Why do we celebrate New Year? – Eve H
As the New Year begins we always hear similar sayings like, ‘new year’s new me’, ‘what are your New Year’s resolutions?’ and a particularly weird one ‘I haven’t showered since last year’. We all create new year’s resolutions to make better versions of ourselves for the new year and try new things like the Spanish grape tradition that has been doing the rounds on TikTok recently, but why do we celebrate this? In reality, not many changes. Many of us don’t stick to our resolutions and end up the same as the years gone by, is it just an excuse to go out and have fun? Maybe, but as a self-proclaimed nerd, I chose to do some digging into where it all comes from.
It all comes from Janus. Janus is the god of doorways, gates, transitions and time but most importantly he had two faces that looked in both directions, this signified beginnings and endings. Normally, you are warned to stay away from two-faced people, but in this case, he was a very important god that you had to like. One of Saturn’s moons is also named after him and he is constantly being confused with Juno who is the deity of June but it’s two Js, I get the confusion. He had a small temple with two doors that were opened and closed during peace or war times and the gate of Rome was built in his name. The famed Julius Caesar named January after Janus but this wasn’t enough, Caesar wanted to honour him some more so he had January 1st be the first day of each year, where we celebrate the beginning and end, much like he has the two faces of the past and future. Does this beg the question as to why Scrooge had to be visited by 3 gods and not just Janus turn around?
So next year, when you’re sitting under a table with a punnet of grapes, remember the two-faced man you are celebrating at that moment because I’m pretty sure he was quite important, can someone who takes Latin or Classics tell me, please? Thanks.
That’s all from me this week. Happy new year!
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