or Aguillaneuf, a form of rejoicing used among the ancient Franks on the first day of the year. The word is compounded of the French A to gui milleto, and l'an neuf the new year. Its origin is traced from a druid-ceremony: the priests used to go yearly in December, which with them was reputed a sacred month, to gather millet of the oak in great solemnity. The prophets marched in the front, singing hymns in honour of their deities; after them came a herald with a caduceus in his hand; these were followed by three druids a-breast, bearing the things necessary for sacrifice; last of all came the chief, or arch-druid, accompanied with the train of people. The chief druid climbing the oak, cut off the millet with a golden sickle, and the other druids received it in a white cloth; on the first day of the year, it was distributed among the people, after having blessed and consecrated it by crying Au gui l'an neuf, to proclaim the new-year. This cry is still continued in Picardy, with the addition of Plantez, Plantez, to wish a plentiful year. In Burgundy and some other parts, the children use the same word to beg a new-year's gift. Of later times the name Aguillaneuf was also given to a sort of begging, practised in some dioceses, for church-tapers, on new-year's day, by a troop of young people of both sexes, having a chief, &c. It was attended with various ridiculous ceremonies, as dancing in the church, &c., which occasioned the synods to suppress it.