Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-01

Customs Many Nations and of Other Periods History-Fac
and Fabe-New Years Speaks Universal Language
Controversy Over Name-Making the Calendar

NTHER peoples erudition Is sometimes a
" nuisance. Some of us have been accus-
toned to commenting confidently on the ap-
propriateness of the name of the first month
of the year.
Janus was represented by the Romans
as having two faces, one looking forward,
the other backward. He was supposed to
preside over doors. So far so good, but
when a scholar comes along and says, "Con-
suit a classical dictionary" it's something of
shock. When he offers the information
that Janus was IAN old Italian deity, the
god of the sun and the year to whom the
month of January was sacred; not to be con-
fused with the two-faced Latin god of the
same name'-but what does it really matter,
after all? One thinks of somebody's remark
that If Shakespeare didn't write Hamlet and
Macbeth another gentleman of the same
name did. And it's a great comfort to know
that Thomas Bulfnch speaks of the dual,
double-faced Janus follows:
Janus was a deity held in high estima-
ton by the Romans, who placed him on
almost an equal footing with Jupiter, even
giving his name precedence in their prayers.
and invoking the aid of both deities previous
to every undertaking. To him they ascribed
the origin of all things, the introduction of
the system of years, the ups and downs of
fortune, and the civilization of the human
race by means of agriculture, industry, arts.
and religion He was represented with two
heads, one that of a youth, to indicate be
ginning the other that u1 old man, to
indicate the end, whence ne was styled BIZ
irons. In his left hand is a key, to show that
he opens at the beginning and shuts at the
end; the sceptre in his right hand Is a sign
that he controls the progress OF every
undertaking. The first day of January, a
month named after him. being the first day
of the year, was the occasion OF a celebration
in his honor" So much for the January
Janus controversy.
New Years in March
In the early Roman calendar March was
the first month of the year. The King Numa
in the seventh century B. C. added two
months to the existing calendar of ten
months, and gave to the first the name Janu-
arius. The year began at the winter solstlce
and followed the regular series of seasonal
changes. In modern countries there was long
a distinction between the popular and the
legal year. The ancient Jewish year. which
opened with the 25th of March, continued
until a comparatively late period to have a
legal position in Christian countries. In
England it was not until 1852 that the first of
January became the initial day of the legal,
as 1t had long been of the popular year. Be-
fore that time it was customary to set down
dates between the first of January and the
24th of March, inclusive, thus: January 80,
l6iS-9," meaning that popularity the year was
l649, but legally 164S. A trace of the old GUS
TOM exists today in several American States,
where rental contracts are dated from March
95 Poets, for reasons of their own have
insisted that March is still the first month of
he year Wordsworth in England and Bry-
mt in America have so described the month |
hat legally is third in order,
Though we use the old Saxon names of the
lays of the week. We have abandoned the
saxon names OF the months
The beginning of the year has in all times
Ind countries been an occasion of festiyity,
he religious color having somewhat worn
'n in recent times. In the days of King
luma celebrations took place on New Years
Day. a day corresponding with our 2lst of
December. Before he remade the calendar
he Romans celebrated on the LIST of March
he festival of Ancylia. The day was OBJ
erved with professions. feasts and general
ejoieing. In the time of the late Kings and
he Emperors the lst OF January was kept
IS holiday. Sacrifices were made TO Janus.
rod Of light and heaven. Gifts and visits
we're exchanged and masquerading and
casting We're general The custom OF New
fears visits and masquerades is thus OF very
-neient origin. and is preserved in many
'laces tosthe present day.
ScOtia's Hot Pint
In Scotland. where New Years is more
Generally observed than Christmas, until a
eeent time one of the customs was as fol-
ows. On New Years Eve the family gath
red and "hot pint was prepared .hot
int was kettle fun OF warm, spieed and
weetened ale. with an infusion Of spirits.
When the clock struck l2 each member OF
he family, young ana old. drank "a good
eaith and happy Nes Year. and many of
hem" 70 Al the rest. with dance around
be table eaa maybe song or two. Then
be elders Hanla sally forth. with the hot