New Ulm review., 1920-12-29
New Day
Many Lands

~ TEW< YEARS DAY is a time for
IN Thanksgiving and mirth and
happiness, and in some coun-
tries, for the interchange Of gifts. It
is also a day which, because it is the
beginning of another year in ones life,
has associated with it; a certain sa-
tcredness which often takes the form
things than one has ever done before.
1t is appropriate that the series of
II months should open on the first day
of January, because this is. the period
of the winter solstiee, the = turning
point of''the year, the time when earth.
begins to- be revivifed in anticipation
of the coming of spring. The aneients.
understood this significance and, al
though several changes in their calen-
dar took place before the present date
was made permanent, January 1st has
J been, wesfare told. the generally ac-s
cepted date since the reign Of the Ro-
man king Numa Pompilius, 672 B. G..
! He decreed that the year should begin
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
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 ito Janus sacri-s
fee upon twelve different affairs.
Among the offerings was cake Of
sifted meal witht 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. Tile;
day was spent in visiting, feasting and,
exchanging gifts. Indeed, the burden
of giving had become so heavy that
during the reign Of Clauflius he felt
forced to limit itebya decree. "
4 In Belgium the children are espe-
cially 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 a certain for
felt Of sWeetmeats.
F In France it is called ",ea Jour de
l'an'-tfe daYeof 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
ly given out. Janunry 1st is also the
| day for: family reunions. And in the
early morning hours relatives of any
one who has died during the year as
selnble at the grave for brief service.
One of the prettiest customs in the
world is that observed at Franfort-on-
the-Mafn. Many. are the gay. parties
| which gather onS New Years eve, and
when the. great cathedral clock begins
to chime the midnight hour every win
dow Of every occupied house issraised
Each person lifts high a glass and
with one voice the whole city cries
out, "Prosit Neuiahr." BY the time
| the twelfth stroke Is reached the win
| dows are closed and quiet reigns as
the oldeyear. draws its last breath.
In rural parts of Russia the chill
dren, who have arisen especially early
on thissshSlday. start out on q house
toulouse pilgrimage, with pockets
brimful of dried peas and wheat.
Doors are never locked in Russia. SO
lit is an easy matter to enter. If the
| occnnaY1ts Of the house thus visited