According to InfoPlease, "The celebration of the new year on January 1st is a relatively new
phenomenon. The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed
to have been in Mesopotamia, c. 2000 B.C. and was celebrated around the
time of the vernal equinox
in mid-March. A variety of other dates tied to the seasons were also
used by various ancient cultures. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, and
Persians began their new year with the fall equinox, and the Greeks
celebrated it on the winter solstice...
The first time the new
year was celebrated on January 1st was in Rome in 153 B.C. (In fact, the
month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second
king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the
months of January and February.) The new year was moved from March to
January because that was the beginning of the civil year, the month that the
two newly elected Roman consuls—the
highest officials in the Roman republic—began their one-year tenure. But
this new year date was not always strictly and widely observed, and the new
year was still sometimes celebrated on March 1".
Probably the most famous tradition in the United States is the dropping
of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M.
Thousands gather to watch the ball make its one-minute descent,
arriving exactly at midnight. The tradition first began in 1907. The
original ball was made of iron and wood; the current ball is made of
Waterord Crystal, weighs 1,070 pounds, and is six feet in diameter (Bruner).
In my town of Boise, ID they drop a giant potato rather than a crystal ball:
Here in Auckland, they set off fireworks from the Skytower.
Many people set resolutions at New Years. I tend to be fairly goal oriented throughout the year, so I don't make a big deal about making new ones on January 1. But it is a time when I reflect on the year just passed and sort of take stock on how I'm doing in my general progress.
I base my goals on the concepts taught as "Personal and Family Preparedness" which encourages people to become self-reliant in six different areas: (1) literacy and education;
(2) career development, (3) financial and resource management, (4) home
production and storage, (5) physical health, and (6) social-emotional
and spiritual strength.
AREA 1: LITERACY
& EDUCATION
The
STANDARD
The prepared
person reads, writes, and does basic mathematics; regularly studies the
scriptures and other good books; and uses local resources to teach these
skills and habits to all family members. Parents and children should
take advantage of public and other educational opportunities.
AREA 2: CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The
STANDARD
Each head of a household should select a suitable vocation or profession
and pursue appropriate training. Each young person should receive
counsel to help him select a career that will satisfy family economic
needs and provide personal satisfaction.
AREA 3:
FINANCIAL & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The
STANDARD
Each person establishes financial goals, pays tithes and
offerings, avoids debt, pays obligations, uses family resources wisely, and
saves during times of plenty for times of need.
AREA
4: HOME PRODUCTION & STORAGE
The
STANDARD
Each person or family produces as much as possible
through gardening, sewing, and making household items. Each person and family learns techniques of
home canning, freezing and
drying foods and, where legally
permitted, stores a one-year supply of food, clothing, and, if possible, fuel.
AREA 5: PHYSICAL HEALTH
The
STANDARD
Each person obeys the Word of Wisdom and practices sound
principles of nutrition, physical fitness, weight control, immunization,
sanitation, mother and child health, accident prevention, dental health and
medical care. Members live in a healthy
and clean environment. In addition, each
member acquires appropriate skills in first aid safety, home nursing and food
selection and preparation.
AREA
6: Social / Emotional & Spiritual Strength
The
STANDARD
Each person builds spiritual strength to meet life's
challenges with confidence and stability by learning to love God and
communicate with Him in personal prayer; to love and serve his/her neighbor,
and to love and respect her/himself through righteous living and self mastery. Social emotional and spiritual strength is
increased by living the principles of the gospel.
For me, it's all about balance. At various times throughout my life I have done better in some areas and not so well in others. But as I continue to review each area and examine my personal alignment with the standards given, I can identify the specific things I can do to become more the person I was created to be.
