A another new year is just around the corner. Have you started thinking of your resolutions for this coming year?

Did you know the new year has not always began on January 1st

And it doesn’t begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365 day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the new year in 46 B.C. when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with 2 faces -one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look forward and backward at the same time. At midnight on December 31 the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new one. They began exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune.

The Chinese New Year and the Jewish New Year are celebrated at different times, but it is a time for celebration and for customs that ensure good luck in the coming year.

The customs that we are familiar with in the U.S. originated in the 1750’s by the Dutch in Amsterdam. Today we make New Year’s resolutions. We decide to “turn over a new leaf” and improve ourselves in some way during the year.

Many people have big parties and children get to stay up until midnight when “Father Time” is replaced by “Baby New Year.”

 

Recipe for a Happy New Year

Take 12 fine, full grown months; see that they are thoroughly cleansed from all old memories of bitterness, rancor, hate and jealousy.

Cut these months into 30-31 equal parts. This batch will keep a year. (Do not attempt to make more than one batch at a time. Many people spoil the entire lot in this way.)

Prepare one day at a time. Into each day, put 12 parts of faith, 11 of patience, 10 of courage, 9 of work, 8 of hope, 7 of fidelity, 6 of open mindedness, 5 of kindness, 4 of rest, 3 of prayer, 2 of meditation and one of well selected resolutions.

If you have no conscientious scruples, add a drop of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play and a heaping cupful of humor.

Pour love liberally into the whole and mix with vim. Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat. Garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy; then serve with quietness, unselfishness, cheerfulness and a Happy New Year is a certainty----

From Leaves of Gold

Have a glorious New Year, everyone!!!