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Show ffiWYEM 'uM: Accustomed as we are to celebrating New Year's day on the first of January, we are apt to agree with Charles Lamb that "No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference." But on second thought or perhaps because we would like to pick on Mr. Lamb a utue because our English teachers warned us that we couldn't possibly amount to anything if we didn't like the Essays of Elia we venture a few observations. To begin with, prior to September Septem-ber 14, 1752, England and her American colonies regarded January Janu-ary 1 with indifference, at least as far as New Year was concerned, because New Year's day was observed ob-served on March 25. For that matter, many peoples who continue to use the Gregorian calendar still solemnize traditional feasts, including New Year, in accordance ac-cordance with ancient calendars not at all congruent with the one presented to the world by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. For example: exam-ple: The Jews observe a 10-day New Year season at the time of the autumn equinox. The observances begin on Rosh Hashana and end on Yom Kippur: Rosh Hashana commemorates the Day of Crea tion and is also the annual day of Judgment, with that judgment being be-ing irrevocably sealed ,on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement); therefore, the spirit of penance dominates the solemnities. Penance is also a feature of Hindu observances, solemnized in accordance with the' ancient lunar calendar during the spring equinox. equin-ox. The Moslem calendar (dating from 626, A. D.) is unique: the 12 months of the year begin with the approximate new moon without any intercalation to keep them geared to the seasonal equinoxes. Thus, the months and New Years, too retrograde through the entire year in about 33 years. Going back prior to England's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, Mr. Lamb's own grandfather grand-father could have told him and probably did about the flagons of ale which went 'round on New Year's eve, March 24-25. |