114 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

I do not know how to account for the fact that
while the struggle of the Dutch people with the
Papacy had been as bitter as that of England and
the throwing off of the yoke by the Dutch fully as
decided, they still retained the holidays which the
Puritans eschewed as dangerous remnants of super-
stition. Perhaps it was on the principle of robbing
Satan of his hoofs and horns but keeping his cheer-
ful scarlet costume, or perhaps they thought, as
Rowland Hill remarked, that "it was poor policy
to leave all the good times to the Devil." In any
case it was all grist to the children's mill.

On the 1st of January all was arranged for the
greeting of the New Year. Mighty bowls of punch
were brewed, cordials prepared from long-cherished
family recipes were brought out, and the women, in
their best apparel, seated themselves in the seldom-
used ontvangkamer, where wine was handed to
their callers to be received with the wish of a
"Happy New Year!" While these stately cere-
monies were in progress the young people amused
themselves with turkey-shooting, sleigh-riding,
skating, and dancing.

After New Year's Day the most characteristic
national and local holiday was Pinkster, coming
in the seventh week after Paasch, or Easter, and