Many are the superstitions that have gathered /ound tho flrat day in the year, In the North of England new clothes are put on for the first time on this day. Fires must not be allowed to 'go out, or the luck of the year will be bad, The same is true in Germany, and this belief is probably a survival of old Druid jeal fire worship,' as a consecrated fire was made at this time of the yeir'by them, and all fires were then extin ; gulshed and relit from this one, In Germany,, if millet and herring only be eaten on New Year's Day, money will be plentiful all the year. In other places special cakes are baked and eaten, just as at Christmas, New Year's gifts are a relic of Roman custom, This waa the day on which the festival of the Goddess Stream was 'celebrated, and these gifts (elrennes in France) were bestowed in her honour, In Lancashire it is believed to ba unlucky to meet a 'woman first on this day, as well as a red-haired boy or man, Black haired persons are lucky. Boys were paid in Cornwall and even in London to enter the houses first on this day. In one village are found red-haired persons welcome. In other places a bachelor was especially welcome. In the Isle of Man it should not be a woman, a splay-footed man, or' a red-headed man who enters first. Dark-haired men and boys are! preferred. A similar superstition is prevalent in the North of England. The prejudice against "splay-fooled" or "flat-footed' 1 people is. general in Scotland, and extends to other times, than the New Year. Jt is also unlucky to meet an enemy ou this of all days in the year, " The first three days of the year rule tho com ing thtco rooatba," expresses popular belief about the weather indications of the period, .Others include the first six days, and join to them the bt six .malting the period from Christmas to Epiphany tho ttst for' t£e twelve months of the year,

NORTH OTAGO TIMK, MDAY; NOVEMBMR 81 1902 .»'



Use the '-'- Excelsior a spring culti vator on your farm.' Eradicate and preveDt twitch' and nil Keedi.-Mor row, Basset* an'i Cb a sbli'igents, New Zialaii, Bicyclists should never start out without a bottle' of Chamberlain's Pain Balm in their tool tags. 