Did you make any New Year’s Resolutions?
The custom of making New Year’s Resolutions has been around for thousands of years.
The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honour of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their gods would bestow favour on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favour—a place no one wanted to be.
A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome, after the reform-minded emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the new year circa 46 B.C. Named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. Believing that Janus symbolically looked backwards into the previous year and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year. Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings.
For early Christians, the first day of the new year became the traditional occasion for thinking about one’s past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. In 1740, the English clergyman John Wesley, created the Covenant Renewal Service, most commonly held on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Also known as known as watch night services, they included readings from Scriptures and hymn singing, and served as a spiritual alternative to the raucous celebrations normally held to celebrate the coming of the new year.
Despite the tradition’s religious roots, New Year’s resolutions today are a mostly secular practice. Instead of making promises to the gods, most people make resolutions only to themselves, and focus purely on self-improvement (which may explain why such resolutions seem so hard to follow through on). According to research, while as many as 45 percent of people say they make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals. But that dismal record probably won’t stop people from making resolutions anytime soon—after all, we’ve had about 4,000 years of practice.
As our birthdays do, New Year's Day provides us the chance to celebrate having made it through another 365 days, the unit of time by which we keep chronological score of our lives. Phew! Another year over, and here we still are! Time to raise our glasses and toast our survival.
Well, we had some really chilly weather in December, & my pond froze with ice at least 1 inch thick; but it has been colder in the past and here is the proof; frozen river & boats and a beautiful heavy coating of white stuff. From a few years ago (With thanks to Robin Hogg for the photos)
If you are on Facebook, there is a short video of one of the gig’s going out (this year) breaking the ice
https://www.facebook.com/timothy.tew.581/videos/525729909505964?idorvanity=2049692991792819
Since this was written, we are in double figures. – May weather in December; Primroses are out in flower, geraniums haven’t died back yet, & some roses are still in flower. It is weird!
John Allen - late of Voss Cottage, Noss Mayo
John will be remembered by many as an enthusiastic keeper of the fabric of our villages. It was his activities some years ago that prompted the launch of the widely known bumper sticker “Granite sets Noss Hard”.
He had also always been a supporter of the RYDA and in his Will, he generously bequeathed to the Association a sum of £10,000 with no direction as to how it was to be spent.
Your Committee has voted it appropriate, from this sum, to maintain the gardens of Allens Quay which he created about 5 years ago in memory of his wife, Jenni. We will also start a programme of restoring, where appropriate, the wrought iron railings which are a feature in our villages and have been falling into disrepair. These railings were known by John as Revelstoke Railings about which he was quite passionate. He had maintained some of them himself at a younger age.
We are sure he would be happy with this decision.
This month there is only one Planning item having a wide interest to RYDA members.
The "Green" Deli at the Green on Parsonage Road, wishes to extend the canopy over the outside seating area. It is proposed that this will have clear poly carbonate roof sheets on a visually lightweight metal frame. This will allow the business to serve food and drink to customers outside, over a longer season during rainy or cold weather. (see link for more detail: 4159/22/FUL )
1st Tuesday Lunch Club 3rd January. Newton Ferrers Village hall 12.00
Everyone welcome £6. 2 courses plus tea or coffee.
Please contact Jeanne 872442 or Jane 872627 to advise of allergies etc.
WI evening talk “Milan~The Italian Job” Tuesday 10th January 7pm. New members Welcome
Yealm Parchment Craft
WI Hall, Newton Ferrers
Next lesson 20th January 2023 2-4 pm
Project : Pure embossing
Equipment can be supplied if you don’t have it
Tel 07838375449
WI Crafts 24th January WI Hall 2-4pm
“Sunrise” Yarn Art. £1.50 including tea & coffee.
Please bring glue (preferably PVA) Yarn, sewing cotton, crochet cotton, embroidery thread, knitting wool oddments, ribbon, lace offcuts, pencil & scissors.
A picture to inspire your design if you need it
(some yarn is available)
Thursday Lunch Club Noss Mayo in the village hall 26th January @12.15
Everyone welcome £6 for 2 courses plus tea or coffee.
Please contact Jane 872663 (mrandmrsbarnett@gmail.com) to advise of allergies etc. Vegetarian option available.