The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1915-01-01


I{zWh1 20 tory way in which to speed the old
ls@9s@s5s year and welcome the new
Perhaps we might probably follow
their example Certainly their way OF waiting for
Z the new year ait 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
as gone; even the newsb0y brings only prOAaic
calendar nowadays. instead Of the elaborate poetic
Address which in years gone by set forth his
ms on the worlds generosity. And New Years
ea0lutions exist chiefly In the imagination OF hui
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 M. A. "curate Of
the parochial chapel OF All Saints, In Newcastle
he antiquities of the common people, giving an
ACCOUNT Of their opinions an 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-
u0p; but he wanted to be: ON the safe side.
GAS the vulgar are always very careful to end
the old year WE'LL he wrote, lpointing his satire
~ means Of talics.) $50 they are also careful Of
beginning well the new one. AS they end the
FORMER with hearty compotation, SO they be-
gin the latter with the sending of presents. which
ara termed New Years gifts to their friends and
acquaintances the original Of both which Gus
toms Is auperstitions 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 stillingaeet
Claus WOrmius Schener, @Snorro Sturleson, and
ethe poet Nacgeorgus." Then he writes: And no
Doubt those Christians were highly worthy Of
oensure, who imagined as the heathens did, that
the sending OF d 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
eral holy men, and some general councils take
notice Of and forbid any such custom; because the
observance of tt out Of any such design and view,
was superstiti0ns and sinful, we are told. In a.
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 feastinga, ana the
presents which were then sent as q token and
omen ora good year But to send present at
that time out Of esteem, or gratitude or charity,
is no where forbid
~On the contrary. 1t is praiseworthy. For the
ancient fathers did yehemently invegh against the
observations Of the calends OF January; vet It
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 Oh.
served IN solemnizing It.
III then send New Years gift to my friend.
It shall be token Of my friendships to my bene.
factor token Of my gratitude; f to the poor
(which ct this time must never be forgot1 It shall
be to make their hearts sing for 10y. and give
praise and alteration to the giyer Of all good gifts
At any rate. we still say Happy New YeaFs"
whether or not the words have any special sig
nihcance to ua. 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 a good New Year
either when 4 New Years gift is presented, or
when friends meet. Now, the original Of this
custom is heathenish, as appears BY the feasting
ana presents before mentioned, which were a wish
for good year and it was customary among the
heathens on the calends of January. to go about
and sing New Years song Hospinians thereN
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 q song at the doors OF
the weaIthier people, In which they wish them
happy New Year. This he speaks indeed Of the
Christians, but he calls It an exact copy OF the
heathen's custom.
eBut however cannot see the harm OF retain
ing this ancient ceremony SO It be not used super
stitiously, nor attended with obscenity and lewd
ness. For then there win be no more harm than
wishing good each others welfare and prosper
fty; no more harm. than wishing good day or
|mgood night: than In bidding one godspeed,
LIN Philadelphia there has been preserved up
10 recent years the custom OF New Years mum
hing" Boys and girls men and women also. to
some 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
nth century London, By no means TO the APPROX
Of the cnrate Of the parochial chapel Of All
Saints Ii NeweastleonsT TYNE He writes: There