| Show I MOST OF GAY DAY GAY 1 1 fOLD OLD NEW YEAR i CUSTOMS PASS fit Good Wishes Toasts K Only Remain to Modern World By BILL McDOUGALL i Wassail to your health That's about all we get on New Years rears day anyhow good anyhow good wishes and maybe a toast Time was when gifts were exchanged exchanged exchanged ex ex- ex- ex changed the first day of the new year ear but that was when the calendar calendar calendar calen calen- dar was different and Christmas and New Years Year's day were far apart f 1 In fact all the time old-time customs except merrymaking have about vanished from observance in the United St States tes Tisa a sad state of affairs Some of the old superstitions however however however how how- ever still exist good resolutions for Instance stan And its it's still unlucky for woman to be the first person to to cross your threshold after the clock strikes midnight December 31 A dark man will bring good goodluck goodluck goodluck luck luck the rest of the year year put but beware be- be ware of blondes blones f I Old Chinese Custom Merry old England seems to be benio nio most t replete with New Year customs customs customs cus cus- toms legends and superstitions some of which have been transplanted transplanted transplanted trans trans- planted to this country I But in the opinion of good business business business busi busi- ness men especially creditors the Chinese probably have the most holesome custom They pay their debts on New Years Year's day day but but then Chinese New Year does not fall on January 1 it I-it it comes omes later in the year ear New Years Year's day was originally a 8 day of gifts in fact fad the Roman emperors demanded tribute from their subjects on that day The first of the year since time was reckoned has variously begun on March 25 September 6 September Septem Septem- ber 21 and December 21 21 Even after adoption of the Gregorian calendar with January 1 as the official date it was the day of giving instead of 1 Christmas But time has abolished t that hat practice too Origin of Tin Money I That bane of husbands pin money can be blamed on New Years Dears too We Ve haven't always had hadI I pins with us When first invented they were expensive and difficult to obtain So a pin was the most I sought after gift by women If hubby couldn't kick through with a aI I 1 pin he came across with the price to to buy one hence the ex express expression pres- pres s sion siDn pin money But best custom of all many celebrants will agree was the old English inauguration of drinking a ahot ahot hot phot hot pint a liquid potion of exceeding exceeding exceeding ex ex- taste and alcoholic alcohol c content while reciting Well Vell may we all be Ill III may we never neer see Heres to toO the king And the good company I That was one of the original toasts Another is reproduced on this page 1 A Afew few more customs Dipping After the clock strikes 12 open the family Bible at random and lind with your eyes closed place a finger on a page The passage on which your finger rests will omen good or bad luck the rest of the year ear To Bring Luck Running around the house When the clock strikes 12 leap from your easy easy chair dash madly and completely completely completely com com- around your home come comeback comeback comeback back and catch your breath in the chair We dont don't know what kind of luck that practice is supposed to bring Sprinkling If you get doused today dont don't blame us Its It's perfectly perfectly perfectly per per- legitimate on New Years Year's day for children to go from house to house singing and sprinkling water Vater over residents for good luck Scrambling When the children come around abound to sprinkle throw nuts Huts oranges and small change out the window for them to scramble for Then you can get in a little dousing yourself when they dive en masse for the coins Kissing Next to the hot pint We Ve ve like this best the privilege of if every man the legend goes to steal a kiss from every woman he meets during early New Year hours |
