"Glove Money"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 19

"Glove Money"

Very few jieople give New Year gifts nowadays, says a London paper. But in olden times it was a common practice to make presents on the first day of the year to frionds. This custom may have come from the Bomans, for both Suetonius and Tacitus mention it. Tho Saxons kept New Year's Day, too, and gave each other presents. In the countryside tenants used to make their landlords a present of a capon. Gloves were a favourite New Ycargift. They were expensive, and sometimes a sum of money was given instead, hence tho term "glove money." Pins wero much appreciated by ladies. The'metal ones were invented about the beginning; of the 10th century. Before that Eve had, perforce,, to use boxwood, bone, or silver pins, according to her rank. The very poor used common wood pins, which were just like skewers. -Money given for tho purchase of pins was called "pin money." In the time of Henry VIII. metal pins cost Cs S<l per thousand. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth the custom of presenting gifts to tho Sovereign was at its height.