Long Ago, Man
Began Celebrating
New Year
The Japanese have always used
holly in decorating for the New
Year celebration. It is an old
belief that "the prick of the
thorns on the leaves would scare
away devils." The emperor’s first
bath, Hatsumizy, taken early New
Year morning, was called a ‘ reli
gious rite of cleansing and purifi
cation performed by the ruler to
bring peace and prosperity to
Japan and his people."
Long before history was re
corded, the Persians discovered
sugar cane and made sweetmeats
an important part of their New
Year celebration. These pagan
Persians also made human sacri
fices on the eve of the New Year in j
the belief that their barren fields I
would be fertilized by the gods.
It was custom in ancient China
to make visits shortly after the
New Year had begun. Hilarity
reigned in old India and Babylon,
where celebration of the New
Year was a wild affair.
New Year Celebration
Dates to Ancient Times
The history of the celebration
of New Year’s day goes far back
into antiquity and it is only in
relatively recent times that the
holiday has been observed on
January 1. i
The ancient Persians and Egyp
tians celebrated New Year's on
September 22, the autumnal equi- j
nox, while the Greeks did so at the
winter solstice, December 21. The
vernal equinox, March 22, marked
the beginning of the year for the
Jews
New Year’s day has always been
celebrated in the United States and
from Colonial times to the present
it has been a day of happiness anc
hospitality. 1
New Year’s day is primarily a
festive occasion, but recorded in
the pages of history are many im
portant events which have taken
place on the first day of various
years
On January 1, 1776, the First
Union flag of 13 sripes was unfurled
by George Washington. On Jan
uary 1, 1863, the Emancipation of
Negro slaves became effective by
proclamation of President Abra
ham Lincoln.
Here are some other events
which occurred on New Year’s
day:
1735—Paul Revere was born.
• * *
1792—Kentucky admitted to the
Union.
• * *
1801—Union of Ireland with Brit
ain.
• •
1815 — General Jackson repelled
British when they attacked New
Orleans.
* * *
1825 —Great Britain acknowl
edged independence of South Amer
( ican republics.
* * •
1907—U.S. pure food law put into
effect
• * »
1913—Parcel post system inau
gurated.
1919—Newr Year’s day declared
a legal holiday throughout the
country except in Massachusetts
and Washington, D C,
r
We wish to thank you for your f [
valued patronage in 1956
and to extend to you every
good wish for the coming year.
s
?
TOST’S SERVICE
ROSINA, BOB AND JOHNNY
We greet the New
Year with a sincere
wish for your happiness
throughout all
of its 365 days!
I
If
£
n
PALMER MACHINERY
GREETINGS . . . Actress Lucy
Marlowe strikes this fetching
pose as she lifts a horn to salute
the incoming year and remind
everyone that another holiday is
on the way.
*' May the old year
leave you with many
pleasant memories
,.. the New Year bring
many happy days.
| Malanuska Telephone
Association, Inc.
Traditions £»rround
New Year’s Day
Of the many legends and tradi
tions which have grown around the
significance of the New Year, the
one that is perhaps most popular
suggests that whatever you do on
the first day of the year will be
an indication of what will happen
in the months to follow.
As an example, to open a bank
account at New Year’s was con
sidered lucky in old England.
The early Scots believed that it
ivas possible to foretell the events
of a coming year by turning to the
Bible on New Year’s Day.
It was long a custom to place the
sacred book upon a table and open
it at random, placing one finger
jpon the printed page. The entire
:hapter was then read carefully,
Aith the belief that the message
it carried described in some way
;he happiness or misery in store
for the person adhering to the
aractice.
May 1957
ring in o year
of health,
happiness
^ and pros
perity for
you and yours.
C. A. Sandvik
and family
May this New
Year inaugurate
a bright and happy
future, full of all the good
t things of life, for you and those you love.
BERTS DRUG
NEAL AND MARIE
For your kind patronage
in 1956, many
thanks. And
for the coming year
all the best of fortune, ^
health and happiness to you and yOUtK 1
PIONEER APARTMENTS
lay the carefree gaiety
of New Year’s Eve be
but a small sample of the
happiness you will enjoy
throughout the New Year.
MATANUSKA HOTEL
New Year be
in tune with the
best things of life.
PIPPEL INSURANCE AGENCY
o
\ .... *
BETTYS'
MINNIE, BETTY AND MARY