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Show are asleep the children pelt with peas those whom they dislike, and then sprinkle wheat over their friends. High mass is celebrated on New Tear's at Madrid. Many presents are given between friend and friend, and by the rich to the poor. A Chinese New Year custom Is for the people to buy or bake small cakes made of rice, flour and sugar, which, with fruit and dates, they put on plates and place before the Image of Buddha. This Is the one time of the year when everybody Is religious. New door gods are pasted upon the doors, consisting of colored prints of the reputed re-puted likenesses of two great warriors of ancient times, who were supposed to be defenders not only of the country coun-try but of the home. On the morning of the last day of the year they worship wor-ship their ancestors and the Buddhas, and on New Year's day they worship the god of wealth for having brought them safely through another year. New Year's Day in Many Lands NEW YEAR'S DAY is a time for thanksgiving and mirth and happiness, and in some countries, coun-tries, for the interchange of gifts. It is also a day which, because it is the beginning of another year in one's life, has associated with it a certain sa-credness sa-credness which often takes the form of resolutions to do more and better things than one has ever done before. It is appropriate that the series of 12 months should open on the first day of January, because this is the period of the winter solstice, the turning point of the year, the time when earth begins to- be revivified in anticipation of the coming of spring. The ancients understood this significance and, although al-though several changes in their calendar calen-dar took place before the present date was made permanent. January 1st has been, we are told, the generally accepted ac-cepted date since the reign of the Roman Ro-man king !-'iraia Pompilius, G72 1?. C. Fie decreed that the year should begin as it now does, and added two new months to. the already existing ' ten. The first month was named January in honor of Hie god Janus, who was represented by the Romans as having two faces, this signifying that he was acquainted with both past and future events. On this' first day it was the Roman custom to Cfer to Janus sacrifice sacri-fice upon twelve different altars. Among the offerings was a cake of sifted meal with incense and wine. The people took every precaution to conduct themselves so perfectly that nothing but good might be presaged for the coming year. Latin writers of the time say that all strifes and differences dif-ferences ceased at the New Year., The dav was spent in visiting, feasting nnd exchanging gifts. Indeed, the burden of giving had become so heavy that during the reign of Claudius he felt forced to limit It by a decree. Tn Belgium the children are especially espe-cially active on New Year's. Their greatest fun is obtained by secreting all the keys belonging to the various doors of The house. Then they hide, watching, lynx-eyed, from their vantage van-tage ground for the chance to lock up an unsuspecting parent or uncle or aunt. When once caught they are not freed until they promise a certain forfeit for-feit of sweetmeats. In France it is called "le jour de Pan" the day of the year. Merrymaking, Merry-making, calls and gifts reign supreme. Dancing, singing and wine also have prominence. Candy, not usually allowed al-lowed to French children, is generously generous-ly given out. January 1st is also the day for family reunions. And in the early morning hours relatives of anyone any-one who has died during the year assemble as-semble at the grave for a brief service. One of the prettiest customs in the world is that observed at Franfort-nn-the-Main. Many are the gay parties which ernther on New Year's eve. and when the great cathedra! clock begins to chime the midnight hour every window win-dow of every occupied house is raised F.ach person lifts high a glass and with one voice the whole city cries rut. "Prosit Neujahr." By the time the twelfth stroke is readied the win-lows win-lows are closed and quiet reigns as the old year draws its last breath. In rural parts of Russia the children, chil-dren, who have arisen especially early on this holiday, start out on a house-to-house pilgrimage, with pockets ! brimful of dried peas and wheat. Floors are never locked in Russia, so It is an easy matter to enter. If the occurants of the house thus visited |