1st January 2019
Musings.......
Its the beginning of a new year once again and here we are with the usual fireworks and festivities the evening before. In many countries around the world including India it is customary to countdown until 12:00 AM when the clock chimes in, and we officially enter a new year in the Gregorian tradition. However, there are other traditions too the world over.
The residents of Scotland mark the arrival of New Year with the Hogmanay holidays. The Scottish Hogmanay origins date back to the pagan rituals that marked the time of the winter solistice. Roman celebrations of the hedonistic winter festival of Saturnalia and Viking celebrations of Yule contributed to the Hogmanay holidays in Scotland. During the Middle Ages, the pre-existing pagan winter festivals were overshadowed by the feasts surrounding Christmas and the New Year was moved to coincide with Christian holy days. Following e reformation in Scotland, Christmas celebrations were discouraged and gift giving and celebrations that took place during Christmas elsewhere, were moved to New Year giving rise to the unique Scottish Hogmanay.
Fire symbolises the new resurgent sun coming back to land, and was believed to ward off evil spirits dwelling in the darkness, according to pagan tradition. Hence, torchlight processions, bonfires and fireworks are popular throughout Scotland. Another custom known as "first footing" dictates that the first person to cross a homes threshold after midnight on New Year's Eve ill determine the homeowners luck for the next year. The ideal visitor bears gifts and should be a man with dark complexion. This is because presumably in the 8th century fair haired Vikings invaded Scotland , and hence is considered not a good omen.
In Spain it is customary to have 12 grapes at hand when the clock strikes 12 at midnight. One grape is eaten on each stroke. If all grapes are eaten within the period of the strikes, it means good luck in the New Year.
In Japan "forget the year parties" are held to bid farewell to problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the streets and launch fireworks.
In Greece, the traditional food served is Vassilopitta a cake in which a coin is hidden inside; whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will receive good luck during the coming year.
In Sweden and Norway, it is an almond hidden inside rice pudding that brings good fortune.
In Buddhist temples around the world, gongs are struck 108 times on New Year's Eve in an effort to expel 108 types of human weaknesses.
Sinhalese New Year is celebrated by Sinhalese while Tamil New Year by Sri Lankan Tamilians on the same day. The Sinhalese New Year (aluth avurudda) marks the end of harvest season and is held on 13th or 14th April. There is an astrological generated time gap between passing of year and the New Year which is based on passing of the sun from Meena Rashi ( Pieces ) to Mesha Rashi ( Aries ) in the celestial sphere. This time gap is celebrated with several Buddhist rituals and customs as well as gatherings and parties.
Ancient Egyptian culture is closely associated with River Nile and their New Year corresponded with its annual flood. They celebrate it with a festival known as Wepet Renpet which means " opening of the Year ". Recent discoveries at the Temple of Met showed that during the reign of Hatshepsut, the first month of the year played host to " Festival of Drunkedness". This massive party was tied to the myth of Sekhmet, a war goddess who had planned to kill all of humanity until the sun god Ra tricked her into drinking herself unconscious, the Egyptians would celebrate with music, sex , revelry, and lots of beer.
The Ethiopian New Year called Enqutatash and is celebrated on 11th or 12 th September depending on the leap year. Ethiopia uses its own ancient calendar the Ge'ez calendar. The date of Enqutatash marks the approximate end of three months of heavy rain. Enqutatash is a holiday shared among people of all religions and almost all cultures throughout the country.
Nowruz the Persian New Year is a 13 day spring festival that is still celebrated in parts of Middle East and Asia. The festival is celebrated on the vernal equinox of March and is believed to have originated as part of the Zoroastrian religion. Traditions include lighting bonfires, exchanging gifts, dyeing eggs, and sprinkling water that symbolises creation. Nowruz is observed by an estimated 300 million people each year.
One of the oldest traditions still celebrated today is the Chinese New Year, believed to be originated around three millennia ago during the Shang Dynasty. According to legend, there was a bloodthirsty creature called Nian - now the Chinese word for year, - that prayed on the villages every New Year. In order to frighten the hungry beast, the villagers took to decorating their homes with red trimmings, burning bamboo and making loud noises. The ruse worked, and bright colours and lights associated with scaring off Nian became customary.
Festivities are clelebrated with food ,family, lucky money, and many other red things for luck. Each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiacal animals : rat, of, tiger, rabbit , dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog or pig.
The earliest recorded New Year festivities dates back some 4000 years to ancient Babylon and was deeply intertwined with religion and mythology. They marked the occasion, the vernal equinox ( equal amount of sunlight and darkness ) with massive religious festival called Akitu for 11 days. During the Akitu, statues of gods were paraded through the city streets and rites were enacted to symbolise their victory over forces of chaos.
As I already mentioned in the Middle Ages, in medivial Eurole, the celebrations accompanying the New Year were considered pagan and unchristian like and in 567 AD the Council of Tour abolished January 1st as the beginning of the year.
In 1582, after reform of the Gregorian calendar, Pope Gregory XIII re-established January 1st as New Year's Day.
Hence the debatable New Year day evolved over centuries changing with the times. Most notable aspect being its association with religious tradition, faith and mythology. Does this ring a bell. The world over we yesterday celebrated a new beginning irrespective of anything that divides us humans - be it religion, caste, tradition, faith, social status.
If the world can unite in celebration on a day which finds its roots greatly embedded in the Christian tradition, why can't the world unite when it comes to betterment of human life and standard of living.
Food for Thought.......
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
Its the beginning of a new year once again and here we are with the usual fireworks and festivities the evening before. In many countries around the world including India it is customary to countdown until 12:00 AM when the clock chimes in, and we officially enter a new year in the Gregorian tradition. However, there are other traditions too the world over.
The residents of Scotland mark the arrival of New Year with the Hogmanay holidays. The Scottish Hogmanay origins date back to the pagan rituals that marked the time of the winter solistice. Roman celebrations of the hedonistic winter festival of Saturnalia and Viking celebrations of Yule contributed to the Hogmanay holidays in Scotland. During the Middle Ages, the pre-existing pagan winter festivals were overshadowed by the feasts surrounding Christmas and the New Year was moved to coincide with Christian holy days. Following e reformation in Scotland, Christmas celebrations were discouraged and gift giving and celebrations that took place during Christmas elsewhere, were moved to New Year giving rise to the unique Scottish Hogmanay.
Fire symbolises the new resurgent sun coming back to land, and was believed to ward off evil spirits dwelling in the darkness, according to pagan tradition. Hence, torchlight processions, bonfires and fireworks are popular throughout Scotland. Another custom known as "first footing" dictates that the first person to cross a homes threshold after midnight on New Year's Eve ill determine the homeowners luck for the next year. The ideal visitor bears gifts and should be a man with dark complexion. This is because presumably in the 8th century fair haired Vikings invaded Scotland , and hence is considered not a good omen.
In Spain it is customary to have 12 grapes at hand when the clock strikes 12 at midnight. One grape is eaten on each stroke. If all grapes are eaten within the period of the strikes, it means good luck in the New Year.
In Japan "forget the year parties" are held to bid farewell to problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the streets and launch fireworks.
In Greece, the traditional food served is Vassilopitta a cake in which a coin is hidden inside; whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will receive good luck during the coming year.
In Sweden and Norway, it is an almond hidden inside rice pudding that brings good fortune.
In Buddhist temples around the world, gongs are struck 108 times on New Year's Eve in an effort to expel 108 types of human weaknesses.
Sinhalese New Year is celebrated by Sinhalese while Tamil New Year by Sri Lankan Tamilians on the same day. The Sinhalese New Year (aluth avurudda) marks the end of harvest season and is held on 13th or 14th April. There is an astrological generated time gap between passing of year and the New Year which is based on passing of the sun from Meena Rashi ( Pieces ) to Mesha Rashi ( Aries ) in the celestial sphere. This time gap is celebrated with several Buddhist rituals and customs as well as gatherings and parties.
Ancient Egyptian culture is closely associated with River Nile and their New Year corresponded with its annual flood. They celebrate it with a festival known as Wepet Renpet which means " opening of the Year ". Recent discoveries at the Temple of Met showed that during the reign of Hatshepsut, the first month of the year played host to " Festival of Drunkedness". This massive party was tied to the myth of Sekhmet, a war goddess who had planned to kill all of humanity until the sun god Ra tricked her into drinking herself unconscious, the Egyptians would celebrate with music, sex , revelry, and lots of beer.
The Ethiopian New Year called Enqutatash and is celebrated on 11th or 12 th September depending on the leap year. Ethiopia uses its own ancient calendar the Ge'ez calendar. The date of Enqutatash marks the approximate end of three months of heavy rain. Enqutatash is a holiday shared among people of all religions and almost all cultures throughout the country.
Nowruz the Persian New Year is a 13 day spring festival that is still celebrated in parts of Middle East and Asia. The festival is celebrated on the vernal equinox of March and is believed to have originated as part of the Zoroastrian religion. Traditions include lighting bonfires, exchanging gifts, dyeing eggs, and sprinkling water that symbolises creation. Nowruz is observed by an estimated 300 million people each year.
One of the oldest traditions still celebrated today is the Chinese New Year, believed to be originated around three millennia ago during the Shang Dynasty. According to legend, there was a bloodthirsty creature called Nian - now the Chinese word for year, - that prayed on the villages every New Year. In order to frighten the hungry beast, the villagers took to decorating their homes with red trimmings, burning bamboo and making loud noises. The ruse worked, and bright colours and lights associated with scaring off Nian became customary.
Festivities are clelebrated with food ,family, lucky money, and many other red things for luck. Each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiacal animals : rat, of, tiger, rabbit , dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog or pig.
The earliest recorded New Year festivities dates back some 4000 years to ancient Babylon and was deeply intertwined with religion and mythology. They marked the occasion, the vernal equinox ( equal amount of sunlight and darkness ) with massive religious festival called Akitu for 11 days. During the Akitu, statues of gods were paraded through the city streets and rites were enacted to symbolise their victory over forces of chaos.
As I already mentioned in the Middle Ages, in medivial Eurole, the celebrations accompanying the New Year were considered pagan and unchristian like and in 567 AD the Council of Tour abolished January 1st as the beginning of the year.
In 1582, after reform of the Gregorian calendar, Pope Gregory XIII re-established January 1st as New Year's Day.
Hence the debatable New Year day evolved over centuries changing with the times. Most notable aspect being its association with religious tradition, faith and mythology. Does this ring a bell. The world over we yesterday celebrated a new beginning irrespective of anything that divides us humans - be it religion, caste, tradition, faith, social status.
If the world can unite in celebration on a day which finds its roots greatly embedded in the Christian tradition, why can't the world unite when it comes to betterment of human life and standard of living.
Food for Thought.......
RC
rohitchennithala.blogspot.com
Comments
Post a Comment