COMMUNICATIONS 
TO THE 
MONTHLY MEETINGS, 
1864 . 
Jan. 5.—The Eey. John Keneick read a paper “ On New Year’s 
Day in Ancient Eome.” The author commenced by referring to 
the various periods at which different nations had placed the 
commencement of the year, and to the fact that the Eomans are 
supposed to have originally begun their year at the vernal equinox, 
as indicated by the names of the last four months in the year. At 
a later period the Calends of January were fixed as the commence¬ 
ment of the year. The ordinary form of salutation on New Year’s 
Day was Annus Novus sit tibi faustus felix^^"' or “May the New 
Year be auspicious and happy to thee.” Presents, called strencsj 
were made by friends to each other, consisting of fruits, money, 
and small brass coin having the double head of Janus. Another 
peculiar custom which marked the Calends of January at Pome, 
was the obligation of every one to do some slight stroke of work 
by way of inaugurating the duties of the year. So careful were 
the Eomans to guard against evil omens on this day, that no 
executions took place,—even Christians did not suffer martyrdom 
on the Calends of January. As described by Ovid, the festival of 
New Year’s Day had nothing in it of licence or indecorum; but it 
seems to have afterwards degenerated. The Cluistian fathers 
denounced the strencs with great bitterness, and the feast of the 
Circumcision was instituted to change the character of the celebra¬ 
tion. Mr. Kenrick also alluded to the various superstitions 
connected with New Year’s Day among the Eomans. (This paper 
is printed in full in Mr. Kenrick’s volume of Historical and 
Archseological Essays.) 
