Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-12-29
New Years Day
Many Lands

ANEW YEARS DAY is time for
IN thanksgiving and mirth and
happiness, and in some coun-
tries, for the interchange of gifts. 1t
Is also a day which, because 1t is the
beginning of another year In ones life,
has associated with 1t a certain sa-
credness which often takes the form
Of resolutions to do more and better
things than one has ever done before.
IT is appropriate. that the series Of
~ months should open on the first day
of January, because this is the period
of the winter solstice, the turning
point Of the year, the time when earth
begins to be revivified In anticipation
OF the coming Of spring. The ancients
understood this significance and, al
though several changes In their calen-
dar took place before the present date
was made permanent, January LIST has
been, we are told, the generally ac-
copied date since the reign of the Ro-
man king Numa Pompilius, 672 b. G.
He decreed that the year should begin
l as It now does, and added two new
months to the already existing ten.
The first month was named January
In 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 IT was the
Roman custom to offer TO Janus sacri-
fee upon twelve different affairs,
Among the offerings was cake of
sifted meal with incense and wine.
The people took every precaution to
conduct themselves so perfectly that
nothing but good might be presaged
for the coming year. Latin writer's of
the time say that all strifes and diff
ferences ceased at the New Year. The
day was spent in visiting, feasting and
exchanging gifts. Indeed, the burden
of giving had become so heavy that
during the reign of Claudius he felt
forced to limit ii by decree.
In Belgium the children are espe-
ciaiIy active on New Years. Their
greatest fun is obtained by secreting
all the keys belonging to the various
doors of the house. Then they hide,
watching, lynx-eyed, from their van
tage ground for the Chance to lock up
an unsuspecting parent or uncle or
aunt. When once caught they are not
freed until they promise certain for
felt Of sYeetmeats.
In France 1t Is called "le jour de
lan"-the day of the year. Merry
making. calls and gifts reign supreme.
Dancing. singing and wine also have
prominence. Candy. not usually al
lowed to French children Is generous
IN given out January LIST is also the
day for family reunions. And In the
early morning hours relatives of any
one who has died during the year as
semble at the grave for brief service.
One of the prettiest customs in the
world is that observed nj FranfOrt-on-
the-sIain. 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 is raised
Each person lifts high glass and
with one, voice the whole city cries
out. "Prosit Neujahr" BY the time
| the twelfth stroke is reached the win
| ,lows are closed and quiet reigns as
| The old year draws It's hast breath.
In rural parts of Russia the chill
| dren. who have arisen especially early
| on this holiday. start out on n house
toulouse pilgrimage. With pockets
| brimful of dried peas and wheat.
! Doors are never locked in Russia, so
| II is an easy matter to enter. If the
occupants of the house thus visited
are asleep the children pet with peas
Those whom they dislike, and then
! sprinkle wheat over their friends.
| High mass Is celebrated on New
Years at Madrid. Many presents. are
given between friend and friend, and
| ~ the rich to the poor.
| A Chinese New Year custom Is fer
| The people 10 buy or bake small cakes
made Of rice, -four and sugar. which
with fruit ana dates, they put on
plates and place before the image of
| Buddha. This Ii the one time of the
tyear when everybody Is religious. New
1oor gods are pasted upon the doors,
consisting Of coloret prints of the re-
i puted likenesses of two great warriors
Of ancient times, who We're supposed
20 he defenders not only of the coun-
try hut of the home. On the morning
Of the last day of the year they wor-
4 shin their ancestors and the BllluhuS
and on New Years day they worship
NE god of wealth for having brought
them safely through another year.
|