Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-12-24
Our
Superstitious
Vein
EncircEns Wreath o. Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day :


~ YER since the dawn Of time the
happenings of New Years day
- 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 its delu-
sions. There Is no day in the year
without its enclrcling wreath Of fancy;
this first day of them all is wondrous-
ly bedecked. Not even Christmas Is
so ancient, and so world renowned.
and 1t stands first in the folklore Of
every language. On. New Years day
In ancient Egypt, when as vet the
pyramids were unbui1t, 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. Hastings and
cRrousings on this day, and the was
sail bowl passed merrily around. This
was a great vessel filed 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 derlde the
idea. The Bible charm was one famll-
lar to our grandfathers, and was used
by religious people even down to the
present generation. Il is solemn end
interesting. and well worth recording.
''When the clock strikes II on New
Years. eve, pick up your Bible and
open II at random, and walking back
ward to a table, lay the book down,
face open, upon 1t. Turn around three
times, take up the book, read the verse
upon which your thumb falls. It will
| tell your fate for the coming year.
For instance, II 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 8 very pleasant year. But conceive
the horror of one who should open
10 these words: $50 he died. end was
gathered to his fathers" or I'm hel.
he lifted up his eyes. being In tor
| ment."
In Switzerland the maiden borrows
her mothers wedding ring ties II with
/ a hair from her own head, then sus-
ponds II Just over the rim OF tea
cup. all the while counting rapidly the
years Of her own age. OF course the
hair-hung ring trembles and knocks
against the cup. ana each little tap
counts one year before she will wed !;
so she must count very fast, OF be
shocked At the number Of taps In
Norway the kind OF fish caught on
the day foretells ''fsherman's luck"
for the coming year. In rural New
England almost every locality has
some special charm Of fortune-teiling
of It's own for this day of fate. The
Chinese have used cards for thou,
sands Of years. and the queerest thing
Ii the world is a Chinese New YeGr's
card. 1t gives all the complimentary
titles Of the owner, and Is almost as
large as q wall map. In olden times
Il was the custom. for tenants to give
New Years gifts to their landlords.
and every loysl subject owed 0 gift
TO his sovereign. We read how good
Queen Elizabeth was such a favorite
that her gifts were marvels of taste
and extravaganza. In our country we
give presents on Christmas day. hui
in France they nre reserved for The
tir5t OF lie year.