This month is so called in honor of the god Janus, who is always
depicted with two faces or heads, one to look forwards, the other
backwards. His work was to preside over the beginning of any new thing
and, ever since his time, people have invoked his aid and sympathy when
they have been setting out on some new enterprise. On New Year's Day,
the Romans gave presents to one another, much as we do at Christmas,
but accompanying the gifts was usually a small copper token showing the
double head of Janus. To possess one of these tokens ensured prosperity
when commencing some new work, and it was supposed to carry enterprises
already started, but not yet finished, to a successful conclusion. The
accompanying illustration gives a reproduction of one of the tokens
used.
[Illustration: No. 38.--Janus, the Two-Headed God. On New Year's Day
the Romans gave copper medallions bearing this device to their friends.
To possess such a medallion was a sure way to be lucky in commencing
any new piece of work or any new enterprise.]
_NEW YEAR SUPERSTITIONS._--Endless are the superstitions which have
gathered around the dawn of the New Year, which, although neither a
Christian nor a Church festival, afford sober reflection to many.
In several districts, the custom known as "first-footing" is still
common. People wait until the old year has been rung out and then they
call on their friends to wish them a happy new year. They must not
go empty-handed, however, or this will provide a lean year for the
friends. A cake will ensure abundance, a red herring stands for luck,
and the gift of even the smallest coin is a certain portent that a
lucky financial year is opening.
While anyone is free to pay these visits, it is much the happiest omen
if the caller be a man, a dark-haired man, and if he takes with him a
lump of coal and a fish. Any fish serves the purpose--even a tin of
sardines. Let a man, answering these requisites, be the first to cross
the threshold of your door, after the old year has gone, and there is
no better way of entering on the new year.
Another custom, which has many supporters, is to tidy up the house, to
build up the fires and to open wide the front door, just when the old
year is departing. The open door allows the exhausted year to make its
exit completely. It is then supposed to take with it anything savoring
of ill-fortune. The tidy house welcomes the new year in a spirit of
brightness and gladness.
For a clock to stop just as the new year is coming in, or to be found
to have stopped then, is an ill omen. Therefore, householders have
long been careful to give an eye to their timepieces some little while
before.
Weather-lore regarding the new year is plentiful. Here is a well-known
rhyme:
If on New Year's night wind blow south,
It betokeneth warmth and growth:
If west, much milk and fish in the sea:
If north, much cold and snow there will be:
If east, the trees will bear much fruit:
If north-east, flee it, man and brute.
January has been described as follows:
The blackest month in all the year
Is the month of Janiveer.
In Janiveer, if the sun appear,
March and April will pay full dear.
If January calends be summerly gay,
It will be winterly weather till the calends of May.
(The calends, it may be explained, were the first days of the months.)
_ST. PAUL'S DAY_ (January 25th)
If St. Paul's Day be faire and cleare,
It doth betide a happy year:
But if by chance it then should rain,
It will make deare all kinds of graine:
And if ye clouds make dark ye sky,
Then meate and fowles this year shall die:
If blustering winds do blow aloft,
Then wars shall trouble ye realm full oft.