New Year - New Era
Almost a fortnight back got this idea in my mind
about upcoming English New Year (January 1st). Every individual from
my folklore are getting ready for New Year bash. Certainly they are awaiting
the moment to cherish that whole year. Here, interesting fact is every one
find happiness in celebrating biggest moments/achievements of past (some may
deeply retrospect about mistakes, :)). Well, on a serious note it’s really good
to have such spirit. But, why some times we are running the same rat race,
after all we all are well educated and equipped. Just think about it and share
your comments.
Yes, I am going talking about new calendar year
celebrations.
How this came?
Gregorian calendar actually prepared by romans
but eventually named after King Julius Caesar. In 1582 Christian pope
Gregorian prepared and made it official in France, Italy, Poland,
Portugal and Spain. British also made it official in all the countries they
were ruling that time.
Rings a bell about Astronomy?
Some of the months have 31 days, 30 days where
as some of them had just 28 days. It’s basically not following astronomy or any
physics. Then how it came?
The origins of English naming used by the
Gregorian calendar:
· January: Janus (Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings and endings)
· February: Februus (Etruscan god of death) Februarius (mensis) (Latin for "month of purification (rituals)" it is said to be a Sabine word, the last month of ancient pre-450 BC Roman calendar). It is related to fever.[51][52][53]
· March: Mars (Roman god of war)
· April: "Modern scholars associate the name with an ancient root meaning 'other', i.e. the second month of a year beginning in March."[54]
· May: Maia Maiestas (Roman goddess of springtime, warmth, and increase[55])
· June: Juno (Roman goddess, wife of Jupiter)
· July: Julius Caesar (Roman dictator) (month was formerly named Quintilis, the fifth month of the calendar of Romulus)
· August: Augustus (first Roman emperor) (month was formerly named Sextilis, the sixth month of Romulus)
· September: septem (Latin for seven, the seventh month of Romulus), Sapta=7 Sanskrit
· October: octo (Latin for eight, the eighth month of Romulus), Octa=8 Sanskrit
· November: novem (Latin for nine, the ninth month of Romulus)Nava=9 Sanskrit
· December: decem (Latin for ten, the tenth month of Romulus)Dasa=10 Sanskrie
New Year?
It’s
good to celebrate on beginning of something new. But what’s new on so
called New Year day (January 1st). Is that a piece of paper hanging on our wall called calendar or the Day, Month & Year changing altogether?
Weather?
We
have almost all same weather condition on December 31st and on
January 1st. Nature itself is not ready with something new
something like Ugadi (Yugadi) day in South India. On Yugadi, winter will go and all the trees welcomes summer with fresh forth leaves. Weather changes
dramatically from the day on-wards. It’s a nature's sign of celebration.
Festive?
So
are we really crazy about another festival called New Year, certainly not. We
are already out numbered with the festival list in our culture. There are many
other occasions to celebrate for a good cause.
Time for a new Resolution?
It
may not be a calendar starting day to take up a new resolution, rite? If we are
really eager to do something good or some resolution, the next moment itself
is the right to take up and go on.
Serious
question: How many of us take a nice resolution on this day? If you really
believe that making something on Jan 1st will get good luck on your
life, go ahead.
If
you are really bothered plant a tree, donate blood, arrange a health camp,
donate an education year to a child, go to remote village and spend some time
to know about their lives and so on.
Just a Wish:
New
Year is just a wish or personnel belief, maybe we are rite at some point of
time. But wishing for one’s safety, prosperity, good health is really a great
thing, can be done any fine day. Since we are socially bonded with each other,
wish for every one’s prosperity like our culture says “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Hi”.
Celebration:
Why
the liquor sales are really high on this day? Why so many drunk and drive cases registered on same day? Why we are so tending towards west ? What kind of message we are
propagating to our next generations? Is celebration means just booze and dance?
My dear friends are we really need to celebrate this New Year or trend a NEW ERA? Never be a follower.
Why to follow this calendar?
Yes,
we are following this calendar for global uniformity something like we are using English
language for global representation. Since we are following the calendar it is certainly not necessary to
follow their festivals.
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/year-history.html
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/year-history.html
What to do?
Following west always doesn't meant it is modern and scientific. Just
don’t fall for false prestige. Knowingly or unknowingly we may started
following this tradition. Now it’s time to come of this trap. Know the reason
behind festivals. Better late than never, take a good resolution and be a trend
setter. Swami Vivekanada says “ Be Bold, Be Strong, Be Heros”.
It may sound odd to think in a different manner, but think once again.!!
