Page:History and characteristics of Bishop Auckland.djvu/200

 HISTORY OP BISHOP AUCKLAND. 173 The custom of giving and receiving New- Year's Gifts, and wishing a happy New Tear, is a very old one, and was much practised by the Romans. Their usual presents were figs and dates, covered with gold leaf, and accompanied with a piece of money, which was usually laid out in the purchase of a statue of some deity, or a piece of pottery bearing a suitable inscription. The Druids — ^the old Pagan priests of this country — ^were accustomed on certain days to cut the mistletoe with a golden knife, in some forest dedicated to their gods, and to dis- tribute its branches with much ceremony as New-Year's Gifts amongst the people. The Saxons of the North (according to Brand) celebrated the festival of the New Year with more than ordinary jollity and feasting, and by sending gifts to one another. During the 16th century the custom was kept with great regularity and parade in this country ; and was as cordially received in the court of the prince as in the cottage of the peasant. In the time of Henry VIII, it was the custom for all the servants of the King's household to offer presents to his Majesty. Dr. Drake says that the wardrobe and jewellery of Queen Elizabeth were principally supported by these annual contributions ; and, though she made suitable returns for them in the shape of plate and other articles, yet she took sufficient care that the balance should be in her own favour. There is still preserved a roll of vellum, ten feet long, containing a list of the New-Year's gifts from James I. to the persons whose names are therein mentioned, given on the First of January, 1605, and also a list of the gifts which his Majesty received the same day. Of the many customs connected with the olden times, not one has kept its place so well as that of seeking New-Year's gifts on the First of January. It must be remembered, however, that the privilege is one almost entirely invested in the hands of the rising generation. But even now the custom is not prosecuted with quite so much ardour as it was when the author was a boy. At that time it was found necessary to have the rappers muzzled, nails put above sneckd, extra bolts put upon doors, and as many precautions taten as if the town was about to be besieged by some powerful foa Long before chanticleer announced the dawn of day, the inhabitants were aroused from their slumbers by a noise similar to the war-whoop of a tribe of young Indians coming down upon them, ready to sweep them all away. When every house in the town had been visited by the youngsters, there was a general concentration of forces in the Market-place, the two main points of attack being the residence of the late Dr. Canney and the late Mr. Peter Fair's shop, the former of whom distributed his gifts in the shape of half-pence, and the other in books, pictures, &c. Fancy must lend her aid in pictming the scene which ensued when the donor made his appearance for the purpose of distributing his gifts, and what a run was made for the purpose of snatching a prize ; and how, when a passing gust bore away a highly-coloured portrait of Sir William Wallace, Robin Hood, or some other ancient hero, the young mob was scattered in giving chase to it, leaving half-a-dozen unsuccessful competitois sprawling in the gutter. Another New Year's Day custom, and one which is still practised by many people at the present day, is called " The first foot." It is believed by some that the lucky or unlucky events of the succeeding twelve months are influenced by, and are attributable to, the first individual who eaters the house on New Year's morning. It is considered extremely unlucky for a female to be the first foot, an odium, n(J doubt, thrown upon the ladies by the first mishap of Mother Eve. Another curious notion in connection with New Year's Day is, never to allow any one to take a light out of the house on that day, or death to some member of the household is sure to occur before the expiration of the year. It is also considered unlucky to take anything out of the house on that morning until something has been brought in. An odd old rhyme, given by Brand, fully explains this notion : — Take out, then take in, bad luck will b^gin; Take in, then take out, good luck comes about Digitized by Google