Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-07-17

Two states have Independence DAYS
or their own. Texas observes her sep
aration from Mexico on March 4.
North Carolina commentaries the
Halifax independence resolutions on
April IL and the Mecklenburg decla-
ration on May 20.
II remains for Frederick county.
Nd, to celebrate all alone the repu-
diation Of the stamp act, one Of the
most local celebrations of an impor-
tant national event on record.
Among the favorite months for hob
Iidays the world W. November leads.
with rs out of its possible 80 daya
May ZONES next, with IS and an ID
Iditional Sunday not otherwise cele-
brated. thus actually tying November
in the number Of days closed to BUSH
ness. March, IN the. other hand. is
the longest all around business
month, having only IS holidays. Thus
at least ~two-thirds of every month In
terferes with the free play of inter-
national business.
Even such generally observed festf-
walls as Christmas and New Years
Day can'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 dates In different
parts of the globe, and some countries
observe more than one of them An
exhaustive study of these New Year
celebrations would give one a pretty
fair knowledge of the ancient history
of the world. Curiously enough, one
OF our W states, Massachusetts,, does
not make this a legal holiday. though
her citizens generally observe It
Eleven New Year Dates.
January / is observed as New
Years Day IN every country in all
Europe except Bulgaria, Greece, Rou-
mania. Russia, Servia and Turkey; in
all European colonies In Africa and
in Liberia and Morocco; in every
country and colony In North, Central
and South America and in all parts
of Asia except Asiatic Turkey and In
Australasia.
In Bulgaria, Greece. Roumania,
Russia. Servia and Turkey the old
style calendar prevails and the New
Year begins accordingly on January
IA.
The Japanese New Year does. In
deed, begin on January 1. but IL 10
also celebrated on the Sd and 5th OF
that month.
Then there are the Hindu New
Year. on April 13: the Chinese New
Year, February IL to Ia (which. by
the way. Is a legal holiday in a part
OF the United States-Hawaii); the
Annamite New Year, February II
and IS, and the Second Annamite
New Year. June 10; the Parsi New
Year. September IL; the Persian New
Year, March FL to "a; the Moham-
medan New Year, December 10 and
II, and the Jewish New Year. Sep
TENDER IL. Is and IA. 1t is a sur
prise to learn that the only nation
earth making the Jewish New zeal
legal holiday is Turkey.
New Years Day was celebrated
among the most ancient nations. The
old Roman New Year began March l.
but In reforming the calendar Julius
Caesar designated January / az the
years beginning.
Where Christmas 10 Net Observed.
Christmas Day, due to its religious
significance. is not 30 generally OBJ
served "a New Years Day. II has
moreover, only three different dates.
It was not generally observed on De-
lcember 26 until the fourth century,
The early church, lacking any au-
thentic knowledge as to the date OF
Christ's birth, celebrated It without
uniformity in May, April and Janu-
airy. The Armenian Church still ol-
serves January 6. Why the Deem
Der date was finally selected Is uncer-
tain. Some see In II a displacement
of the Roman S~aturnalla; others de-
clare Il a survival of the Feast Of the
Winter Solstice. and still others point
10 its coincidence with the old Ger
man Yuletide Feast. Countries where
the old style calendar prevails still
celebrate January q.
In the Puritan days Scotch Presby-
~terlans and English Non-Conformists
rejected Christmas Day altogether as
"~savorIng Of paplstry." and in New
England Thanksgiving Day was de-
yised 70 replace IL. II seems a curl
Gus thing that there are today Chris
tian countries where II is not OBJ
served legally. Such are Norway,
Panama. Peru. Portugal and the
lSouth African Union
The last named. however. still OBJ
serves the old English institution OF
Boxing Day on December 26. This
was the day when the English gentry.
Having had their own Christmas eele-
bratIon the day before. turned their
attention to the poor by presenting
them with Christmas boxes The day
later became the day for general giy-
ina Of Christmas gifts
Portugal Drops Traditions.
The only country on earth a study
Of whose holidays reveals little Of It's
political, racial or religious origin IL
Portugal The nrst attempt 70 estab-
lish q republic in Portugal was made
on January 81. 1891 This is reflect
ed In It's calendar OF holidays. which
runs: January 1. dedicated 10 unit
Versal brotherhood; January 81. ded-
ieated to the memory Of all those who
fought and died 10 establish the re-
public in Portugal: May 3. in mem-
- nw~INI ~ fhO