Did You Know?

There are not as many people continuing this old tradition as there used to be. Every year there used to be thousands who resolved to give up something and make a fresh start.

A popular choice was to keep a diary but there were always more who decided to give up smoking. Not for health reasons but because they would have liked to have the money they spent on tobacco and cigarettes.

A few achieved their aim but most soon reverted back to their old habit. Some lasted no more than a day or two. Others who managed a bit longer often complained of all sorts of pain and ailments brought on as a result of stopping so suddenly.

The only remedy was to start again!

At Lent children attending Sunday school were told they should make a sacrifice for forty days by giving up something they really liked to eat or drink or enjoyed doing.

Resolutions made at the start of a new year have no time limit. Nor are they restricted to cutting out something you are fond of. They can apply to anything from your diet to the way you behave and the things you do.

The practice of celebrating the New Year is not confined to one religion nor does it always take place at the same time. In early times Christian people had March 25th which they changed more than once before accepting 1st of January. This was in line with all Roman Catholic countries who had fixed this date more than 150 years earlier.

In the Middle East, China and many other countries with varied religions and beliefs they have this anniversary at different dates on the calendar.

Although celebrated in different ways by individuals of many faiths and religions, in the Western World, Christmas and the start of the New Year seem to have established a link. As with many things today, what we do and how we do it is strongly controlled by the media and advertising. We send greetings cards at Christmas expressing our best wishes for both occasions while a flood of every form of advertising is thrust upon us from every quarter throughout the whole season.

The parties and ‘get-togethers’ for the New Year probably involve a wider circle of friends and relatives and are more likely to take place out and away from the home where they can relax and be waited on after a busy Xmas. At this time, the younger members of the family take more of a back seat and do not receive so much of the attention.

In some other countries like Scotland, Brazil, China, Japan etc. the New Year is more lavishly celebrated with the children sometimes receiving presents. The Chinese always have their fireworks and clean their houses ready for a fresh start. The Japanese use bamboo to decorate their gates and doors where they hang shellfish and fruit to symbolise happiness for the coming year.

Because of the changes in the behaviour of all our Societies many traditions have had to be adjusted. In Scotland the practice of an open house for Hogmanay is no longer taken for granted. It is unlikely that anyone would leave their doors unlocked even if they knew the person ‘first footing’ did have dark hair and was carrying a piece of coal. There are all sorts of reasons why many such practices all over the world are no longer carried out.

When the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December people who have congregated all over the world to celebrate the start of the New Year will cross their arms and join hands while they render ‘Auld Langsyne’.

Why can’t every country, religion and creed throughout the World celebrate the start of the New Year at the same time? Wouldn’t it be better to move it right away from Christmas, perhaps to the 1st of July when the days are long, warm and bright and no one is suffering from the winter ‘blues’. We would all feel much more charitable when we were making our resolutions.

In the meantime let us all extend a hand of friendship in this coming year and resolve to be more patient and considerate to our fellows. Above all, try to be kind to everyone!

Very Best Wishes for The New Year to you all!

valley lad - [THIRTY-SIX]

It’s Christmas time again! - Actually, I suppose it has been for the last two months or more. At least that’s how long the shops, stores and media have been telling us what’s on offer. We have all those weeks to think about what has to be done and what we have to buy but do we ever stop and wonder why we go to so much trouble.

Everyone agrees it’s an occasion for children and it’s easy to see why youngsters look forward to it but what about some of the older folk? Is it still all joy and happiness for them and are they just as keen to continue the tradition as they were in the past? Unfortunately, the bombarding the public get from the pre-Christmas advertising put out by the major stores and media only exacerbates the stress that most families are already subject to these days.

Instead of being a happy and peaceful time with pleasure and fun derived from planning it as a family, it has developed into a chore that many would opt out of it if they were given the chance. By the time Christmas day finally gets here many women are too stressed and tired to enjoy it.

Did You Know?

We still have Christmas trees and trim up to make everywhere look pretty and then meet up with our relatives and friends to exchange presents and cards and have lots to eat and drink.

Children are content so long as they receive what they asked Santa Claus to bring them. Even so, it is all very different to the way it was celebrated by our forefathers.

Several things have contributed to the changes. The whole event was built around the Nativity although many of the customs went back to before the birth of Jesus.

All churches were well attended at this time and many choirs joined the Salvation Army around the streets rendering carols for all to hear. The children also joined in going from house to house singing their favourite verses before knocking on the door for a donation towards their Christmas presents.

There was no television to be switched on and watched all day. Even after most households got radio it was only tuned in at three o’clock when everyone sat and listened to the king’s [or Queen’s] speech.


When folk were not at the table eating, those not involved in the household chores passed the time playing games. Cards, ludo, snakes and ladders, draughts and later monopoly were all popular. When everyone was there they would organise pastimes they could all join in, musical chairs, pass the parcel, statues, oranges and lemons etc. The adults always seem to enjoy those as much as the youngsters.

While all that was going on biscuits, sweets, fruit and nuts were usually on the sideboard so everyone could help themselves. In the evening, after the children had gone to bed, the adults relaxed with a drink. Most families managed to afford at least a bottle of ginger wine or sherry and a bottle or two of stout or brown ale for the men.

Then, as the fire died down to glowing embers it was time to bite into the chestnuts and place them on the grate. Warm mince pies were passed round while they were cooking. They always tasted much better when all was quiet and peaceful in a warm room filled with the smell of the roasting chestnuts.

In those days Christmas was here and gone in two or three weeks and culminated in two days of joyous celebration. Children at school spent time in the last week before they broke up making Christmas cards, trimmings and presents. Some rehearsed and presented a nativity play to their parents and friends.

Out of school they scoured the countryside for holly loaded with berries while the more agile climbed the likely trees searching for mistletoe. Then of course they had to wrap the presents they had saved their pennies to buy. There was no pretty wrapping paper or sellotape, people used brown paper or old paper bags and tied their parcels with string. Those children that had no money would often make something or perhaps find a gift they had been given on another occasion or a possession they could spare and wrap it up for a friend.

The decorations on the cards we send have also changed. They still express love and good wishes but very few have reference to the reason why we are celebrating. This is a time for family and friends when we should count our blessings and extend a hand of friendship and goodwill to everyone.

One thing that was missing this year was the usual cry from the Postal Service telling everyone to ‘Post Early For Christmas’. Does this mean they are now able to cope with the sudden increase in letters and parcels or are there less for them to deal with? Perhaps the time is approaching when something like an Email will replace the familiar greetings card: Let’s hope not!

Let us all make a resolution before the New Year: To do what so many of the greetings cards tell us, ensure we have a ‘Happy Christmas’. We must help each other to plan and make light of the work so the chores are no longer a burden. Make time in our busy schedule to relax, look around and take stock of what we have.

First scrutinise our material possessions and then turn our concentration to our loved ones and those things in our life we hold dear and are impossible to evaluate. Set aside the constant ongoing worries and spend these special days feeling relaxed, happy and above all, content. We might even find that it’s catching!

‘Warmest Greetings’ and best wishes for a ‘Very Happy Christmas’ to you all!

valley lad - [THIRTY-FIVE]