NEW-YEAR'S DAY, the first day of the year. The custom of celebrating by some religious observance, accompanied by festive rejoicing, the first day of the year, appears to ]rave prevailEd_ among most ot,the ancient natinns. The Jews,-the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Romans, and the Miffiiimmedang, although differing as to the time from which they reckoned the commencement of the year, all regarded it as a day of special interest. In Rome the year anciently began in March; and when Nutua, according to the ancient legend, transferred it to Jan. 1st, that day was held sacred to Janus Bfrons, who was thus supposed to turn at once back upon the old year and for ward into the new. On the establishment of Christianity, the usage of a solemn inaugu ration of the new year was retained; but considerable_ variety prevailed, both as to the time and as to the manner of its celebration. Christmas day, the annunciation (Mar. 25), Easter day, and Mar. 1 have all, at different times or places, shared with Jan. 1 the honor of opening the new year; nor was it till late in the 16th c. that Jan. 1 was univer sally accepted as the first day of the new year. The early fathers—Chrysostom, Ambrose, Augustine, Peter Ch•ysologus, and others—in reprobation of the immoral and super stitious observances of the pagan festival, prohibited in Christian use all festive cele bration; and, on the contrary, directed that the Christian year should be opened with day of prayer, fasting, and humiliation. The mandate, however, was but partially observed. The festal character of the day, generally speaking, was pertinaciously pre served, but the day was also observed as a day of prayer; and this character was the more readily attached to it when the year began with Jan. 1, as that day, being the Sth after tire nativity of our Lord, was held to be the commemoration of his circumcision (Luke ii. 21).
The social observances of the first day of the new year appear to have been in sun stance the same in all ages. From the earliest recorded celebration, we find notice of feasting and the interchange of presents as usages of the day. Suetonius alludes to the bringing of presents to the capital; and Tacitus makes a similar reference to the practice of giving and receiving new-year's gifts. This custom was continued by the Christian kingdoms into which the western empire was divided. lu England we find many examples of it, even as a part of the public expenditure of the court, so far down as the reign of Charles II.; arid, as all our antiquarian writers mention, the custom of inter changing presents was common in all classes of society. In France and England it still subsists, although eclipsed in the latter country by tire still more popular practice of Christmas gifts. In many countries, the night of New-Year's eve, " St. Sylvester's eve." was celebrated with great festivity, which was prolonged till after 12 o'clock, when the new year was ushered in with congratulations, complimentary visits. and mutual wishes for a happy new year. This is an ancient Scottish custom, which also prevails in many parts of Germany, where the form of wish—"Prosst- (for the Lat. pr osit) Neu-jahr"— " May the new year be happy"—sufficiently attests the antiquity of the custom. In many places the practice of tolling bells at midnight, and thus "riming in the new year" is still observed. Many religious communions are wont to celebrate it with a special service. In the Roman Catholic church, the Te Deem is still sung at the close of the old year; and New-Year's day is a holiday of strict obligation.