Originally published December 31st 2007
Happy New Year to everyone! There’s not much time left to make those resolutions.
Did You Know?
There are not as many people continuing this old tradition as there used to be. Every year there used to be thousands who resolved to give up something and make a fresh start.
A popular choice was to keep a diary but there were always more who decided to give up smoking. Not for health reasons but because they would have liked to have the money they spent on tobacco and cigarettes.
A few achieved their aim but most soon reverted back to their old habit. Some lasted no more than a day or two. Others who managed a bit longer often complained of all sorts of pain and ailments brought on as a result of stopping so suddenly.
The only remedy was to start again!
At Lent children attending Sunday school were told they should make a sacrifice for forty days by giving up something they really liked to eat or drink or enjoyed doing.
Resolutions made at the start of a new year have no time limit. Nor are they restricted to cutting out something you are fond of. They can apply to anything from your diet to the way you behave and the things you do.
The practice of celebrating the New Year is not confined to one religion nor does it always take place at the same time. In early times Christian people had March 25th which they changed more than once before accepting 1st of January. This was in line with all Roman Catholic countries who had fixed this date more than 150 years earlier.
In the Middle East, China and many other countries with varied religions and beliefs they have this anniversary at different dates on the calendar.
Although celebrated in different ways by individuals of many faiths and religions, in the Western World, Christmas and the start of the New Year seem to have established a link. As with many things today, what we do and how we do it is strongly controlled by the media and advertising. We send greetings cards at Christmas expressing our best wishes for both occasions while a flood of every form of advertising is thrust upon us from every quarter throughout the whole season.
The parties and ‘get-togethers’ for the New Year probably involve a wider circle of friends and relatives and are more likely to take place out and away from the home where they can relax and be waited on after a busy Xmas. At this time, the younger members of the family take more of a back seat and do not receive so much of the attention.
In some other countries like Scotland, Brazil, China, Japan etc. the New Year is more lavishly celebrated with the children sometimes receiving presents. The Chinese always have their fireworks and clean their houses ready for a fresh start. The Japanese use bamboo to decorate their gates and doors where they hang shellfish and fruit to symbolise happiness for the coming year.
Because of the changes in the behaviour of all our Societies many traditions have had to be adjusted. In Scotland the practice of an open house for Hogmanay is no longer taken for granted. It is unlikely that anyone would leave their doors unlocked even if they knew the person ‘first footing’ did have dark hair and was carrying a piece of coal. There are all sorts of reasons why many such practices all over the world are no longer carried out.
When the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December people who have congregated all over the world to celebrate the start of the New Year will cross their arms and join hands while they render ‘Auld Langsyne’.
Why can’t every country, religion and creed throughout the World celebrate the start of the New Year at the same time? Wouldn’t it be better to move it right away from Christmas, perhaps to the 1st of July when the days are long, warm and bright and no one is suffering from the winter ‘blues’. We would all feel much more charitable when we were making our resolutions.
In the meantime let us all extend a hand of friendship in this coming year and resolve to be more patient and considerate to our fellows. Above all, try to be kind to everyone!
Very Best Wishes for The New Year to you all!
valley lad – [THIRTY-SIX]
