Memories of New Years, Friday January 2, 2004

Again we have bid farewell to the old year, and hailed the new. The tradition began 4,000 years ago as Babylonians honoured the arrival of spring, season of rebirth. Through the generations the date has changed and traditions have evolved. But, always, the new year has inspired possibility and resolve.

In early Dundas, church bells would ring in the year. Just after midnight came 'first footing'. Good luck would come if a man with dark hair first entered your home; bad luck if the man was fair. This evolved into New Year's 'calling', with people entertaining at home. Men often raced home to home, seeing how many they could visit. John Rankin owned a Dundas dry goods shop; the following are from his diaries. In the first excerpt he has just listed homes on his 'calling expedition', the 29th being the Wilson's:

1857~1st January: …Here I got very fidgety to get quit of my companions who were getting a shade intoxicated. At the doorway of the Elgin House I slipped them & ran round to Hatt St. At Gartshore's got into a lumber sleigh with a lot of young 'uns and had about 2 hours driving up & down round town repeatedly singing & whistling collectively…all packed like herrings in a barrel. About 10 pm I got home, almost sick of such a day's fun & frolic…

1858~1st January: Up at 8, was at Methodist Church at dawn of the year. Called on Mr. Barton first then went a-calling with Messrs. Osgoode & Wilson. Both got intoxicated by the afternoon so I left them. I made about 4 dozen calls…

1859~1st January: Had the shop open at nine o'clock… Did a good stroke of business till 6 pm when we shut in general with other shops. Some places were shut all day…
1860~1st January: Morning bitterly cold. Rose at 8:30. Shaved & washed with iced water. The froth on my soap brush turning to icicles as I used it & my water pitcher all over ice. I engaged in my devotions before breakfast, again resolved by God's help to continue the practice in future…

Our stories today build on the past. Nan Green served with the Canadian Women's Army Corp. stationed in England. The war was over in 1945, but Forces were still overseas. Nan remembers taking a train to Stratford-on-Avon for New Years. The weather was so mild they played croquet on the lawn. Frank Westoby was stationed in London in 1946, waiting for a boat to go home. He spent New Year's Eve in Piccadilly Square with thousands of people wishing he were in Dundas.

As the New Year broke, Sylvia Hillyard's father would let the Old Year out through the back door, and her mother the New Year in the front door, even if it interrupted the meal they always had at midnight. Another remembers spending New Years Eve with the same friends at the old Dundas Valley Golf Club. The women always wore evening gowns. Their children would spend the evening together at one of their homes. An anonymous source offers that New Year was the day to go hunting. The game wardens weren't around so everything was fair game!

Peggy Weir recalls that around 75 years ago every New Years a foot race began at the old City Hall in Hamilton, following along Main Street through Binkley' Hollow to the Dundas Post Office. Many runners were from Dundas. John Clark, who owned a King Street dry cleaner's, ran every year until he was in his 50's. Peggy, her brother, dad and grandfather would watch the race while mother prepared dinner. Frank Westoby adds that the race was won so many times by Harold Webster of Hamilton that it became known as the Harold Webster Race.

The traditions of the New Year ring out yet today. 'And here's a hand, my trusty friend, and gie's a hand o' thine, We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.'

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