Happy New Year

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. Janus was always depicted with two faces.  Janus was time, and  he presided over all moments of transition--dawn, noon, dusk, midnight.   He was the first god the Romans prayed to in the morning and the last god they prayed to before retiring for the night. 

According to Roman mythology, this ancient Latin deity presided over the beginning of everything.  With his two heads, he stands at the parting of the ways looking back retrospectively over the year that is gone and prophetically over the year that is coming. To the Romans, this was  a time for a review of the past  and for new resolutions  to be friendly and good to one another.

Janus is the originator of the New Year's gift for on New Year's Day, the principal festival of the god, the Romans gave presents to each one another. These consisted of sweetmeats and branches by giving each other branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts. On one side of the latter— given for the sake of good omen—was the double head of Janus, and on the other a ship. The latter was probably a symbol wishing good luck to the recipient. 

Let us, like the good Janus, for whom the month of January is named, look forward as well as backwards.  New Year's Eve is a time to look back on the previous year, to reflect on the good times and the bad.  As we embark on the journey of another year, let me take this opportunity wish you and yours  all the best in 2012. May you have a delightful New Year full of love, peace, and joy. Here’s wishing, all the love, joys and good things in life dawn on you with this new start.

Happy New Year!   See you all in 2012.