Last night, my wife and I, spent the entire evening with a good friend of ours, Harry Denton. He is a Restaurateur/Nightclub Owner in San Francisco. We hung out with him the entire evening and talked all night. Very private, very nice. That is a rare occurrence due to his usual "makin the rounds" at the beautiful club, Harry Denton's Starlight Room. Getting him to slow, sit, relax and talk for a few minutes is not an easy task, but we sat together all night. His vibrant, optimistic, entrepreneurial personality is so refreshing.
He is so kind and generous. He was excited as to our arrival and he went to get us a quick dessert to have with our first glass of Champagne. He came back with two small desert bowls of mousse, although it was wonderful whipped butter instead...so, Harry quickly turned that one around by offering the head bartender a taste of our dessert, before we were to eat it, which he fell for the gag for nice laugh all around. He took it well.
Thank you and Happy New Year to you, Harry!
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Originally observed on the Ides of March, or March 15 in the old Roman Calendar, New Year's Day first came to be fixed in January 1, 153 BC, when the two Roman consuls, after whom — in the Roman calendar — years were named and numbered, began to be chosen on that date, for military reasons. However, dates in March, coinciding with the spring equinox, or commemorating the Annunciation of Jesus, along with a variety of Christian feast dates were used throughout the Middle Ages, though calendars often continued to display the months in columns running from January to December in the Roman fashion.
Among the 7th-century pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands it was the custom to exchange gifts at the New Year, a pagan custom deplored by Saint Eligius (died 659 or 660), who warned the Flemings and Dutchmen, "[Do not] make vetulas, [little figures of the Old Woman], little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [another Yule custom]." The quote is from the vita of Eligius written by his companion Oueen..
Most countries in Western Europe officially adopted January 1 as New Year's Day somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. The Feast of the Annunciation, March 25 (9 months before December 25), was the first day of the new year in England until the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752. The March 25th date was called Annunciation Style; the January 1 date was called Circumcision Style, because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day counting from December 25.
January 1 marks the end of a period of remembrance of a particular passing year, especially on radio, television, and in newspapers, which usually starts right after Christmas Day. Publications often have year-end articles that review the changes during the previous year. Common topics include politics, natural disasters, music and the arts, and the listing of significant individuals who died during the past year. Often there are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year, such as the description of new laws that often take effect on January 1.
This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has become an occasion for celebration the night of December 31, called New Year's Eve. There are often fireworks at midnight. Depending on the country, individuals may be legally allowed to burn fireworks, even if it's usually outlawed the rest of the year.
It is also customary to make New Year's resolutions, which individuals hope to fulfill in the coming year. The most popular resolutions in the western world include to quit tobacco smoking, stop excessive drinking of alcohol, lose weight, and get physically fit.
What are your resolutions?
This, the 228th entry in bloggoland! Thanks for reading and coming back. I always enjoy the comments, emails and the banter!!
(c)Copyright 2009 Doug Boggs
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