Happy New Year
To open this year’s “Inspirations” – we recall events and traditions from thousands of ‘new years’ throughout human history and the various celebratory activities that humans observe on this day. The New Year is a time to reflect on the experiences of the past and start fresh with renewed hope in the blessings a new year may bring.
But the New Year isn’t celebrated on January 1st by everyone – it was originally connected to the rising of a new moon after the vernal equinox which usually falls in March according to modern calendars. The vernal equinox is the day of the year with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness. Following this lunar calendar, the Babylonians recorded the earliest known celebrations of the new year some 4000 years ago.
Centuries later, after frustrations with the inaccurate Roman Calendar which was based on agricultural seasons and/or lunar cycles, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which closely resembles the modern Gregorian calendar used broadly today. Caesar instituted January 1 as the first day of every year to honor Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings, whose two faces allowed him to look back into the past and forward into the future – a feature similar to a character Adam meets in Taoland in our first novel Adam in Taoland.
There are various New Year’s traditions practiced around the world. Fireworks are a common way to celebrate the new year in many countries, including the United States, China, and Australia and various Muslim countries.
In these Muslim countries, the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles. Since this calendar is eleven to twelve days shorter than the common Gregorian calendar, the Islamic New Year shifts every year to ten to twelve days earlier when compared to the Gregorian Calendar. On this day some Muslims celebrate the New Year with fireworks and gatherings while others reflect on the fact that another year that goes by means that they are one year closer to their death. With this in mind, they make resolutions to make the next year one of piety and goodness.
Other cultures have different traditions. For example, in Spain and some Latin American countries, eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each stroke of the clock, is thought to bring good luck for the coming year. Other cultures have traditions such as making loud noises at midnight – a practice believed to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck. In the Philippines, people bang pots and pans, while folks in Denmark smash plates against the front doors of friends and neighbors.
Still others differ in their practices such as in Scotland where the first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s Eve is called the “first footer” the one who brings good luck to the household. Meanwhile, in many Asian countries cleaning the house before the new year is thought to sweep away bad luck thus making room for good fortune. Likewise in some cultures, wearing new clothes on New Year’s Day is believed to bring good luck throughout the coming year.
Regardless of their specific practices, the ‘new year’s resolution’ seems to be a common theme – one might vow to exercise more, quit smoking, or learn a new skill. In this light, we’d like to share a thought for all to ponder as they read the pages of this book: Trees grow from tiny seeds, every new year extending their branches skyward.
In a way, each of us is like a tree, our hopes and dreams like seeds planted in fertile soil. If we believe anything is possible – over time the seeds begin to sprout. Then our own branches stretch out toward the heavens .
As our tree begins to bear good fruit — we discover our hearts becoming ever more satisfied and our souls more nourished. With the passage of time, our hopes and dreams become refined, more specific, and more achievable.
Our positivity and faith throughout life constantly sprouts new branches to provide protection and sustain us with the fruits of joy, peace, and fulfillment – every year refreshing us with renewed confidence and strength – as prior fears and mistakes fade into oblivion like dead wood.
Like every tree, our own requires patience and constant nourishment – as its leaves and broken branches fall to replenish the soil below. We constantly water our tree with tears of both joy and sadness – and nourish it with prayer and trust in our Creator. Year after year, our tree's roots become deeper, the trunk grows stronger, and our branches bear more luscious fruit.
May your days ahead be filled with such new growth, happy days, and abundant blessings. Have no expectations but abundant expectancy as you dream new dreams that never were – and marvel in experiencing bits of them coming true.
