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Show Spirit of Hope Symbolizes All ; New Year Rites The observation of New Year's is universal, and although al-though the precise date of its solemnization may vary among different races and creeds, the spirit of hospitality hospital-ity and hopefulness prevails traditionally. Prior to China's adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the Chinese New Year was cele brated during the time of the first moon around the first of February. Febru-ary. Traditionally, Tradi-tionally, all debts must be paid by midnight mid-night on New Year's Eve or ."face" is lost on New Year's Day. In the old days, the celebration cele-bration began a week prior to the Eve when homage was paid to the Kitchen God and climaxed on the "fifteenth day of the First Moon" by "Teng Chieh," the Feast of Lanterns. The progression of festivities was accompanied by good conduct among young and old, parties and exchanges of greeting cards. Hindus Celebrate in April. The Hindus use a lunar calendar and solemnize their New Year toward the last of April. Many of the devout make pilgrimages to the Ganges and other holy streams for the purpose of washing away their sins, others offer propitiatory gifts to the gods in local temples, while feasting, exchanges of calls and greeting cards prevail. Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is one of the hiehest of Ortho dox holy days. Also known as the Feast of Trumpets, Trump-ets, the sounding of a ram's horn, the Shafor, calls the faithful to worship, reminding remind-ing them of God's providence in caring car-ing Tor His people and rededicating them to His serv ices. Rosh Hashana Hasha-na commemorates the Day of Creation Crea-tion and special prayers are offered in the synagogues for the restoration of Zion. In the home, the head of the house prays in behalf of his family over an apple or round loaf of bread which has been dipped in honey: the roundness thereof symbolizing sym-bolizing the desire for a smooth and prosperous New Year. January 'Two-Faced.' The Gregorian month of January is the namesake of Janus, the two- ! faced Roman god accredited with the ability to look backward and forward for-ward simultaneously. simultane-ously. New York city, on New Year's Eve, reflects re-flects the gaiety, toasting and meditation med-itation traditional to New Year's celebrations around the. world. The streets, particularly" Broadway, are thronged with thousands of festival-minded persons, the hotels, etc., are crowtied with parties, and many gather in churches to welcome the New Year in prayer. As the clocks strike twelve, the noise-makers are blown full blast accompanied by the whistles on every ship, tug, etc., in the vicinity, joined by those of the surrounding communities. Honor Norse Goddess. Once upon a time, long before the Nordic tribes were converted to Christianity maybe even before the Saviour was born the tribesmen decked their lodgings lodg-ings with evergreens ever-greens in honor of Hertha. Norse goddess of the home and domestic domes-tic affairs. Hertha paid her annual visits during the 0 time of the Win- 6 ter Solstice and descendedthrough ' the smoke which curled upward from the fir boughs burning upon a special altar of flat stones. When the family and serfs were gathered before the blaze, Hertha would direct the person wisest in lore and legend to foretell the fortunes of those present. For centuries the legend of Hertha's slippers survived in Germany. Ger-many. Cakes, baked in the shape of a slipper, were filled with candy and small gifts. Given to maidens and children, the slippers of Hertha supposedly sup-posedly bestowed the qualities of virtue, health and beauty. American children may have never nev-er heard of Nordic Hertha, but rarely rare-ly does a youngster hang up his Christmas stocking without vorrying whether or not Santa Claus will be able to squeeze down the chimney.. |