, 1920-12-30
New Years Day
Many Lands
T Ew YEARS DAY is a time for
IN thanksgiving and mIrth and

AYEW YEARS DAY is a time for
thanksgiving and mIrth and
happiness. Inc In some coun-
tries. for the interchange of gifts. II
Is also a day which. because II Is the
beginning of another year In ones life.
has associated with II a certain sa-
credness which often takes the form
Of resolutions to do more n better
things than one has ever done before.
II is appropriate that the series OF
II months should open on the frs. day
Of January, because this is the period
OF the winter s~olstice, the turning
point of h 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 caien-
dar took place before the present date
was made permanent. January LIST has
been. we are told. the generally ac-
cepted date since the reign OF the Ro-
a king Numa Pompilius. 872 b. @.
He decreed that the veal should begin
as II now does. and added two new
months to the already existing en-.
The first month was named January
In honor of the god Janus. who was
represented by the Romans ms having
W faces. this sIgnIfying that he was
acquainted with both past and future
events. On this first day II wns the
Roman custom TO offer to Janus sacri-
ace upon twelve different nltars.
Among the offerings was a cake OF
sffted meal with incense and wine.
The people took every precaution to
conduct themselves so perfectly thnt
nothing hut good might he %presaged
for the coming year Latin writer's Of
the time say hat 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 q decree.
In Belgium the children are espe-
cially nctive on New Years. Their
greatest fun IL 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 unsnspecting parent or uncle or
aunt. when once caught they are no
freed until they promise a certain for
felt Of sweetmeats.
In France II IL called '1e 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
lowed 10 French children. is generous
~ given out. January LIST Is also the
day for family reunions. And In the
early morning hours relatives OF any
n who has died during the year as
semhie at the grave for n brief service.
One OF the prettlest customs In the
world Ia that observed at Frnnfort-on-
the-Main. 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 n glass and
with one voice the whole city cries
out, "Proslt Neujahr." BY the time
the twelfth stroke IL reached the win
dows are closed and quiet reigns Us
the old year draws its last 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
brfmfui Of dried peas and wheat.
Doors are never locked In Russia. 30
IL II m easy matter TO enter. II the
occupants Of the house thus visited