NEW-YEARS-DAY. Of the customs formerly practised at the opening of the new-year, none appear to have been so universal as fesnting and sending presents, both of which the moderns appear to have derived from the lioniane. Suetouiva (' August.' §57,edit. varier., 8vo. 1647) alludes to the practice among the Romani, of bringing presents to the Capitol on new.yeareeday, whether the emperor was present or absent ; and Tacitus speaks of an order of Tiberius, forbid ding the giving or demanding of new-year's-gifts unless it were on the calends of January. The early fathers of the church condemned this practice sa seiperstitioue, because the gifts were considered as omens of success for the ensuing year.
Ncw-year'selay with us, like many others, in modern times, has lost much of time ceremonials of its observance. In a volume of ' OBseellaulcs; printed in Queen Anne's time, we read,—" January. On the first day of this month will be given many more gifts than will be kindly received or gratefully rewarded. Children, to their inexpres sible joy, will be dr:et up in their beat bibs mud aprons, and may be seen banded along streets, some bearing Kentish pippins, others oranges stuck with cloves, in order to gain a blessing of their god fathers and godmothers." Gifts at new-year's-tide formed a charge of no small amount in the privy-purse expenses of royalty, from very early times to the time of Charles II. ; they were mostly made in plate.
Moreein, who published his ' Papatus in the time of James I., tells that in Scotland it was then the custom to send new-year's-gifts on new-year's-eve ; and on new-year's-day they wished each other a happy day, and asked a new-year's-gift. When Brand wrote his ' Popular
Antiquities,' it was still usual in Northumberland for persons to ask for a new-year's-gift on that clay. The practice of " first-footing," in Scotland, is now dying out before the advance of temperance amid education.
In France the custom of giving new-year's-gifts is still kept up, to such an extent as to make a vast addition to the business of the great towns in the articles usually selected for presents.
The modern Jews, on the first day of the month Tisri, which may be considered as their new-year's-day, usually have a splendid enter tainment, and wish each other a happy new year.
Hospinian says, that at Rome on new-year's.day (he speaks of modern practices) no one would suffer a neighbour to take fire out of his house, or anything of iron, or lend anything. (Brand's ' Popular Antiq.') New-year's-eve was celebrated by hospitality and drinking, seeing the old year out and the new-year in ; the church bells were rung as the clock struck twelve. But these customs are disappearing like the others, although as yet the bell ringing is by no means uncommon. A midnight mass is now, we believe, held in most Homan Catholic places of worship in England ; and a midnight service in many churches of the Establishment. Religious services, termed a "watch night," are also commonly conducted on New Year's eve, closing at a few minutes past twelve, in Wesleyan Methodist chapels, and by many Dissenters.