Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-02-05

with 20 out Of Its possible 80 days.
May comes next with 90 and an adj
GiLional Sunday not otherwise cele-
Lrared, thus actually tyinG November
il tte number of days closed to bust
ness. March, on the other hand, IS
The longest all around bus. ness
month. having only 10 holidays. Thus
81 icast tl:o-1hirds oil every month in
tr'Gcres with The free play Of inter
national business.
Even SUCH generally observed fesi-
rais &c Christmas and New Years
Day cau't be depended upon by the
banker without consulting the inter-
national! calendar.
New Years Day is the only holiday
universally observed. But, alas. il
falls On II different dstes il different
E.rts af lie globe, and some countries
observe more than ore OF them. an
exhaustive study of these New Year
celebration: would give one 8 pretty
tAir knowledge OF the ancient history
Of the world. Curiously enough. one
81 our own states, Alassa chusetts. does
not make this a legal holiday, though
her citizens generally observe it.
Where Christmas Is Not Observed.
Christmas Day, due to its religious
sirliicance, Is not SO generally OBJ
served as New Years Day. II has,
moreover only three different dates.
j vas not generally observed on De-
ccmber % until the fourth century.
The early church. lacking any au-
thentic knowledge as to the date OF
christs birth, celebrated 1t without
uniformity In May. April and Janu.
a-v. The Armenian Church still OBJ
series January Q. Why the pecem-
Der cate was finally selected q uncer-
tain. some see n i q displacement
O. the Conan &aturnalia; others dc.
clare Il survival Of rhp Feast of the
-YIater solstlce. and stiN others no;c:t
20 is coincidence with tie Old t:H.
,v1u Tu!eriGe Feast. Countries v!1e"n
ito "a STYLE calendar ;':eTaiis $!is:
celebrate January !,
In the Puritan days Scotch rreShy.
trrians ami English Nor-Cor:nrU!iSts
re;set4d Christmas Tar altogether IS
savoriu. Of pHpistrE," and in New
England Thanksgiving Day "as is
vsse6 10 replace Il. It seans . curl.
nns thing that there are today Christ,
tlan countries where Il is rot oh.
served legally. Such are Norway,
Panama. Peru, Portugal ard the
Sou.h African Union.
The las- named, however. still o.
-nrres the rld English institution o.
HoxinG\Day on December &c. This
was tie dag when tl!e English gentry.
harin@ had their own Christmas cc!e'
bration The day before, turned thatr
attention &c the poor hy presenting
Them with Christmas boxes. The Gay
later became thc day for general CIV
ine OF Christmas gifts.
Portugal Drops Traditions.
The only country on earth StuuT
OF whose holidays reveals little OF IFS
noiitical. racial or religious origin IS
Portugal The first attempt 70 estah-
fish q republic in Portugal WIS mad.
or Januarv 81. 1891. This Is reflect
Cd IN irs calendar Of FOL days, which
r1rs: "Jaruarr l. dedicated to ul:-
yarsai brotherhood; January 81, ded.
icared to the memory OF III these who
fought and died 70 c$rabiis: The re-
public in Portugal; May :. IN mem
orr CT The discovery Of Brazil hr the
Portuguese June 70, municipal hosi.
day at Lisbon: June y, municipal
holiday at ororto; October ), the
cate Of :he establishment Of the Por.
.uguesa republic; December J, Flag
Day. TO commemorate the in6epend.
.aGce Of the eotatry; December %.
. EaGu:.y Day"
These hrieG no,ations on holidays
ros;-cE only their distribution and
6s-r5s. 8acE of.these lies 2 -ide fed
a:iel Wit: quaint and curious inser-
taaaoa rsistins % ne Ia1aes Of Gel
aS-a-tnc Inen