NEW YEAR CUSTOMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21378, 30 December 1932, Page 10

NEW YEAR CUSTOMS

CHILDREN AND HOGMANAY " FIRST-FOOTING " OMENS SURVIVAL THROUGH AGES Many quaint and curious customs were formerly associated with Now Year's Eve, the last day of the old year, but in recent years many of them have fallen more and more into disuse. As far as these observances related to the giving and receiving of gifts, to expressions of goodwill, the forgiving of wrongs and the repairing of sundered friendships, they seem largely to" have been absorbed in the Christmas celebrations with which they naturally and easily harmonise. In Scotland and in parts of the North of England, Hogmanay was the name given to the last day of the old year and also !o the cake that was then customarily given to children. It was a great occasion for the children, who used to troop from door to door among their friends, announcing the purport of their visit by shouting in unison some such verse' as:— Rise up. "guid wife, and eliak yer feathers, Dinna think that we are begenrs. AVe are' bairns como oot to piny. Get u'p and pie's oor hogmanay. The- response expected was a piece of cake,'or, in some places, spice bread and cheese' and perhaps a drink of the "good Wife's" best brew. Origin in Distant Past The exact origin of the word Hogmanay is lost in the mists of antiquity, but. it. has been traced back to ancient Druidic observances when the people were accustomed to celebrate the New Year with rejoicings and sacrifices in the woods and by the gathering of mistletoe, which was believed to bring good fortune. The word is certainly related with similar French words and observances. The gift given at the New Year to ensure good luck to the receiver was commonly called a handsel or hansel.

One of the most persistent and widespread of New Year customs is known as "first footing" or visiting friends' houses after midnight had. marked the commencement of the New Year. Great importance used to be attached to the first person who crossed the, threshold, and his coming was eagerly awaked, as he might bo a bringer either of good or ill fortune for all the coming year. If the "first-foot" happened to be a darkhaired man the household considered itself particularly fortunate. Of course all such early morning visitors were entertained with the hospitality appropriate to the occasion. The Practical Joker For long New Year's Eve was appropriated 'as the special sphere of the practical joker, whose main idea of humour in this country at any rate, was to lift heavy gates from their hinges and remove them to inconvenient distances. In country districts many a good New Year family outing was ruined because some midnight reveller had removed the paddock gate and driven away the horse that was 'to have taken the party to its destination. This form of larrikinism is, however, happily 'being'.rapidly forgotten. •'As- a specially .appropriate occasion for serious thought on the past and pious resolves, for the future, the Christian Churches have always attached special importance to the New Year. With many it is customary to hold a watch night service on New Year's Eve, when preparation is made for the coming year by prayer and meditation.