New Year was first observed about 4000 years ago. In the year around 200BC, the Babylonians celebrated the beginning of New Year on what is now March 23, although they themselves had no written calendar. Ever since, New Year has been celebrated in numerous forms – as the date of its celebration has been witnessing changes.
For instance, the Babylonians celebrated New Year on March 23, as March was a logical choice for the beginning of a new year. It is the time of the year that spring begins and new crops planted. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronous agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular celebration.
The Romans continued to observe the New Year on March 25, but the calendar was constantly tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization of the sun.
IN order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January the beginning of the New Year. But tempering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46BC came up with what has come to be known as the Julian, Calendar. It again established January 1 as the first day of the year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year run for 445 days.
In the middle ages, Christians changed New Year’s Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the “Annunciation”. In the sixteenth century, Gregory Xiii revised the Julian calendar and the celebration of New Year was returned to January 1.
Despite the date for New Year’s Day in all these times, it message, focus, and essence is remained the same and one. It is always a tie of celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the year. The Romans had the above in mind when they named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and that of doors and entrances to success.
Thus, he was always depicted with two faces, one in the front of his head and one at the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time.
At midnight December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the New Year.
New Year is a time to celebrate and plan for the future. This is to many of us called ‘RESOLUTION’. The history of new year resolutions dates back to 153 BC. Janus ancient symbol of resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies, and they also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year’s Eve by giving one another fruit from the sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god, Janus were used as a common New Year gift.
What are your New Year Rituals (resolutions)? The Romans celebrated forgiveness and resolved to be united. The problem is that most good intentions get derailed within a few weeks. Make this year the year you make good on your New Year resolutions.
Unfortunately, while some people and countries set good resolutions in the New Year and strive to attain them via the help of God, other set retrogressive visions and plan. These plans at times cause topsey turvy in the society than mirth which greet this period.
What is your new year ritual? Have you written down your plans? How do you intend to achieve your plans? Will your ritual (resolution) contribute to your personal development, high profitability of your business and increase development in humanity?
Endeavor to make good your rituals and plan and do not indulge in anything that will bring reproach and demean your personality cum efforts within the year.
LET PRAY:
May God not allow you to die this year! May He not allow you to engage in fraud of any kind, may He help your business achieve success and may you enjoin other peoples of the world in singing “Auld Lang Syne” at the stroke of midnight December 31, 2013. Amen!
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