Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1920-12-29
New Years Day
in
Many Lands

u thanksgiving anQ IQlFtn anu
happiness, und in some coun-
tries, for the Interchange of gifts. 1t
is also day which, because 1t Is the
beginning Of another year in ones life
has associated with it certain sa-
credneSs which often takes tho form
Of resolutions Ia do more and better
things .han one has ever done before.
1t is appropriate thnt the series Of
: II months should open on the first day
Of January, because this Is the period
Of the winter solstlce, the turning
point Of tic year, the time when earth
begins 10 he revIvltied in anticipation
OF the coming Of spring. The ancicnts
understood this significance and, al
though several changes In their cnlcn.
uar TOOK place before the present date
was made permanent. January 1st has
been, we are told. the generally ac-
cepted date since the reign Of the Ro-
man king Numa Pompilius, 072 b. c.
He decreed that the year should begin
as 1t 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 MS having
two faces. this signifying that he was
acquainted with both past and future
events. On this first day 1t was the
Roman custom to offer to Janus sacri-
fee upon twelve different a;tnrs
Among the offerings wns 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 oil 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 80 heavy that
during the reign OF Claudius he felt
forced to limit It by decree.
In Belgium the children are espe
cially active on New Years. Their
greatest fun Is obtained by sccreting
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 n certain for
felt Of sweetments.
In France It Is called ale jour de
l'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 to French children. is generous
~ given out. January 1st Ia also the
day for family reunions. And in the
early morning hours relatives Of any
one who has died drring the year as.
semble at the grave tur brief service.
One OF the prettlest customs In the
world IS that observed at Franfort-on-
the.Main. Many are the gay parties
which gather OF. 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 a glass and
with one voice the whole city cries
out, "Prosit Ncujahr." BY the time
the twelfth stroke Is reached the win.
dows are closed and quiet reigns az
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 pocltets
brimful Of dried peas and wheat
Doors are never locked In Russia, 81
It is an easy matter to enter. II the
occupants Of the house thus visited