN e,
Modern Noise

~tA leach for the privilege of spending
New Years eve in crowded restaur-
ants Neither did they, at the stroke
Of twelve, put on caps of colored
Ipaper ring cow bells, and throw con-
| ~ fetti at strangers Yet we, who rid
q - Al cule their traditions and superstitons
IC@ A~l can find, it seems. no more satsfac-
HXA GOI tory way in which to speed the old
49, year and welcome the new.
Perhaps might proftably 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 it is
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 on
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 parochial 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; showing
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 WELL" he wrote, (pointing his satire
by means of itslics) $50 they are also careful OF
beginning wen The new one. AS they end the
former with, "a yearty compotation. SO they be-
gin the lattsr with the sending of presents. which
are termfd Newly gifts to their friends and
acauaintahces: 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 Stngfeet
Claus Wormius Schefer, "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 sending of a present then was in any way
lucky and an omen of the success Of the following
year For this was the very thing that made sew
sraf holy men, and some general councils. take
notice or and forbid any such custom; because the
observance of 1t, out OF any such design and view,
was superstitious and sinful. we are told, In
place of st. Austin. the observation OF the calends
of January Is forbid, the songs which were wont
to be sung on that day. the feastings. and the
presents which were then sent as a token and
omen of good year. But to send present at
that time, out Of esteem. or gratitude or charity
il no where forbid.
ION the contrary. It is praiseworthy. For the
ancient fathers did vehementy inveigh against the
observations of the calends Of January; yet 1t
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 oo-
served In solemnizng It,
"If then send New Years gift to my friend.
Il shal be q token of my friendship; II to my bene-
factor, token Of my gratitude; II to the poor
(which at this time must never be forgot) 1t shall
he TO make their hearts sing for Joy, and give
praise and alteration to the gver Of all good gifts
At any rate, We still say Happy New Year,!
whether or not the words have any special sig
nificance to us. 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 New Years gift Is presented, or
when friends meet Now, the original OF this
custom is heathenish. as appears by the feastng
and presents before mentioned. which were a Wish
for a good year. and 1t was customary among the
heathens 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
happy New Year This he speaks indeed of the
Christians but he calls 1t an exact copy ot 'he
heathen's custom
But however. cannot see the harm OF retain
ing this ancient ceremony. 1t be not used super
stitiously nor attended with obscenity and ewd'
ness For then there will be no more harm than
wishing a 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 .grls-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 eignt
eenth century London, by no means to the approx.
al of the curate of the parochial chapel OF All
Saints in Newcastleon-Tyne he wntes' ine'e