January. 11 
the Earl of Leicester exceeded all others in costliness 
and elaborate workmanship. 
In the reign of James I. money gifts were also pre¬ 
sented ; but the ornamental articles appear to have 
been fewer, and of less value. No rolls, or indeed any 
notices seem to have been preserved of New Year’s 
gifts presented to Charles I. ; though, probably, there 
were such. The custom, no doubt, ceased during the 
Commonwealth, and was not afterwards revived to 
any extent worthy of notice. 
The practice of giving New Year presents, among 
relatives and friends in England, in America, and on 
the Continent of Europe is still continued; and it is 
kept up to a surprising extent in Paris, where the day 
is especially recognised from this circumstance as le 
Jour d’Etrennes. This is also the case in New York, 
in which city New Year’s Day is entirely spent in 
giving and receiving visits of friends, in giving and 
receiving presents, and in all sorts of enjoyment and 
festivity. 
By the early Romans this month was called Jamt- 
arius, in honour of Janus, the deity supposed to preside 
over doors (Lat., janua, a door), who might very natu¬ 
rally be supposed to have something to do with the 
opening of the year. Janus is always represented as 
having two faces ; one looking back on the old year, 
and the other looking forward to the new. In times of 
