Evening star., 1935-12-29


For We are BARNS come out to play,
Get up and gie's US our Hogmanay."
Housewives anticipate these re-
quests and always have ready the ira
ditional gifts-apples. oranges, currant
Scones or half-pennies. AS these visits
continue during the greater part of
the day, the children collect a great
number of gifts before they finally
return home at dark.
The young men spend the early
evening hours "guizarding.' They
dress i'll outlandish costumes, mask
their faces with brown paper, carry
turnip jack-o'-lanterns, and visit the
kitchens OF the big houses" where
they enact a crude play and usually
receive some small gift, or token. on
leaving. These impromptu dramatics
depict the adventures of Galashan, a
Scottish hero, whose physician ac-
companied him to render aid if he
were injured by an adversary. "Guiz-
arding" closely resembles the Eng
hsh mummer's story of Saint George
and the Dragon.
The Scotch start making their New
Year calls promptly on the last stroke
of twelve Friends start out to call
on each other, carrying the custom
ary gifts--a small bottle of brandy
or oaten cakes-each hoping his Will
be the first foot" to cross the thresh-
old in the New Year and so bring
good luck" to the house all year.
First footing" plays large part in
Scotch love making. Each laddie is
eager to indicate the lassie of his
choice by being her first foot" and
the lassie is all a-fiutter for fear the
right man does not cross her thresh-
old first.
Also, at this time, it is permis-
sible for the "blushing maid" to
encourage her awkward swain" to
declare his affection.
Formerly. all classes in Scotland
participated in the New Year Eve
merry-making on the city streets.
A century ago, however, a gang Of
pickpockets mingled with the crowd
at Edinburgh on New Year Eve and
everything of value found its way
into their pockets. Since then the
well-to-do classes do not publicly
join the Daft Days" celebration in
the city streets.
IN FRANCE, as in Scotland, New
Year, not Christmas, is the ma
tional holiday. Every one joins in
the New Year eve jolliflcation on the
streets and at midnight they greet the
New Year with ringing bells and
deafening noise. The observance of
New Year day Is centered around
the home with family gatherings,
feasting, exchange of gifts and making
the customary calls.
In England, as in most countries,
gift-giving is an important part of
the festivities at the New Year. Since
gift-giving Is custom of the Christ
mas. as well as the New Year, cele-
bration, distinction is made between
the gifts of these two days. Christmas
gifts are from the rich to the poor,
Va . AnoSbC1 W 4lAo dCRC1lOCAlSs
New Year gifts are exchanged between
friends and acquaintance. The Eng
lish rustic, as "a charm against the
evil eye" for the coming year, drinks
toast to himself from the first
pitcherful Of water drawn from q well
or spring after IL o'clock.
In European countries the drinking
Of toasts supplanted the ancient Of
fering of sacrifices to insure good
luck" for the coming year. In Frank
fort-on- the Main, in Germany, there
exists the unique custom Of a city
"toasting ITSELF Promptly on the
stroke Of IL from the cathedral clock
windows are thrown open, people lean
out with glasses held high and shout
"Prosit Neu Jahr"-Happy New Year.
Thousands of voices invoke the bless
ing of the New Year for their city
and for themselves. BY the last stroke
Of IL the toast has been drunk, the
windows closed and silence settles
over the city.
On sylvester Abend, st. Sylvester's
eve, December 81, hilarious merry
making crowds usher in Berlins New
Year by "bonnetting" the stranger,
or forgetful citizen. Rarely on New
Year eve are top hats worn on the
streets after dark, but II one should
appear 1t Is Immediately and legiti-
mately smashed by q blow Of the fist.
The children seem to take q con-
spicuous part in New Year festivities
in all North European countries. The
English children take down their
Christmas tree on January 6, Twelfth
night, while the German children
strip theirs on New Year eve. Just
before supper the German tree is
lighted and the dismantling, or plum
dering," begins. Each child is armed
with scissors, with which he Snips the
sweetmeats and toys from the tree.
After supper Is cleared away, the
"plunder" piled on huge tray. and
two decks Of cards are placed on the
table in front of the hausfrau. She
spreads one deck on the table and
places q bit Of "plunder" on each card.
Ths cards Of the ether deck are dealt