According to recorded history, New year festivals have been celebrated for over 5000 years. The date of these celebrations though varied.
The ancient EGYPTIANS began their new year with the autumn equinox, while the GREEKS began theirs at the time of winter solstice.
In early medieval times CHRISTIAN EUROPE began their year on March 25, but ANGLO SAXON ENGLAND regarded December 25th as their new year.
In the eleventh century WILLIAM the conqueror declares January 1st as the beginning of the New year, but it was not till the late 16th Century that the GREGORIAN CALENDAR established their day as the New year's day.
The JEWISH religious new year with ROSH HASHANA the first day in the month of Tishni. This day represents the day of creation and in honour of them, a TRUMPET is blown. This trumpet is called SHOFAR. According to Jewish belief, it is also the day that God passes judgement in the Book of life on each person's actions.
The JAPANESE celebrate the New year in a festival called GRANJITSU. The festival is also called SHOGATSU and refers to the belief that good fortune or bad fortune within the first few days of the year represents the fortune for the coming year.
In India with its myriad cultures, the New year is observed at many different times in keeping with local belief. Although we follow the GREGORIAN CALENDAR which is based on SUN most Indian festivals are celebrated based on the Indian or lunar calendar.
In Maharashtra, GRUDI PADVA is celebrated as New year. A brass or silver pot is hoisted on a pole and fastened to a silken cloth this is called GUDI
In karnataka and Andra Pradesh the New year is celebrated as UGADI.
In North India the festival is BAISAKHI a time for thanks giving. It is a time for celebration, for feasting and bhangra.
The Sikhs also believe that it was the day that GURU GOBIND SINGH intiated that PANCHA PIYARA or the five loved ones. It was the day he gave these FIVE PEOPLE a sermon of being a true sikh.
In Tamil Nadu the TAMIL NEW YEAR day is a day of prayer and thanks giving.
Lik any New year, there is a great deal of hope for the coming year.
A New year is always a time to look backward and forward, a time to give thanks for what
has been and hope for the best in the months to come. An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.
As G.K. Chesterton says
The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul.
Even am trying too...
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