Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-12-24
Our
Superstitious
Vein
Encircling Wreath Of Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day

IN YER since the dawn Of time the
happenings of New Years day
0 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 It's delu-
sions. There is no day in the year
without it's encircling wreath of fancy;
this first day of them all is wondrous-
~ bedecked. Not even Christmas is
so ancient, and so world renowned,
and it stands first in the folklore OF
every language. On New Years day
In 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 rejoicings, feastings and
carousings on this day.. and the was
sail bowl passed merrily around. This
was a great vessel filled 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
nv religious people even down to the
present generation. 1t is solemn End
interesting, and well worth recording.
ssWhen the clock strikes II on New
Years eve, pick up your Bible and
open it at random, and walking back
ward to a table, lay the book down,
face open. upon it. TURF around three
times. take up the book, reed the verse
upon which your thumb falls. It will
tell your fate for the coming year.
For instance, if 1t should be: "And
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 it with
O hair from her own head, then sus-
ponds it Just over the rim of tea
cup, all the while counting rapidly the
| fho
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 dav 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 Years
card. 1t gives all the complimentary
| titles of the owner, and is almost as
large as a wall map. In Olden times
| it was the custom for tenants to give
New Years gifts to their landlords,
and every loyal subject owed gift
to his sovereign. We read how good
Queen Elizabeth was such s. 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.