Ring In The New

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 859, 31 December 1929, Page 8

Ring In The New

New Year Custom and Caprice

GREETINGS, 1930! Ring ill tlie new! How differently people usher in the New Year. Some kneel devoutly in prayer as the clock chimes the birth of a new calendar; some quietly sleep the old year out; others — hut very few nowadays—religiously practise the quaint ancient custom of “first-footing,” the herald of good luck. Auckland’s favourite midnight pastime is rocking tramcars and tilting motor-cars outside the Ferry Buildings.

Most of the traditional customs of the long ago have long since fallen into disuse, and in this age of reason little credence is given to the superstitions which guided the feet of “firstfooters” and which governed every action upon the first morning of the New Year. In those days good or illluck hovered In every corner, and customs were observed with a seriousness which today appears hardly short of ludicrous.

In New Zealand there is a variety of celebrations listed for this evening. Glancing at the radio broadcast notices, one observes that midnight in Auckland will bring to listeners a broadcast of “street noises incidental to the welcome to the New Year from the foot of Queen Street.” Those who possess crystal sets in Wellington must be content with a relay of the Watch Night Service from the Taranaki Street Methodist Church, which, though doubtless embracing a wealth of spiritual inspiration, will be in notable contrast to the Northern City’s celebrations. But Wellington will welcome the New Year as usual from the Post Office Square, and the customary good-hum-oured insults will be hurled at the Post Office clock as it booms out the old, and chimes in the new. BAGPIPES IN DUNEDIN Cathedral Square, Christchurch, will be on the air for a broadcast of the jubilations, which are to include the ringing of the Anglican Cathedral peal of bells—merriment touched with the higher thoughts of spiritual significance of the occasion. Chimes will float through the ether from Dunedin, and the radio station will immediately switch over to bagpipes music! Truly this is a typical Southern New Year. Because old customs die hard, the New Year celebrations in New Zealand are as varied as it is possible to find anywhere. In the country districts particularly the advent of January 1 brings to the minds of the village young men thoughts of gate-lifting, and of chalking the date upon fences houses, shops and halls. In the cities this practice has been outlived, and organised street revelry, ringing of bells and blowing of trumpets, and select celebrations in cabarets, theatres, and at private parties, take their place. Though different in form these methods of expression are

merely the emulation of the joyous spirit displayed by our forefathers in bidding fair to the New Year. Auckland’s celebrant crowd invariably congregates in Lower Queen Street in front of the Ferry Buildings, and an organised onslaught is made upon slow-moving tramcars and stationary motor-cars containing passengers. Tram conductors are no longer surprised if, when the car reaches the foot of Queen Street, a violent rocking is felt, produced by a crowd of any number up to 30 young people. When the overhead trolley-pole is rocked from its connection and the car brought to a standstill the crowd is satisfied, and transfers its attention to the next oncoming vehicle. It is not a novel experience for many motor-car drivers and passengers to feel their car being lifted bodily from the back and swung around in the road to face In the opposite direction. Such is the caprice of the Queen Street midnight revellers. FIRST-FOOTING HABIT

First-footing, a practice which developed in the early days among the people of North England and Scotland, was the most popular of New Year customs. It was believed to be an exceedingly bad omen if anyone left a house before someone had entered from outside, and this gave rise to the practice of early morning visits through the neighbourhood, the party as a rule being fortified with a piece of coal, a symbolic piece of iron and a bottle of whisky. This is still widely practised in the South Island of New Zealand, where only the bottle of whisky remains out of the symbols which the ancient celebrants would carry to their neighbours.

In the long ago the Church was inclined to frown upon New Year revelry on account of its superstitious flavour. January 1 was designated the Octave of Nativity, and meditation and Scripture reading were advised. Among English people the giving of New Year presents at one time was more popular than were Christmas gifts, but after the Christmas festival was revived by the Church at the Restoration, it became the more popular of the two, and New Year celebrations are now confined to hearty handshakes and good wishes for the future. L.J.C.