We wish you all Peace on Earth for 2011!!




Blessings for a bright New Year
Filled with love and lots of cheer
Speaking from the heart you know
Hoping peace will overflow

Gathered on this special day
Chasing all our cares away
So glad that you're here with me
Let's join hands in harmony

Wishing you the love we share
To all our loved ones everywhere
Keep the spirit burning bright
With every wish in New Year's light

Feel the love in each new day
Never let it fade away
Happy New Year and all our best
We hope this year brings happiness.

~ Francine Pucillo (c) ~

 


 



 
 


Happy New Year from Simba and Aurora

Just Simba

 

These are my wishes for everyone in my extended "family"...
for the New Year 2011!!!

That we may always be more than close;
that nothing will come
   between the bond of love we share.
That I will always be there for you, 
     as you will be for me. 
That we will listen with love.
That we will share truths
   and cherish times of togetherness.
That we will make wonderful memories.
That we will trust and talk things out.
That we will always understand.
That wherever you go, you will be in my heart,
 and you will always be in my thoughts. 

                              L. Atherton 


snowman     New years








 
 

New Year's  



 

 



 

Dawn is slowly breaking
Frost upon the glow
Silence of this beauty
Gentle love will flow

Quietly I see this
Right before my eyes
Magnificent true splendor
Let dawn begin to rise

Calm and peaceful gentleness
Surrounds my soul this day
Takes away the painfulness
Of sorrow in the way

Peace to come with softness
Within our hearts to shine
Life upon the earth now
Painting God's shoreline

Misty frost is rising
With gentleness we see
The love of every miracle
God's peace shown reverently

Frost upon the Dawn now
Slowly lifts away
Beyond the joy of beauty
Love is here to stay.


~ Francine Pucillo~
©2001


snowman





 

New Year's cat

Thanks for coming to our party!
Y'all Come back and visit now!

 

 
mouse in glass

Gentle snow upon us
Heart so filled with love
Silence of the mountain
Peace that wafts above


Warmth within the glowing
Of cabin in the night
Love is filled with fantasy
Within this special light


Not one sound we hear now
Except the falling snow
Tapping on the windowsill
Twirling as it goes


Dancing on the breezes
Crystals in the night
Souls are all entwined as
Love will reach great height


Silently I whisper
While you're next to me
Happiness is gathered
In love eternally


Waves of peace will greet us
Like love that overflows
Beauty in this sacred place
Where no one else can go.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Francine Pucillo© ~




      
 
 
 
  






January 1st - History of Celebrating New Year's Day


Since people in different parts of the world use different calendars, the New Year is not always celebrated at the same time, nor in the same way. When different cultures created their calendars long ago, some based them on the movement of the moon, while others based them on the position of the sun. Some cultures based their calendar on qualities of both the sun and the moon. As a result, the New Year is celebrated differently around the world, and people do not necessarily share the same traditional beliefs.




The New Year in Western Society


New Year's Day is one of the world's oldest holidays, but it hasn't always been celebrated on January 1. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago, around 2000 BC. Although they didn't follow a written calendar, Babylonians began celebrating the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23. Festivities lasted for eleven days, and different traditions were celebrated each day. They chose this time of year to celebrate the new year because it was springtime, when new crops were planted. It symbolized new growth and a time to look forward to the future - the same meaning that the new year holds for people today.

When the Romans came to power, they continued to observe the new year in March, in the springtime. However, the Roman calendar frequently changed based on the wishes of various emperors, and it eventually became unsynchronized with the sun. In an effort to restore a static calendar, the Roman senate declared January 1 as the official beginning of the new year in 153 B.C. Despite this law, emperors continued to tamper with the calendar for over a hundred years. It wasn't until 46 B.C., when Roman Dictator Julius Caesar created a new calendar, that January 1 was again recognized as the start of the new year. At this point, the calendar had been altered so much that Caesar was forced let the year drag on for 445 days in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun again.

As the Catholic Church expanded, it was strongly opposed to the celebration of the Roman's New Year, and denounced it as paganism. However, as Christianity became more widespread, the religious observances of the Catholic Church began to coincide with many of the pagan celebrations. On January 1, while the Romans celebrated the New Year, the Catholic Church worshipped what is still observed by some denominations today as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision. The Church continued to condemn the celebration of the New Year throughout the Middle Ages. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a revision of Caesar's calendar, which a majority of the world now follows. Therefore, it wasn't until the late 1500s that January 1 became the official holiday celebrated by Western nations.

The modern New Year celebration prompts people to look back over the past year and forward to what the future may hold. One tradition, which dates back to the early Babylonians, is the declaration of New Year's resolutions. When people make resolutions, they choose something that will improve their lives, such as adopting an exercise program, or promising to quit smoking. Many people set aside New Year's Eve for parties, where they sing "Auld Lang Syne" and celebrate with a toast at midnight, when the New Year officially begins. On New Year's Day, many people watch football games, parades, and gather with family and friends. For many religions, it is also a holy day.






New Year Traditions Around the World

The Chinese New Year is a lunar holiday that begins with the arrival of the second new moon following the winter solstice. It usually starts between mid-January and mid-February, (date varies) and lasts for fifteen days. As the New Year approaches, people clean their home to escape bad luck in the upcoming year. Families gather for a feast on New Year's Eve, and stay up late, believing that it will prolong the lives of their elders. The Chinese people believe that evil spirits come around at New Year, so they let off firecrackers to frighten them away. People often seal their windows and doors with paper to keep the evil spirits out, as well.

On New Year's Day, people dress in their best clothes and present one another with small gifts. Chinese people all over the world celebrate the first full moon with a colorful street procession, called the Festival of Lanterns. People fill the streets carrying lanterns and join a great parade led by an enormous dragon. The Festival of Lanterns is believed to light the way for the New Year.

Celebration of the Hindu New Year varies based on geographic location. Most Hindus live in India, but many have different traditions. For example, the Hindus of Gujarat, in western India, celebrate the New Year at the end of October, at the same time as the Indian festival of Diwali. For the Diwali celebration, small oil lights are lit all along the rooftops. In northern India, people wear flowers to celebrate the New Year, commonly in pink, red, purple, or white hues. Hindus in central India display orange flags, flying them from the top of buildings. In southern India, mothers put food, flowers, and small gifts on a special tray. On New Year's morning, children must keep their eyes shut until they have been led to the tray.

Celebration of the Japanese New Year occurs on January 1, as with Western nations. However, the Japanese people also observe some beliefs from their religion, called Shinto. For happiness and good luck, Japanese people hang a rope of straw across the front of their homes. They believe it keeps the evil spirits away. Japanese people begin to laugh the moment the New Year begins, so they will have good luck the whole year.

The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, and falls in the seventh month, or Tishri, of the Jewish calendar (September - October). Rosh Hashanah is a holy time when people reflect on the things they have done wrong in the past, so they can improve in the future. Celebration of the New Year begins at sunset the day before, and religious services are held at synagogues in observation. An instrument called a Shofar, made from a ram's horn, is traditionally played and children are given new clothes to celebrate the New Year. In addition, New Year loaves are baked and fruit is eaten to remind people of harvest time.

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Y'all Come back and visit now!







January 1, 2011

Best wishes for the year to come. May it bring you
luck, love and happiness! :-)














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