HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Wishing you all a Happy and Wonderful New Year, May this year be one of peace, and I pray it starts with each one of us.  To the Good Old Days past, To the Good Old Days present, and the Good Old Days yet to come. Please add any local New Years Lore from you part of the country or world.

The following was collected from Mahalo. Com  Mahalo Answers; H-E-B.com Here Everythings Better; Wilstar.net.Holidays; Wikipedia.com; and Lyrics.com 

New Years
Celebratingthe arrival of the new year is perhaps the oldest holiday in recorded history. It started with the ancient Babylonians more than 4,000 years ago, and continued with the Egyptians, Romans, Celts and so on. Here are some other quick facts about new year's traditions and their origins:

Babylonian New Year  In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox

(first day of spring). The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

January 1. January 1st officially became the first day of a new year in 46 B.C. when Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar.

 

New year's resolutions. The ancient Babylonians began the idea of New Year's resolutions as a way to start the year off with a clean slate by returning borrowed items.

OR:  The tradition of making New Year's Resolutions originated in ancient Rome, with the mythical king Janus. Because Janus had two faces, he could both look ahead to the future and look back on the past. This allowed Janus to evaluate his future, based on his past.

The tradition of kissing your sweetheart at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve is meant to ward off coldness in the relationship throughout the coming year.  (I like this one!!! Linda??!!??)

Baby New Year The image of Baby New Year originated in Greece around 600 B.C., and represented the rebirth of the Greek god Dionysus..

Black-eyed peas & cabbage. Some say the black-eyed pea's lucky streak dates back to the pharaohs. Others say it started in Vicksburg, Virginia, during the Civil War when the town ran out of food while under siege and the inhabitants were lucky enough to discover cow peas (a.k.a., black-eyed peas). Meanwhile, cabbage leaves (a symbol of prosperity) are thought to bring prosperity to those who eat them on New Year's Day.  Other lucky foods include lentils, pork, and saudrkraut  On the other hand, it is considered bad luck to eat turkey or chicken lest you wish to spend the upcoming year scratching in the dirt for food.   (NEW TRADTION NEW TRADITION: Also bad luck to eat Ducks, Gators, Squirrels, and Penguins!!) 

"Auld Lang Syne" is a  Scottish poem, written by Robert Burns in 1788 and  published after his death in 1796, it is set to the tune of a traditional folk song It is well known in many English-speaking countries and is often sung to celebrate the start of the new year at the stroke of midnight on New Years Day.

The song's (Scots) title may be translated into English literally as "old long since", or more idiomatically, "long long ago" or "days gone by". The phrase "Auld Lang Syne" is also used in similar poems by Robert Ayton (1570–1638), Allan Ramsay (1686-1757), and James Watson (1711) as well as older folk songs predating Burns. In his retelling of fairy tales in the Scots language, Matthew Fitt uses the phrase "In the days of auld lang syne" as the equivalent of "Once upon a time." In Scots syne is pronounced like the English word sign.

Auld Lang Syne Burn's Original Scot's Verse

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot,
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
And gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

 

ENGLISH VERSION

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:

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.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

 

"old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  2Corinthians 5:17

THAT'S LIFE

So often we search and search, climb the highest mountain, or just sit in the middle of rush hour traffic to find; The Answer; when sometimes the answer is right in front of us:

 

 

FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN

 

LUKE 2:1-20 

(King James Version)

http://www.biblegateway.com

 

 1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 

 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 

 

Dear Reader, Please be sure and use the few minutes it takes to watch the video and song that Gator has posted below, it is marvelous, have tissues ready.  The Story continues. . .

A MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL

Let us not forget those who are away from home and loved ones, and in harm's way.  And those who have, in years past, been away serving in far off shores, and in different countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEAVY CLASSICS --- CLASSICAL METAL

Long long ago, before there was Heavy Metal, Head Bangers, or Hard Rock, there was Bach, Wagner, Beethoven, Berlioz, and a host of others. 

 

Light some candles, turn the lights off, perhaps two glasses of good mellow wine,  draw the drapes, put out some extra pillows, hold your love close, and let's bang heads the way it used to be done!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoyed at least some of the music.  The REQUIM DIES  IRAE is by HECTOR BERLIOZ, and th FUGUE IN D MINOR is by J.S. BACH

PLONK THIS!! or EVERY WINE BEFORE ITS' TIME.

I had never  heard the word "PLONK" before today. At first I thought it might have been a misspelling.  But then searched and found this from an Australian wine site:

"Let's get it straight...Plonk, a term used to describe cheap wine, especially cheap red wine, is commonly known in the UK and to a lesser degree in the USA.

It’s so set as part of British English that many people are surprised to learn that it’s originally Australian. Yes!

In the land of Aus you no doubt would at some time have encountered references to “plonk bar” and “plonk shop” for a wine bar or shop, plonk-up for a party, and plonked-up for intoxicated.  (by Ozychyck)

I love it when I learn something new, like I never knew I had ever been plonked-up before now!  Gotta luv the Aussies, so creative in so many ways.

And now some disquieting news for you wine connoisseurs:

ELECTRICITY CAN TURN CHEAP PLONK INTO VINTAGE WINE IN MINUTES, SCIENTISTS CLAIM

by Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, Telegraph.co.uk

Researchers - and some vineyards - are developing electrical equipment that accelerates the ageing process, turning young wine from an undrinkable bitter grape juice into a quaffable beverage fit for any table.

The system being developed in China - which has a burgeoning wine industry - works by speeding up the normal chemical reactions in wines that can take up to 20 years.

According to the researchers, the results have been "striking" and have fooled some wine experts in taste testings.

Even the cheapest of wines are usually only drunk after six months. Most, especially reds, take longer to achieve the required balance and complexity. The finest can take 20 years or more to reach their peak.

During ageing, wine becomes less acidic as the alcohol reacts with organic acids to produce a plethora of the fragrant compounds known as esters.

Unpleasant components precipitate out and the wine becomes clearer and more stable. Red wines mellow and become less bitter.

A team led by Xin An Zeng, a chemist at the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou, came up with the idea of pumping the rough wine through a pipe that ran between two titanium electrodes, connected to the mains.

For the test wine, the team selected a three-month-old cabernet sauvignon from the Suntime Winery, China's largest producer.

Batches of wine spent one, three or eight minutes in the electric fields.

The team then analysed the treated wine for chemical changes that might alter its "mouth feel" and quality, and passed it to a panel of 12 experienced wine tasters who assessed it in a blind tasting

 

With the gentlest treatment, the harsh, astringent wine grew softer. Longer exposure saw some of the hallmarks of ageing emerge – a more mature "nose", better balance and greater complexity.

The improvements reached their peak after 3 minutes at 600 volts per centimetre: this left the wine well balanced and harmonious, with a nose of an aged wine and, importantly, still recognisably a cabernet sauvignon.

 

Although Zeng cannot yet explain how exposure to an electric field alters the wine's chemistry, his results show that under the right conditions the technique can accelerate some aspects of the ageing process.

 

 

"Not only can it shorten a wine's normal storage time, it can also improve some lower-quality wine," he said.

Five Chinese wineries have begun trials.