The first Monday of the year is a great holiday among the peasantry of Scotland and children generally, as being the day peculiarly devoted in that country to the giving and receiving of presents. It is on this account called _Handsel Monday_, handsel being in Scotland the equivalent of a Christmas-box, but more especially implying a gift at the commencement of a season or the induing of some new garment. The young people visit their seniors in expectation of _tips_ (the _word_, but not the _action_, unknown in the north). Postmen, scavengers, and deliverers of newspapers look for their little annual guerdons. Among the rural population, _Auld Handsel Monday_, i.e. Handsel Monday old style, or the first Monday after the twelfth of the month, is the day usually held. The farmers used to treat the whole of their servants on that morning to a liberal breakfast of roast and boiled, with ale, whisky, and cake, to their utmost contentment, after which the guests went about seeing their friends for the remainder of the day. It was also the day on which any disposed for change gave up their places, and when new servants were engaged. Even now, when most old fashions are much decayed, _Auld Handsel Monday_ continues to be the holiday of the year to the class of farm-labourers in Scotland.--_Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 52. CO. OF EDINBURGH. At Currie the annual fair and Old Handsel Monday are the only periodical holidays for the working classes; on which latter occasion the servants enjoy the pleasure of returning to the bosom of their families, and spending the close of the day with their friends. The early part is generally observed in the less innocent amusement of raffles, and shooting with fire-arms, which, being often old and rusty, as well as wielded by inexperienced hands, have occasioned some disagreeable accidents.--_Stat. Acc. of Scotland_ 1845, vol. i. p. 550. JAN. 5.] EVE OF THE EPIPHANY. Formerly itinerant minstrels used to bear a bowl of spiced wine to the houses of the gentry and others, from whom they expected a hospitable reception, and calling their bowl a wassail-bowl, they drank wassail to their entertainers. In ancient kalendars is an observation on the 5th day of January, the Vigil of the Epiphany, “Kings created by beans,” and the sixth day is called “Festival of Kings,” with another remark, that “the ceremony of electing kings was continued with feasting for many days.”--_Med. Ævi Kalend._ vol. i. p. 134. DEVONSHIRE. At Kingsbridge and Salcombe it was formerly customary for the ciderist, attended by his workmen with a large can or pitcher of cider, guns charged with powder, &c., to repair to the orchard, and there at the foot of one of the best-bearing apple-trees, drink the following toast three times repeated, discharging the fire-arms in conclusion: