CURIOUS NEW YEAR KISSING CUSTOMS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 22, 19 March 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

CURIOUS NEW YEAR KISSING CUSTOMS.

SALUTING THE PARISH PUMP

There has always been a close and mystic association of kissing with the New Year, says a London paper. Every lover, if circumstances permit, thus salutes hi* sweetheart at the dawn of the New Year—and some lovers are not particular whose sweetheart she is that they thus salute on this auspicious occasion.

These kisses are, of course, for luck. In the sure and certain hope that Jt would bring her tiiis throughout the ensuing twelve months a charming French actress, Mine. Lucienne Guett, did a much more daring thing at the birth of the year recently expired. She went to the barracks near the church of St. Augustin, and, as the clock struck the hour which ushered ; n the New Year, kissed on both cheeks the sentry on duty. When she asked for permission to do this, the gallant soldier replied. "With pleasure," and laughingIv insisted on returning the compliment. KISSING THE KEYHOLE. There is an ancient kissing custom associated with a parish church in Lancashire. The legend is that anyone who, at the first stroke of midnight, kisses the koyhole of the church door, and tiu-n runs right round the edifice in lime to kiss the keyhole before the last stroke of the hour, is certain of good luck during the whole of the year. Tt requires a certain amount of nerve to enter this country churchyard at the dead of night, even'for such a purpose, but rumour hath it that no New Year is born without someone essaying the rate round the church. The distance is such that it is impossible for more than one person to thus court u year's luck. Churchyards have always been favourite places for New Year osculation. In the Wensleydale district, in days gone by, all and sundry could kiss "without scandal" on New Year's Eve in the porch of the church. It was largely availed nt, too, for it is on record that, the accommodation fell lamentably short of the demand, and. consequently, there was even more squeezing than kissing—if that were possible. KISSES-HOT AND COLD. A somewhat gruesome kind of churchyard kissing used to obtain amongst the Basques of'the Pyrenees on New Year's Eve. It was the custom for the maidens to then repair to t'.-c churchyard, and on their fingers waft kisses to the four quarters of the universe. ' A kiss was supposed to brush their lips in return, and if it was warm it indicated that they would marry and lie happy ever after. On the other hand, ■f the kiss was cold and of the earth earthy, the inference was that single •• blessedness" would be their lot. The onlv means by which the omen could be broken was by repairing to the church and kissing the church-bell, a gravestone, and a piece of coffin-wood. This remedy was very frequently resorted to: and so superstitious were the Basque maidens that but for the consolation it afforded some of them would have lost their reason. CHIEF MAGISTRATE'S Dm. Tn these degenerate days the lot of the Mavor of Durham is far happier than that of his predecessors in ancient times. If tradition can be relied on, the chief magistrate was then under an obligation to kiss the first cow, the first sheep, and the first pig brought into the first market of the New "Sear. This went on until it occurred to a resourceful occupant of the mayoral chair to interpret the custom as relating to the first three market-women, and henceforward they were the recipients of the New Year kisses until the ancient custom vanished altogether. It is much to be feared that the abuse of kissing customs has been largely responsible for their falling into disuse, though some of them are certainly more honoured ;n the breach than in the observance.

BARMAID'S HALF-CROWN KISSES

One such, which used to obtain in Oxfordshire, concerned the tenants of certain estates which they held on condition that on New Year's morning they publicly kissed the parish pump, or paid a 'drink fine to the assembled populace. As might be supposed, the tenants almost invariably preferred to pay the fine, but it is on record that one misguided, close-fisted individual actually kissed the pump in order to keep the fine in his pocket. The populace were so disgusted at his meanness and infuriated at the loss of the liquor that they held him under the pump and pumped the water on bun until lie was almost washed away. The exchange of drink for kisses wa.V in the bad old clays, a not infrequent New Year's Day practice in publichouses, where it sometimes led to rows and riots amongst the frequenters. At one hostelry in the Metropolis it was the custom for the landlord to hand out to everv member of the opposite sex, who called before the hour of noon on New Year's Day, a measure of ale in exchange for a kiss. What the landlord's better hall thought of this proceeding report sayeth not. At another London puMic-house it tiwl to be permissible for the first customer o : > New Year's morning to kiss the barmaid bv way of paying for his liquor. But only the first was entitled to 'his privilege, and any subsequent calier who presumed to pay in this fashion bad to forfeit half a crown io the liarmaid. One astute Hebe got her sweetheart to call fir-t. and mulet several later callers in the customary halfcrown in the course of the morning.