The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-12-23
Our
SuperstitiOus
Vein
Encirchng Wreath Of Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day

~ YER since the dawn of time the
n 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 encircling wreath of fancy;
this first day of them all is wOndrOus-
~ bedecked. Not even Christmas is
so ancient, and so world renowned.
and it stands first in the folklore of
every language. On New Years day
ia ancient Egypt, when as yet the
pyramids were unbuilt, there were
grand professions and smoking sac
rfices. In Sparta 1t was celebrated
by the conservation of youths to mill
tary service.
Among the SaXons and Old Germans
we're great rejoicings, feastings and
caroudngs on this day, and the was
sail bowl passed merrly 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 a desire 10 peer into
the future is really common to US all,
no matter how we affect to deride the
| idea. The Bible charm was one fainl-
| Jar to our grandfathers, and was used
| by religious people even down to the
present generation. 1t is solemn and
| interesting. and well worth recording.
when the clock strikes L. on New
Years eve, pick up your Bible and
open il at random, and walking back
ward to a table, lay the book down,
| face open. upon it. Turn around three
| times, take up the book, read the verse
upon which your thumb falls. II will
| tell your fate for the coming year
| For instance, II 1t should be: "AnC
| He will love thee and bless thee ane
! multiply thee" or "If | take the
wings of the morning and dwell In the
uttermost parts Of the EARTH" we ex
pect a very pleasant year. But conceive
the horror of one who should oper
to these words: $50 he died. and wa:
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
hair from her own head, then sus
ponds II just over the rim of a 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, and each little tai
counts one year before she will wed
so she must count very fast, or be
shocked at the number of taps. liz
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-tellins
of its own for this day of fate. The
Chinese have used cards for thou
sands Of years, and the queerest thing
in the world Is a Chinese New Years
card. Ii gives all the complimentary
titles of the owner, and is almost as
large as a wall map. In olden times
il was the custom for tenants to give
New Years gifts to their landlords
and every loy&l subject owed a gift
to his sovereign. We read how goOC
Queen Elizabeth was such a favoritt
that her gifts were marvels Of taste
and extravaganza In our country We
give presents on Christmas day, hu
in France they are reserved for thu
first of the year.