Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-12-31
Our
Superstitious
Vein
Encirclins Wreath Of Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day

IN YER since the dawn of time the
~ happenings Of New Years day
have been said to foretel tht
luck of the coming months. For there
is a vein of superstition in the human
race, and all Of us share in its delu
sions. There is no day in the yeaI
without its encircling 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 yet the
pyramids were unbuilt, there were
grand professions and smoking sac.
rifices. In Sparta it was celebrated
by the conservation of youths to mill
tary service.
Among the Saxons and old Germans
were great rejoicings, feastings and
csrousings 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 deride the
idea. The Bible charm was one famil-
lar 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 II on New
Years eve, pick up your Bible and
open it 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. 1t will
tell your fate for the coming year.
For instance, If 1t should be: sand
He will love thee and bless thee and
multiply thee" or eff / take the
wings of the morning and dwell in the
uttermost parts Of tie EARTH" we ex.
pect very pleasant year. But conceive
the horror of one who should open
to these words: $50 he died, and was
gathered to his fathers" or "In hell
he lifted up his eyes, being in tor.
ment."
In Switzerland the maiden borrows
her mothers wedding ring, ties it with
a hair from her own head, then sus.
pends II just over the rim of a tea.
cup, all the while counting rapidly the
years of her own age. OF course the
bair-hung ring trembles and knocks
against the cup, and each little tar
| counts one year before she will wed,
so she must count very fast, or be
| shocked at the number Of taps. Ir
Norway the kind of fish caught or
the day foretells 'fisherman'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
custom Of sending cards and gifts OF
the first day of the year is so ancient
that the historian Of Manners and Gus
toms can find no beginning. The
| Chinese have used cards for thou
sands Of years, and the queerest thins
In the world is Chinese New Yeer'!
card. 1t gives all the complimentary
titles Of the owner, and is almost al
large as a wall map. In olden time.
1t was the custom for tenants to give
New Years gifts to their landlords
and every loysl subject owed gif
to his sovereign. We read how goot
Queen Elizabeth was such a favorit,
that her gifts were marvels of tast,
and extravaganza. In our country W,
give presents on Christmas day, bu
In France they are reserved for tn
first Of the year.