or Augillaneuf, 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," "mistletoe," and "pan neu," "the new year." Its origin is traced from a druid-ceremo- ny: the priests used to go yearly in December, which with them was reputed a sacred month, to gather mistletoe of the oak in great solemnity. The prophets marched in the front, singing hymns in honour of their deities;

T t after after them came a herald with a caduceus in his hand; these were followed by three druids a-breadth, 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 mistletoe 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 *Agui 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.