New Westminster

(-wěst'min-stur,) a town and seaport, C. of British Columbia, on the Fraser River, 70 m. N.N.E. of Victoria. Pop. abt. 2,500. New Year's Day. The custom of celebrating the first day of the year by some religious observance, generally accompanied by festive rejoicing, the first day of the year, appears to have prevailed among most of the ancient nations. The Jews, the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Romans, and the Mohammedans, although differing as to the time from which they reckoned the commencement of the year, all regarded it as a day of special interest. The social observances of the first day of the New Year appear to have been in substance the same in all ages. From the earliest recorded celebration, we find notice of feasting and the interchange of presents as usages of the day. Suet on i us alludes to the bringing of presents to the capital; and Tacitus makes a similar reference to the practice of giving and receiving New Year's gifts. This custom was continued by the Christian kingdoms into which the Western Empire was divided. In England we find many examples of it, even as a part of the public expenditure of the court, so far down as the reign of Charles II. It still exists in France, in Germany, in England, and in the United States, although eclipsed in the two latter countries by the still more popular practice of Christmas gifts. [s. 643]