The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1922-12-29

midnight on New Years Eve was al
ways considered time of special ac-
tivity for the spirits of evil In order
to overcome them holier and more
powerful influences had to be invoked
The evil spirits, or genii as can be
gathered from the Icelandic and An
glo-Saxon folklore, and even from
words In their dialect, could be over
come by an appeal to the good genii,
the hoghmen, or hillmen.
Probably imported from Italy was
the superstition that Oh New Years
Eve the "evil eye" was all the more
malignant. Then, too, there was
widespread practice of the Setting of
mete or drynke by nights on the
benche to fede Allholde or Goblyn"
In some of the dialogues of the IA
nous medieval morality play, olives
and Pauper," we find mention of this
and many other New Years customs
intended to counteract the activities
Of the forces of evil
Christmas Cheer Continued.
Perhaps what contributed most to
this general fear Of sinister influences
was the deep drinking among the peo-
pie, which continued almost uninter-
ruptedly from Christmas until New
Years day. Up to the Ninth century,
except in the Syrian and Coptic
churches, New Years was not cele-
brated as a special feast day, but was
looked upon as merely the octave of
Christmas. Therefore the Christmas
cheer was continued throughout the
entire octave without abatement. 1t
flickered up for the last time on New
Years day, as Is clear from the one
hundred and ninety eighth sermon of
Augustine, bishop of Hippo.
In England on New Years Eve the
young women went about carrying
the ''wassail bowr' and singing from
door to door certain verses-a custom
which had much in common with the
hogmanay practice in Scotland. Het
pint, the strange brew which In that
country was carried about In the
streets at midnight, was composed of
ale, spirits, sugar, nutmeg or CHINA
mon. 1t was powerful potion, the
effects of which were almost imme-
diately evident. Ritson in a collection
of ancient songs gives us a few sung
to the quaffings of this prince of
liquors, old or new" One such is:
A jolly wassel bowl,
A wassel of good ale,
Well fare the buffers soul
That setteth this to sale:
Out jolly wassel!
Notwithstanding the opposition
which it has met since the year 1911.
when many abuses were discovered
in the practice the custom of hurry
ing first across the threshold of his
sweetheart has been practiced by
many young lad In Anglo-Saxon
countries. The young lady listened
attentively from the time the midnight
bells ceased to ring TO catch the first
football on the floor
The welfare Of the family, particu.
larly the fairer portion Of 1t, was sup
posed to depend upon the character
OF the first conner after the midnight
hour had sounded Great care was
taken to exclude all improper persons,
especially as the midnight intruder
enjoyed the privilege OF imprinting
hearty kiss" on the lips Of the ex-
pectant lassie.
BestowIng Gifts.
The custom Of bestowing gifts has
become so inextricably linked with the
New Years celebrations In Paris that
New Years day Is still called the Jour
have had its rise In the conduct of the
mobiles of the late Middle ages, who
were In the habit of bestowing gifts
upon their sovereign. Naturally the
ruler, not wishing to remain under OBJ
legations to them, returned the gift In
a princely fashion. In England, how
ever, especially In the time of Queen
Elizabeth, this custom became SO bur
densome that 1t occasioned general
protest among the mobiles "Good
Queen Bess' was not slow to indicate
just what kind Of gifts she expected,
or rather exacted. She let 1t be
known also what consequences would
follow the Withholding of the Jewels
and the silks which she looked for at
the hands Of her subjects. She was
30 niggardly In her own gifts that we
can understand how the custom fell
Into disuse and In the time of George
Nv was abandoned.
The giving of gifts was also very
common among the people. On Christ
mas, and often on st. Stephens day.
employers, parents and masters pre-
sented Christmas boxes to their de-
pendents. It was form Of Christ
mas charity. On New Years day,
however gifts were exchapged -