Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1920-12-30
Our
Superstitious
Vein
Encirclins Wreath Of Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day
~ YER since the dawn of time the
II happenings of New Years day

IN YER since the dawn of time the
II happenings of New Years day
-Ae have been said to foretell the
luck of the coming months. For there
| is vein of superstition in the human
race, and all of us share In its delu-
| slons. There Is no day in the year
without its encircling wreath of fancy ;
this first day of them all is wondrous-
ly bedecked. Not even Christmas Is
so ancient, and so world renowned.
and 1t stands first in the folklore Of
every language. On New Years day
Ia ancient Egypt, when as yet the
pyramids were unbuilt, there were
grand professions and smoking sac
rifices. In Sparta 1t was celebrated
by the conservation of youths to mill
tary service.
Among the SaXons and old Germans
were great rejolcings, feastings and
csrousings on this day, and the was
sail bowl passed merrily around. This
was a great vessel filed with ale,
sugar, fruits. nutmeg and spices. There
was enough for the whole community
and the great bowl ran freely all day.
In all countries there have been
charms and devotions peculiar TO the
opening year, for desire TO peer into
the future is really common to us all,
no matter how we affect to deride the
idea. The Bible charm was one famll-
lar to our grandfathers, and was used
l. Hnxrt N tho
present generation. 1t is solemn and
interesting, and well worth recording.
"When the clock strikes IL on New
Years eve, pick up your Bible and
open 1t at random, and walking back
ward to u table, lay the book down,
face open, upon 1t. Turn around three
times, take up the book. read the verse
upon which your thumb falls. 1t will
tell your fate for the coming year.
For Instance, If 1t should be: sand
He will love thee and bless thee and
multiply thee" or "If take the
wings of the morning and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the EARTH" we ex-
pect very pleasant year. But conceive
the horror of one who should open
TO these words: $50 he died. and was
gathered to his fathers" or ''In hell
he lifted up his eyes, being in tor
ment."
In Switzerland the maiden borrows
her mothers wedding ring, ties II with
hair from her own head, then sus-
ponds II just over the rim of a tea
cup, all the while counting rapidly the
years OF her own age. OF course the
hair-hung ring trembles and knocks
against the cup, and each little tap
counts one year before she will wed |;
so she must count very fast. or be
shocked at the number of taps. In
Norway the kind of fish caught on
the day foretells "fisherman's luck"
for the coming year. In rural New
England almost every locality has
some special charm of fortune-telling
OF it's own for this day of fate. The
custom OF sending cards and gifts on
the first day Of the year is so ancient
that the historian Of Manners and Gus
toms can find no beginning. The
Chinese have used cards for thou
sands Of years, and the Queerest thing
In the world Is Chinese New Yecrs
card. 1t gives all the complimentary
titles Of the owner, and Is almost as
large as a wall map. In olden times
1t was the custom for tenants to give
New Years gifts to their landlords.
and every loySl subject owed gift
to his sovereign. We read how good
Queen Elizabeth was such favorite
that her gifts were marvels Of taste
and extravaganza. In our country we
give presents on Christmas day, but
in France they are reserved for the
first of the year.