The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-01
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

holidays or special days it may be
a matter of interest as we'll as surprise
to know that at one tine in the world 5
history the custom of giving of presents
was on New Years Day instead of
Christmas.
/ got interested in the matter and got
busy and tried to chase the story back
behind history to legends and on down
until at last Christmas to a large extent
took the place. of New Years as time
for the exchange Of gifts 1t proves to
be most interesting study.
Now, l have no wish to create the
impression that what ! set forth is in
the nature of original research or that
there are no missing links. 1 will simply
try to give out some of the things found
out from many sources in as simple and
gossipy way as possible in order to give
my readers new angle on the chang
ing and origin of customs.
o'i INC ca ''ese ieooiueo oeieoi a'ioiis
we find notice of feasting and the inter-
change of gifts as the usage of the day
Among the Romans in the time of Numa,
reputed second King of Rome, about SIS
672 B. c., the day was dedicated to
Janus, the double-faced deity, who faced
the future while he looked back upon the
past. the NEUROLOGICAL hero who full
filed the neero's idea of man who
didn't know whether he was rwine or
COMM" The Romans offered him a
cake of sifted meal with incense. salt and
wine. (This was before the day of pro-
hibition.)
ouelohius' the Roman historian, known
.nroush MS hVes Oh the u caesars, al
iuues 10 the bringing OF presents TO the
capital, and TacituS makes a similar ref
erence to the practice of giving and re-
ceiving New Years gifts. Under the
Caesars these presents became such
source of personal profit to the sovereign.
and so onerous to his subjects. that
Claudius limited them BY decree: for the
emperors at the new year exacted from
their subjects tribute Of a pound of gold
Congratulatory presents were also made
to the magistrate who entered upon Of
flee on this day. 1t was species of New
Years graft.
Inc sen'ie art Oh commanding presents
Ny ehperors ana oI1lcehoiders is worth
but to show that human nature changes
but little, for the old Romans in the
government Saddle knew how to ride on
the backs of their subjects without
fall as well as do their modern political
descendants understand the wav to pick
the pockets of the people who hone to
profit by concessions. The old Romans
called the quasi-present "strena.' while
we give it the name Of graft.
ny n"npe ena 'ellh eA'ehoeo 70
ais new rear gii's IN Rome is 'raol-
''ohaiis ue'i'eu rom custom iili'ia'eo
oS 'ne iesehoars hhs ia'ius' 10 "hoin
oiahe"es VI 'eitan eheieo IN 'ne
Strength, were presented as good omen
on the first day of the year 747 B. c.
After Claudius put it under the ban in
the Roman empire the custom was con-
tinued by the Christian kingdoms into
which the western empire was divided. 1t
has never been the long suit of kings to
let any revenue get by them if they can
grab it.
~ 1n 'iis' 'iie n.nsiish
oni o'iio.ei, VINO uieo III izos' Henry Ii
INV" Gu 'n0 no'ian pfeceoehl ny eAtor'-
re sn.s iioni ms supJec's
i'e iai'on on'e SCI oon.'hueu Until 'ne
e'sA =. ue ina III
ING s'A's pecahe voluntary
ms no"e'e' WIN Inc perSonai pop
i'i..s VI 'no ruie Ing ous'oii reacneu
IT'S 'iiinaA ~ Inc 'i'ne u ing Auoors' "oi-
soy =" Ne~ iees save I1enfy VII . soiu
Guy 'A'ueu ZIG ~ .ne Coinage u ina.
money given to King Henry VII by all
classes of his subjects on New Years
Day, 1888.
Agnes Strickiano' IN her LIVES OF 'ns
@ueehes OF England quotes the 1oNow-
ing ifo" IT, stating 'hat the orisinal
was IN the possession OF refer lie NeVe'
ESQ 'on tne DAY OF the new rear |
wneh the hins came 10 ms ioot-shee''
ms usner OF MS cnamper door SAID 10
him, Sire, here is a New Years gift COM