Gunnison news-champion., 1920-12-31
New Year'.Day
Many Lands
: Ew TEARS DAY = : ~ esr

AYEw TEARS DAY y . 49, ssr
IN tAaakagivins sad olrsh and
happlneas. and 10 so0s eoun-
utsA for tAs lntesehanee q gtfta q
b also day yhich. because Il = tAs
BEGINNING of asothes year 10 oas's Iiss.
has associated with Il . cersaia -
efedneas which often takss ths Nsrn
Of resolutions TO do more asd bsttes
.hings than one has ever done befero.
Il b appropriate that the sesios ee
u mooths should open on the 0fse day
- January. because this 10 the period
- Tie winter solstice. the turning
poant 81 the year. the time when earth
begins . be revivi0ed ln anticipates
u The coming Of spring. TIE ancients
underwood this signieeancs and, u.
though several changes in their calso-
dar took place before the present date
was made permanent. January LIT hes
been: Ne are told. the generally &C.
cepted date since the reign Of the Ro-
man king Numa Pompilius. 672 n. G.
He decreed that the year should begin
- Il now does. and added two new
months to the already existing ten.
The nrst month was named January
10 honor Of the god Janus, who was
represented By the Romans as having
two faces. this signifying that he was
acquainted with both past and future
events. On this first day II was the
Roman custom TO offer to Janus sacri-
Dee upon twelve different altars.
Among the offerings was cake Of
sifted meal with incense and wine.
The people took every precaution to
conduct themselves % perfectly that
nothing hut good might be presaged
for the coming year. Latin writer's Of
the time say that all strifes and dif.
ferences ceased at the New Year. Tho
day was spent In visiting. feastine and
exchanging gifts. Indeed. the burden
Of giving had become 80 heavy that
during the reign Of Claudius he felt
forced to limit II By decree.
In Belgium the children are espe-
cially active on New Year'al Their
greatest fun II obtained by secreting
al the keyf belonging to the various
watching. lynx-eyed. from their van
tage ground for the chance to lock up
IN unsuspecting parent or uncle or
aunt. When once caught they are not
freed until they promise q certain for
felt Of sweetmeats.
In France II IL called ne Jour de
I'an"-the day Of the year. Merry
making. calls and Gifts reign supreme.
Dancing. singing and wine also have
prominence. Candy. not usually al
loved to French children. Ii generous
y given out. January LIST II also the
day for family reunions. And In the
early morning hours relatives Of any
one who has died during the year As-
semhle at the grave for brief service.
One Of the prettiest customs In the
world IL that observed at Franfort-On.
the-Mnin. Many are the gay parties
which gather on New Years eve. and
when the great cathedral clock begins
to chime the midnight hour every win.
dow Of every occupied house IL raised
Each person lifts high q glass and
with one voice the-whole city crieA
ont. sProsit Neujahr.:. BY the time
the twelfth stroke Ii reached the win.
dows are closed and quiet reiRns az
the old year draws its last breath.
In rurni parts Of Russia the chfl.
dren. who have arisen especially early
ou this holiday. start out on a house
te-honse pilgrimage. with pockets
brimfui Of dried peas and wheat
Doors are never locked In Russia. 80
II 10 an easy matter to enter. n the
occupants Of the house thus visited
are nsleep the children pelt with peas
those whom they dislike. and then
sprinkle wheni over their friends.
High mass is relebrnied on New
Years al Madrid. Many presents are
given between friend md friend. and
by the rich 10 the poor.
A Chinese New Year custom is for
the people to buy or bake small cnkes
made Of rice. -four and sugar. which.
with fruit and dates. they put on
plates and place hefoEe the image Of
Buddha. This Is the one time Of the
year when everybody is religious. New
door gods are pasted upon the doors.
consisting Of coiored prints Of the re-
pufed likenesses Of two great warriors
Of ancient times. who were suppose;
to be defenders not only. Of the coun-
try but Of the home. On the morning
Of the last day Of the year they wor'
ship their ancestors and the Buddhas.
and on New Years day they worship
the god Of wealth for having brought
tAem safely through another year.
BUTTER WRAPS-News-C Champion