Show origin orain of new year gifts like the customs of christmas which in their origin are a curious mixture of 0 poetry and symbolism and of superstition those that belong to the observance of new years day are also relics of ideas that date from eaily heathen ages the french derive their term tor for new year pros pres fonts from the latin word strella Str enla the ibe name of a goddess whom the ro mans venerated as the patroness of 0 gifts there was a grove in rome horn dedicated to this goddess where it was customary to get fresh twigs to give as presents to friends and relatives on new years day during the sway away of emperors Roman subjects made mad nt to thir ew augustus received such guch quantities of these that he be had gold and silver statues made of them tiberius dill did away with the usage because he be considered it too troublesome to express athanis tor for the gifts on the c contrary ont reintroduced the custom and everi even made up tor for his predecessors refusal to receive presents by ing those that had bad been offered to him to be given to himself as arrearages arrea rages the custom ot of malting new year gifts notwithstanding attempt to suppress it wai continued ed ater after Europe had become christian for a time present making was transferred to easta but later it was again associated with the first day ot January |