A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....12-29-06 - 01-01-07 ~ A Finest New Year's Weekend

Dutchess and Aquamarine

[dutchess]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, GodBlessUSA , Aquamarine ~

Auld Lang Syne - Traditional
Auld Lang Syne - Modern
Auld Lang Syne - For Cat People :)




A Finest Happy New Years Weekend…
History and Traditions

As we enter 2007, this weekend thread is dedicated to traditions past. Please feel free to share your traditions and memories!!!

ANCIENT NEW YEARS

The New Years celebration is the oldest of all holidays. First observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. Around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

THE CHURCH'S VIEW OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS

Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year's Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.

NEW YEAR TRADITIONS

Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.

The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California. Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

NEW YEARS BABY

The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century.

FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.

AULD LANG SYNE

The song, "Auld Lang Syne," playing in the background, is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days.".

NEW YEAR'S FOOD TRADITIONS

~ Eating noodles at midnight is customary at Buddhist temples in Japan.

~ A German/Pennsylvania Dutch tradition is to eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year's day for good luck.

~ It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The 12 grapes signify the last twelve months of the year.

~ German folklore says that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will bring luck for the next year.

~ Eating pickled herring as the first bite of the New Year brings good luck to those of Polish descent.

~ In the southern United States, it is believed eating black eyed peas on New Year's eve will bring luck for the coming year.

~ Also from the south comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach to bring money.

~ One more from the Southerners: eating cornbread will bring wealth.

~The Southern custom of eating greens can be found in other cultures as well, although the cabbage can take many forms, such as sauerkraut or even kimchee.

~ In the Philippines, it is important to have food on the table at midnight in order to insure an abundance of food in the upcoming year.

~ Boiled Cod is a New Year's Eve must in Denmark.

~ Olie Bollen a donut-like fritter is popular in Holland for New Year.

~ Black-eyed peas, fish, apples, and beets are eaten for luck at the Jewish New Year's celebration (not celebrated on Jan 1).

AN INVITATION

To all our friends at FreeRepublic. We hope you have a blessed 2007 and invite you to share a special family tradition or recollections of 2006.

As always, thank you Jim Robinson and all our FreeRepublic family for helping us keep our country moving in the RIGHT direction AND… AS ALWAYS… Our love, prayers and gratitude to our military men and women and their families.

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST IN 2007!!!!

Happy New Year 2007!

10-01-06 ~ Hall of Fame #17

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 12/22 thru 12/25/06 Polar Express ~ Christmas Thread 12-26-06 Military Monday on Tuesday 12/27/06 Warm Fuzzy Wednesday 12/28/06 Pet Day at the Finest

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Majie Purple]

I've never eaten goose. How close to chicken or turkey does it taste? If tis easily describable...

[Kate of Spice Island]

Thank you for viewing!

Feel free to forward, ping, e-mail, etc.

[Majie Purple]

Same here re: any of the stuff I ever post...But You know that already!
Whew!

[The Mayor]

I don't know yet, I'll let you know Monday though.... : )

[Majie Purple]

Mmmmm steak is a fave food of mine! & Lot's of folks, I'm sure...Enjoy!

[Majie Purple]

Oh LOL! You havn't had it yet either!?
Classic!
I'm still chuckling as I write this!
Yes if You remeber too do describe on Monday...Thanks!

[The Mayor]

Will do..

[Kate of Spice Island]

Watch for a youtube URL as soon as I have it...

[La Enchiladita]

Thanks a lot, Billie! And now to divulge a well-kept secret... I hope she shows up today, December 31st!...

to You, GodBlessUSA
HUGS... Love Ya Much!!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wolfie remembers this card very well! Hope the results are the same. : )

Happy New Year, darlin' Billie.

[snugs]

[.30Carbine]

It is so true: We enter His Gates with thanksgiving, and His Courts with praise! (Ps. 100:4)

Thank you, Mayor, and Happy New Year in Jesus!

[The Mayor]

December 31, 2006

Fear Escape

READ: Proverbs 1:1-7

You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. —Psalm 115:11

In our increasingly dangerous world, think of what we have to fear: Ominous terrorist threats, frightening crime rates, increasing natural disasters, sobering energy crises, . . . God.

Yes, God. Ironic, isn’t it, that in a world full of fearful things, the single source of our refuge and safety is also the One we are instructed to fear?

Consider Solomon’s words: “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge” (Prov. 14:26). Then look at the next verse: “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life.”

We try to avoid life’s fearful things because they interrupt our peace. Yet we are told to move toward fear—the fear of God. For those who “fear the Lord, . . . He is their help and their shield” (Ps. 115:11).

Our faith in God can deliver us from the fears of the world (Ps. 23:4)—but only because our faith relies on a fear that is different from worldly fear. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”

To fear God is to sense His awesomeness. When we acknowledge that greatness and trust in Him, we no longer want to sin against Him. He becomes our refuge from the fears of this world. In Him we find peace.

Fear Him, ye saints, and you will then
Have nothing else to fear;
Make you His service your delight;
Your wants shall be His care.  —Tate & Brady

Those who fear God need not fear the world.

Bible in One Year:   Malachi 1-4; Revelation 22

[GodBlessUSA]

Dita! How beautiful! Thanks for wishing me a Happy 30th Birthday ;).

Happy New Year
HUGS!!

[GodBlessUSA]

Thanks for The New Years Thread Dutchess!! This is beautiful. I didn't know about bringing wealth by eating greens, so I'll eat some spinach tonight and hope for the best LOL :)
Blessings to you and your family in the New Year.

[GodBlessUSA]

May this New year bring my FRiends many Blessings.

[GodBlessUSA]

I pinged myself. LOL! ;)

[stopem]

Thank you, and the same for you and yours!

[luvie]

Oh...you just reminded me!........stay tuned.......

[luvie]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
~~~~~~~~~
GEEBEE!!!
~~~~~~~~~~
MAY IT ALL BE GOOD!!!
ON YOUR 30TH!! :D