upon the life of the Saviour.

These plays are called _pastures_, and are performed by bands of young
men and women, and sometimes mere boys and girls, who go about from
village to village and present their simple little plays to expectant
audiences at every stopping-place. The visit of the wise men, the flight
into Egypt--these and many other incidents as related in the Scriptures
are acted in these _pastores_.




=New Year's Day=

_January 1_


The custom of celebrating the first day of the year is a very ancient
one. The exchange of gifts, the paying of calls, the making of good
resolutions for the new year and feasting often characterize the day.
The custom of ringing the church bells is of the widest extent.

The old-world custom of sitting up on New Year's eve to see the old year
out is still very common.


=EXTRACT FROM "SOCIAL LIFE IN THE COLONIES"=

_The Century Magazine, July 1885_