Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-08

In celebrating New Years day
we link ourselves with q past Of
such antiquity as Outdates history.
The custom Is undoubtedly founded
ON sun worship and Is apparently
common to all people. So long ago
As 5000 years before the birth of
Jesus Of Nazareth, New Years was
observed by the BabylOnians In
connection with the rites OF their
god Marduk, or BelmerOdach, this
holiday lasting II or IL days Of
the latter part of March. The jew
ish Purim, the Greek CrOn0s, the
Roman SaGurnalia, and even the
modern carnival, are all said to be
derived from the festival Of the
BabyIOnians-
The Druids, like the Babylonians,
greeted the new year in March and then
cut the mistletoe, offered sacrifices and
toasted.
ON the other side of the world. the
Mexicans celebrated the occasion by
sacrificing human beings TO their SER
pent god.
It was to the god Of wisdom that the
BinduS dedicated their holiday season.
whether it was celebrated by feast or
fast, no one knows. The new year was
also rishered in with special ceremonies
IN Egypt, Persia, China and other
countries. The average mind sees moth
ing but the ceremonies and does not
trouble itself to attempt the discovery
Of their origin, and yet in this instance,
1t is not far to Seek-the great sun
who is the visible source of warmth and
light, was on his return journey.
The custom Of giving presents belongs
to New Years day and not 70 Christ
mas, and was common in Rome, France
and at the English court until the 18th
century. In England New Years eve
was known as Singing Eve" as then
the last of the carols were sung. The
Scotch denominated the holidays as
the Daft Days" which name would
appropriately describe New Years eve
in most of our large cities when horns
and whistles blow and pandemonium
reigns.
The Puritans of New England regard
ed Christmas as a Catholic festival, as
the name indicates; therefore, they
gave presents on New Years, and In
This way they were following the for
nler custom of the English nobility. In
Catholic or Episcopal communities,
Christmas, and not New Years was
the day Of days.
In Fishers Men, Women and Man
ners in Colonial Days" we read: There
Is also very little doubt that the New
York Dutch gave us the custom OF cele-
brating New Years day" and then he
pleasure Of coaSting "a Dutch amuSe-
ment) then were the first to introduce
negro slavery into the country and
they gave us deadly compound
known as the doughnut, which has
wrought more destruction to American
stomachs than can be atoned for all
the benefits that Holland has con-
ferred."
OF the manner in which the New
York Dutch honored the first day Of
the year, Fisher says: Some give for ,
NAL dinners, and in the country car /
rage loads not infrequently go around /
from house to house making calls, /
picking up additions to the party and
finally ending with supper at some
hospital house, and in an evening with
games, refreshed by apples, roast chest |
nuts, plain cake and sweet cider" Those /
who are familiar with Dutch cooking /
may be permitted to doubt that the
cake was ever plain or the cider with I
no tang.
Our presidents always receive on
New Years day, fashion dating from
1890 when Washington, whose head
quarters were then in New York, gave
a reception between IL O'Clock and 3
p. M and afterward expressed the wish
that the custom might be maintained.
The foregoing Is a lengthy preface
TO New Years as celebrated in Mon
tana, but 1t follows the precedent Of
the learned and veracious Diedrich
Knickerbocker, who began his famous
History of New York" with the Gre
alton of the world How can one under
stand the present who does not know
the past?
In 1853, moved by the spirit Of the
day, three young girls then living in
Bannack, set out unattended to make a
few calls. They first called on George
Chrisman, where they were entertained
in true New Years fashion, and on
leaving his cabin, went farther down