Winter Whites

I'm back to wish you...

a

New Years Blessing.

Did you know that New Years was once

celebrated  on March 24th?

You heard me right.

Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar

which consisted of 12 months.

He ordered that New Years be celebrated

on January 1st.

However in the 5th century the Romans

changed it to March 24th.

The month of March was named after
 the Roman God Mars.
April is the Roman word for second.
As September is the word seventh,
October is the eighth month,
November is nine
and December is the tenth month. 

By 1582, Pope Gregory adopted the
Gregorian calendar in which
New Years Day was changed back to January 1st.
Confusing, right?
Now in the 1600's both the Julian and 
the Gregorian calendars were used.

So depending on your religion,
that would decide the calendar to be used.
Thus some folks celebrated New Years in
January or March.

By 1769 the American colonists
concentrated on the Gregorian calendar,
however kept the names of the months as is.
Thus January 1st became the official day
to celebrate New Years. 
Soon the rest of the world followed.

New Years was to be celebrated with family.
Sauerkraut, sausage, kielbasa or any pork meat
took center stage.

Just before midnight,
the head of the household would 
open the door to let the old year out,
while welcoming in the New Year.

Since Auld Lang Syne was written in 1788,
this song was also sung by all.
This tradition still holds true at midnight.
The gist of the song is to forget about the past,
and look to the new year with hope.

With all that said,
I want to wish each and everyone of you
a Very Happy New Year!

May it be filled with hope and optimism.

New Years Blessings To All!
Janice