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Show ' Odd BELIEFS v&lmw iftl 0 OPEN a bunk account at New Year's was considered consid-ered lucky in Old England, Eng-land, the custom growing probably from the belief of many centuries that whatever you do on the first day of the year will be un indication of what will happen hap-pen during the months to follow. So deep seated was this superstition in the minds of men that even after the festival was declared a general holiday, many clung to the old-time belief, and to Insure work for the coming year would set the pace by spending at least an hour or two in some useful pursuit. The first day of the year has been more generally observed than any other holiday, and over a longer period, pe-riod, as well. Its observance dating back to the Druids In England and to ancient Babylon when it was made an occasion for a celebration lasting from ten to twelve days. With every nation this holiday has been considered a time for the expression ex-pression of good will and the renewing re-newing of old friendships. The effort ef-fort to demonstrate the kindly spirit led to the custom of making gifts, often very expensive Jewelry and large sums of money. But it was not necessary to remember one's friends in that lavish way for custom cus-tom made It possible also to express good wishes In a fitting and very bumble manner. Almost every nation has welcomed wel-comed the New Year with some form of ceremony, not, however, on the same date or in the same way The Druids celebrate the New Year on the shortest day of the year, the time, in their belief, when the sun which Journeyed away from earth during the cold months, turned homeward bringing with It sunshine, light, warmth and good cheer. The superstitions that cluster around the day began away back in the time of these sun worshipers when the priests led the people to the forests for-ests of the gods for small sprigs of mistletoe which would bring them henlth and prosperity for the year. So Important was the event the peo pie marched in processions to the groves, led by the priests, selected for the sacred duty of cutting the mistletoe, being armed with sickles of gold. And just as primitive man made his plans for the beginning of a New Year the Mexican. Japanese. Chinese, Persian, Turk, in fact, every nation on the globe followed in his footsteps, each celebrating according ac-cording to his own Ideas and customs. cus-toms. Omens of good and bad luck have always been associated with the New Year, all founded more or less upon the belief that supreme power was vested in an unseen deity, who could bring good luck if properly appeased or mete out punishments. The Romans named their New Year in honor of Janus the two-faced two-faced god, who had the power to look back over the past, and also In a prophetic way could look Into the future. He was represented with a key in his hand symbolizing his power to open doors, and gateways, gate-ways, and this holiday was one of great gayety lasting several days. The festival was not observed in midwinter, but in the 'pring, when the Roman year began, and had only ten months. Later when two months were added to the calendar, January Janu-ary and February were placed at the beginning of the year, the New Year was celebrated on the first of January. Among the old superstitions are many quaint customs that have been observed for centuries and have come down almost to this day and age. Among them are the follow Ing: To bring good luck one must wear something new on the first day of the year, according to old English custom. In some parts of England and Scotland it Is supposed to be unlucky un-lucky to leave a house until some outsider has first entered. There is also an old superstition concerning the weather told In an old legend as follows: "If New Year night wind blowetb south, It betokeneth warmth and growth: If west, much milk, and fisb In the sea ; If north, much cold and storms there'll be; If east, the trees will bear much fruit If northeast, See It, man and brut." |