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K- *i TTljMW ar-'iT X't ii â€" r < jiKn aAJt i-nn'mn â€" M f mimw w'n ^ Many Unique New Tear Customs Still Exist in Foreign Countries Scotland ; Young Scotchmen used to wait 'eagerly for the flrtt stroke of twelve I'marking the coming of the New lYcar. As the bell In the church {steeple began to toll, be would rush lip to the door of his beloved's kome, to be the first to cross her â- threshold. The girl would listen tfor I'The first foot's entering step. ,That sudden on the floor is welcome ' heard, ^re blushing maids have braided I up their hair; IThe laugh, the hearty kiss, the good , New Year, (Pronounced with honest warmth." In Scotland, as In most northern (European countries, it Is an old be- (Jlef that spirits, both good and evil, •re peculiarly active on New Year's tve. On the stroke of midnight, ac- cording to the ancient superstition, •11 genii were in motion and could jbe exorcised by appropriate words. Good genii were called hillmen or "hoghmen" in the dialect of Scot- land, and evil spirits called trolls. Jaummrrs used to wander about the streets, wearing masks and carry- ing cudgels, reciting this doggerel Terse, in an effort to attract the good "hogomanay" and to drive off the evil "trollolay" â€" "Hogomanay, . Trollolay, Gie o' your white bread, I'll hae nane o' your grey â€" " Scotch New Year's Toast Here's to the year that's awa'I We'll drink It, in strong and in sma'; And to each bonny lassie that we dearly loo'ed. In the days o' the year that's awa'I Eere's to the friend we can trust, Wiicn the sorrows of adversity blaw; Who can join in our song, and be nearest our heart. Nor departâ€" like the year that's awa'I Italy Celebration of New Year's Day seems to have arisen in Italy in the early Middle Ages. In the year 546 a bishop reproved his people for the drinking, feasting, and general wild time that they were indulging In on a holy dayâ€" the Feast of the Cir- cumcision of Christ, eight days after Christmas. He told them to turn their backs on "the old, profane and evil ways of paganism." In the later Middle Ages the observances el the day grew more spiritual, through the efforts of St. Gregory Thaumaturgus and St. Gregory the Great. Syria The great day of fun and feasting in Syria is New Years, not Christ- mas. On New Year's Day they ex- change presents, and children go obout from door to door giving the greeting of the season, and expect- ing gifts of candy and money. Before going to bed on New Year's Eve a Syrian child sets out a bowl of vlatcT and a dish of wheat for the refreshment of the camel who is supposed to bring him gifts. According to legend the camel was the youngest of the animals bearing the Wise '^ip, and it fell down ex- hausted by the stKnuous Journey. The Christ Child, seeing this, blessed the animal and conferred Immortality upon it. In Lebanon it is a "magic mule" who bears the gifts of the season. Hungary One of the quaintest New Year's customs Is the visit of the chimney sweeps in Hungarian towns. The sweep knocks at the door with his broom, and the householders snatch a straw or two from It. These are tied with a ribbon and kept as a good luck charm during the year. To touch a pig on New Year's Eve brings good luck, according to Hungarian tradition. In the princi- pal restaurants and cafes of Buda- pest they release a pig at midnight, and there is much merriment as the diners try to touch the squealing animal as it races among the tables. Czechoslovakia In Czechoslovakia they forecast the future by little "lightboats"â€" nut shells filled with wax and float- ing on water, a wick burning in each shell. If the boat Boats toward the center, its owner will take a Journey during the New Year. 11 two boats come together, the own- ers will be married within the year. Busy Wlieeler â€" Kolicii Mc.Atnliiir uf Hrantiiml lui.-. litcii ira veiling four months, has worn out three pairs of pants, three pairs of shoes. 19 tires. By DANIEL F. LINDAY 'ALLY O'NEIL walked slowly up the front steps. Her mother watch- ed her from behind the curtain. Be- ing five years old and having a probl- em had her near tears. She reached up on tip toes and opened the door. "Kally, honey. Come in here a minute." Kally pushed the hood of her snow suit back and went into the living room. "What do you want, Mommie?" She shook her blonde curls free. "Oh, nothing much," her mother smiled, "] just want to know why my little girl looks so sad?" "Well, Mommie," she slipped her coat off. "it's that girl down the street." "Yes, dear, what about her?" Kally could stan,d it no longer. She burst into tears and running over laid her head on her mother's lap. "That girl says," she sobbed, "that there isn't any Santa Claus.'' "Well, now," her mother leaned down and gently bit the tip of her ear, "who'd ever believe a tale like that?" "You don't believe her?" "Of course not" she smiled down into the worried blue eyes. "We know there's a Santa Claus." B-but she said Daddy was him." "Oh pooh. Sit down there on the floor and I'll help you get yonr snow pants off." "We could ask Daddy," Kally sug- gested, "Yes, we could" she had an in- spiration. "Better still we can wait until tomorrow night and see for ourselves." "Wc can?" she sat up in surprise. "Sure. You go to bed just like always then when he comes I'll wake you up." She got up from the floor all ex- cited. "You mean we can peek?" "That's just what we'll do.'" "George," she turned to her hus- band that evening after Kally had been put to bed, "our daughter has quite a problem." "Women always have problems." he smiled over his newspaper. "What is it this time?" "She knows about Santa." "That.s too bad," he pursed his lips, "but what can we do?" "Get someone to put her toys un- der the tree whiie she watches." "Sure," he laid the paper down, "why couldn't 1 do it?" "She heard that you are Santa." He chuckled, "She isn't the only woman in the family thinks that." "How about Bob Perkins?" she ignored his attempt at humor. "He's the right build." "Okay," he agreed, "I'll arrange it in the morning." "Kally," her mother shook her gently, "Santa is downstairs." "He is?" she sat up rubbing her eyes, "HE IS?!" "Okay," she slipped out jf bed and into her slippers. In the early morn- ing light she looked like a tiny blond elf. "Put on your robe." She got it and took her mother's hand. They crept down the stairs. Mommie held her back while sh« made sure Santa wasn't smoking a cigar. He was placing gifts around the tree. She motioned her to look. Kally pecked mound the corner with "Smatm was Jnat coming oat." big eyes. Then her head darted back. "Where's daddy?" she asked in a stage whisper. They heard footseps on the stairs. Daddy crept down. Kally peeked ar- ound the corner again. Santa was just coming i)Ut with an army bar- racks bag over his shoulder. The three of them ran and hid behind the staircase. As soon as the front door slammed. Kally was up the steps like a shot. "Hey, Sweetheart," Daddy called after her, "he left the toys in the living room." He stopped as he Good Timber The tree that never had to fight For sun and sky and air and light, That stood out in the open plain .'Vnd always got its share of rain, Never became a forest king But lived and died a scrubby thing. The man who never had to toil By hand or mind 'mid life's turmoil, Who never had to win his share Of sun and sky and light and air, Never became a manly man But lived and died as he began. Good timber docs not grow in case: The stronger wind, the tougher trees. The farther sky, the greater length. The rougher storms, the greater strength. By sun and cold, by rain and snows, In tree or man good timber grows. Where thickest stands the forest jjrowth, We find the patriarchs of both, .^nd they hold converse with the stars Whose broken branches show the scars Of many winds and much of strife â€" This is the common law of life. glared at her suspiciously. "Don't she like the trikc?" "I'm afraid, dear, that you'll nev- er understand the feminine mind." "What do you mean where's she going?" "To get her coat." "Her coat . . . why?" "She's going down the street to tell the little girl that she's all wet Because she has just seen Santa in her front room." •»*• '^f J^ et it be Christmas in our hearts Ami3 children's bubbling laughter, lighted trees spread their boughs over many gifts. Our tables are heavy with good things to cat. And church bells tell their song of joy in peaceful heavens. It's a good Christmas, a happy Christmas, in Canadian homes again this year. Let it be Christmas in our hearts, too. Let us be thankful we live in a land of plenty. . . glad we can share our many blessings with peoples in countries less fortunate than ours. Giving, born of the heart, is the true spirit of Christmas. Giving is the one way to "Peace on Earth. Good-will to Men". < m HOUSE OF mmm * , -k • '<♦ * V A ^ 'A x: 4 A