Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-12-31
Our
Superstitious
Vein
-
EncircKng Wreath Of Fancy
Bedecks New Years Day

YER since the dawn of time the
happenings of New Years day
have been said TO foreteli the
luck of the coming months. For there
is vein of superstition II 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 woncrous-
ly 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
In ancient Egypt, when as yet the
pyramids were unbuilt, 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 feastings and
carousings on this day, and the was
sail bowl passed merrily around This
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 devotlons 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 famil-
lar to our grandfathers, and was used
by religious people even down to the
present generation. 1t is solemn cn1
interesting, and well worth recording.
when the clock strikes II on New
Years eve, pick up your Bible and
open II at ranceai. and walking back
ward To 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. 1t will
tell your fate for the coming year
For instance, IL 1t should be- "And
He win love thee and bless thee and
wings of the morning and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the 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 II with
a hair from her own head, the~ sus-
ponds 1t just over the rim OF tea
cup all the while counting rapidly the
years of her own age. or course the
hair-hung ring trembles and knocks
against the cup, and each little tap
counts one year before she win wed;
so she must count very fast. or be
shocked at the number OK 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-telling
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 wall map. In olcen times
II was the custom for tenants to give
New Years gifts TO their landlords.
and every loySl subject owed a gift
to his sovereign. we read how good
Queen Elizabeth was such faverite
chat her gifts were m0ryels Of taste
and extravaganza. In our country we
give presents on Christmas day. bur
in France they are reServed for tho
FIRST of the year