Goodbye, 2020! You Won’t Be Missed…
By Anna Hessel
Baby, Baby…
Happy 2021, and good riddance, 2020! We emotionally reflect on the prior year as we look forward to the future, this year more than ever. I’ve been thinking about the baby new year, and in turn, New Year’s resolutions. This symbolism actually originated in Greece approximately 600 BC, celebrating Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine. A parade with an infant carried in a basket was representative of the god’s birth. It is believed by historians that the ancient people of Babylon created the first new year’s resolutions – not about improving oneself, but instead a commitment to return borrowed objects and pay debts. They and most of the other early major cultures actually celebrated the new year in March during the spring equinox, since that is when new crops were planted.
Resolve This!
Resolutions in Rome around 40 BC more closely resemble what we resolve for the new year today. Julius Caesar then decreed that what we now call January to be the month of Janus, after the god with two faces, whose image was found in arches and doorways. He looked back toward the prior year and forward to the future, so the new year started January 1. The promise to behave in an exemplary fashion was to honor Janus. Hopefully, we all have the resolution to show God’s love and to touch the lives of others this year and always. Of course, for 2021, we must resolve to wash our hands frequently, wear our masks, and maintain our social distance, so that we can move beyond this pandemic. Also, we finally have a new presidential administration as a blessing this year.
Self Reflection
I realize many of us have personal resolutions to enrich and better our own lives. For example, I resolve to buy more shoes at my favorite outlet mall, drink more mocha lattes from Starbuck’s, McCafe, or Dunkin’ Donuts, to condition my hair and mop the floor daily. I believe in making resolutions that I know I can keep. Hopefully, my husband has resolved to be a bit more careful with the outside mirrors on our Saab; this will certainly improve his wellbeing. I, in turn, could resolve to allow him to sleep indoors, since our puggie Maggie misses the use of her house.
Weighty Resolutions
Of course, I realize resolutions can come in many different forms. Perhaps many of you might be traditionalists, for instance, resolving to lose weight. Over the years, this appears to be one of the most widespread resolutions made. As a plus-size princess, I have learned to be comfortable in my own skin, but I do advocate healthy eating and exercise. If you are not getting your recommended 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and veggies each day, resolve this year to improve this, especially since it is so important to our immune systems, which we need in the best shape possible with COVID-19’s threat.
Step Up, Shape Up
We can all resolve to eat healthier by avoiding processed foods, GMO’s, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, chemicals, and sodium intake. I am resolving to stick with Meatless Mondays and enjoy a wide variety of fish – our cats applaud this part of my resolve. I am looking forward to more salmon, tuna, and vegetarian recipes. If you are anything like me, exercise needs to be fun – a stroll through the dog park with Maggie, or a dance class at the park district or the Zumba studio will help me reach my fitness goals. I certainly hope you dance in 2021, but whatever you resolve to do, remember to do it with style, and have fun.
Days Gone By…
You were probably wondering what “auld lang syne” actually means. It happens to be the key phrase and title of a poem by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, written in 1788. Now sung around the globe on New Year’s Eve, it’s meaning is, “days gone by”, which translates from “old long since”. The festive toast, “Let’s drink to days gone by”, leads people to start singing, mumbling and stumbling.
How Does That Go?
Known by historians as “the song that nobody knows”, which, ironically, everyone tries to sing, often combined with the consumption of New Year’s champagne. In 2017, Sainsbury’s, a British supermarket chain, commissioned a study which found that even though a third of the people polled planned to sing the old standard at the close of the year, only 3% actually knew the correct lyrics (and that was probably just the short version commonly sung now):
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Music To Our Ears
Although Auld Lang Syne may be the traditional tune of New Year’s, there are a few others that I would like to add to the playlist: “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang, “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees, “You Should See Me In A Crown” by Billie Ellish, “Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, “We Are The Champions” by Queen, “Same Auld Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelburg, “Shabach” by Dr. Walt Whitman and The Soul Children of Chicago, “What Are You Doing New Years” by Kacey Musgraves, “Just Another New Year’s Eve” by Barry Manilow, and “Legally Blonde (remix)” from the musical.
Rockin’ On The Eve
Another New Year’s staple, since 1972, is Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. Since Clark died in 2012 Ryan Seacrest has been hosting the program. It looked a little different this year, but still presented amazing talent, including Jennifer Lopez (along with her husband Alex Rodriguez and their family), Cyndi Lauper, Jimmie Allen, Doja Cat, Machine Gun, as well as Ciara and Billy Porter. The show has featured many top celebrities over the years. In 1980 John Schneider from “Dukes of Hazzard” and Erin Moran of “Happy Days” co-hosted with “The World’s Oldest Teenager”. That year the music was provided by the year’s biggest stars, The Oak Ridge Boys, Blondie, Chic, and Barry Manilow.
Tune In
The show began in 1972 on NBC, with Dick Clark watching the Times Square ball drop, however, without any countdown, saying instead, “it is now…1973…as of…now.” The next year New Year’s Rockin’ Eve moved to ABC, ringing in 1974, and every year thereafter. The show estimates approximately 1 billion people tune in each year. Before Clark it was bandleader Guy Lombardo who was the face of the New Year on both TV and radio. Lombardo did the honors from 1929-1976. Guy Lombardo died in 1977.
The Ball Drops
The Times Square ball itself is symbolic of connection, hope, and reflection, which are extremely significant this year. Times Square Alliance president Tim Tompkins reminds us, “one thing that will never change is the ticking of time, and the arrival of a new year at midnight on December 31st.” The president of Countdown Entertainment, Jeff Straus, said before the ceremonies, “We will miss everyone this year, but we will bring our celebration to you, whether you want to turn off and turn away from the bad news of 2020, or turn to the new year with a sense of hope, renewal and resolution, you’ll be able to join us virtually like never before, as part of the Times Square 2021 celebration.”
Happy New Year, and God bless, everyone! “Our best is yet to come.”
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2020/01/12/resolutions-for-the-next-decade/
