Evening star., 1935-12-29
OLD RITES GREET NEW YEAR
Holiday One of Few Universally Celebrated and Has Been
Since Beginning of Recorded History-Occasion Inva-
riably Mans Symbol of Improved Fortune

| to those around the table. The per.
son who holds the card which matches
that held up by the hausfrau gets the
''plunder." Following the 'plunder.
raf1e," hot lemonade toasts are drunk
and every one, even the children, joins
| in the closing toast with its touching
| sentiment:
ITO all everywhere. who may bs
thinking of me tonight"
THE Belgian children's special part
Of the New Year celebration is
in the morning instead of New Year
eve. Soon after breakfast on January
| l, they collect all the door keys in
the house and begin stealthily watch
ing the movements OF their elders for
sugar aunts" and "uncles." When
a grown-up enters a room, he or she
is locked in by the children. These
sugar aunts" or "uncles" are not
freed until they agree to the children's
demands for sweetmeats.
Gift-giving was a customary part
| Of the New Year observances, as in
dicated by the Pilgrim bottles" found
in Egyptian ruins. These glazed
earthenware bottles with neckS shaped
like lily flowers carried inscriptions
! wishing good luck in the New Year
/ to the poSsesSor" In remote ages the
Egyptians New Year festival, with
its elaborate and mystical religious
ceremonies. centered around the Nile
| River and its food.
The people in ancient Indian and
Babylonian times believed their deities
slept through the New Year celebra-
ton. This removal of restraint pre-
sumably explains the abandoned revs
I elries and the licentious orgies Of their
10 or IL day festive period. Besides
carousals, giving of gifts and making
calls were prominent features In the
| holidays observance.
Today, as in olden days, pine trees
! trimmed with straw and seaweed have
important places in the outdoor deco
rations for the Japanese New Year
season. Formerly holly was extern
sively used in these decorations, as 1t
was believed that the prick Of the
thorns on the leaves would scare away
| devils" The Emperor's first bath,
/ HatSumizu, taken early on New Year
morning, is a religious rite of cleans
ing and publication performed by the
ruler to bring peace and prosperity to
Japan and his people"
| THE Chinese, following the example
of their forefathers, 'trample"
or crush out the old year on New Year
eve. They place punches of sesame
straw in the yards to warn Of ap-
preaching evil spirits or devils. On
this night a knock on the door is never
answered before midnight lest the
visitor be a'devil The families light
fire crackers before going to bed and
lamp burns all night for protection
| against demons.
The Chinese people go to bed early
on New Year eve, then get up at
midnight "for the passage of the year"
and to make the first offerings to
Heaven, earth and the genius Of pros.
perity. After the members Of the fam.
lily make their usual salutations to
their parents with added New Year
wishes all join in eating fritters.
After this repast the entire family,
clad in red and green clothes and
carrying flowers, 60 out on the streets
to receive the traditional salutations
from those of inferior classes. In
China, as in Scotland, the people
make calls just after midnight and
exchange New Year greetings. Then
they go to the cemeteries, where they
burn paper and set of firecrackerS
on the graves of their ancestors.
In the United States the New Year
observance has always followed along
traditional lines of old European
countries, except in gift-giving. The
English colonistS who settled in the
North did not continue this custom
Of the mother country, as did those
In the South, where gift-giving Is
still a recognized part of the days
celebration. That delightful centuries.
old practice Of making New Year calls,
which reached its heyday in the Dutch
Colonial days in Old New York, now
seems decidedly on the wane In many
pdrCS OF the country.
The religious portion of the New
Year ceremonies, whether pagan rite
or Christian service, emphasizes the
fundamental purpose Of the New Year
to bury the past and start anew.
Today serious minded people make
New Year resolutions and hope, there.
by, to forget the past and secure the
promise Of prosperous future. The
old English custom Of ringing muf1ed
bells before midnight and unmufied
bells after midnight, typif1es, through
all the ages, the shift in human
thoughts at this hour from gloomy
past TO a joyous outlook for the fl.
ture. Midnight services in dimly
lighted churches, with inspiring
music and uplifting song, bring the
message of renewed hope and courage
for the coming year. The New Year,
despite the carnival spirit which well
comes 1t, reafirms. as In the years
gone by, its heritage Of hope to- all
mankind,