Janus The God of Change is Coming Back Very Soon

Image via Wikimedia Commons

Happy New Year will be said and heard again as the New Year approaches. But the day celebrated as New Year’s Day was not always January 1.

January 1 marks the end of a period of remembrance of the passing year for radio, television and newspapers. Publications have year-end articles that review the changes during the past year. The topics include politics, natural disasters, music, arts, the listing of significant individuals and those who died during the past year and many more.

During the Middle Age, New Year’s Day was celebrated among Christians usually on March 25 (Roman Calendar).After the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the day was observed on the January 1. The Jewish New Year is the first day of Tishri, which falls some time in September or in early October. The Chinese New Year is between January 10 and February 19 of the Gregorian calendar. The Muslim New Year falls on the first day of Muharram. The word Muharram means "forbidden" so called because it was unlawful (haram) to fight during this month.

The month of January is named for Janus. In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings and endings. He was known as Janus Geminus (twin Janus) with two faces looking in opposite directions. The first hour of the day, the first day of the month and the first month of the year bears his name.

Janus is symbolizing the god of change and transitions such as, the progression of past to future, of one condition and of one vision to another. And because Janus symbolizes them, the making of New Year’s resolutions had become a tradition of the season. People begin to think of what they would like to change for the next year. They make resolutions for everything they can think of. And of course, I also did it the same thing as well.

Janus was also worshipped at the beginning of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. During his reign Janus was the first to announce the golden age. He introduced the important of money, laws and agriculture – that making him a culture hero.

In old Japan calendar, the month January is called Mutsuki. In Finnish it is called Tammikuu – meaning month of the oak.

Also January 1 for the Roman Catholic and Aglican churches is the feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus, who is believed by all Christians the Savior and the Redeemer of human race and the world.

As for me January is the beginning of the twelve months cycle. Happy returns of the month!

On Lover’s Day

Image via Wikipedia

Valentine’s Day is not only for Lovers as others call it but also it is the day to remember deaths, births and other remarkable events that are already written as history.

In 1852 February 14 – Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children was founded - the first hospital providing in-patient beds specifically for children in the English-speaking world, London. Despite opening with just 10 beds, it grew into the world's leading children's hospital through the patronage of Queen Victoria, counting Charles Dickens, a personal friend of Dr. West, the Chief Physician, as one of its first fundraisers.

In 1831 February 14 was the death of Henry Maudslay, who was a British machine tool innovator, tool and die maker, and inventor. He is considered a founding father of machine tool technology. It was Maudslay who built the lock that was displayed in Bramah’s shop window with a notice offering a reward of 200 guineas to anyone who could pick it. It resisted all efforts for forty-seven years. Maudslay designed and made a set of special tools and machines that allowed the lock to be made at an economic price.

Anna Howard Shaw was born on February 14, 1847. She had become a leader of the women's suffrage movement in the United States. She was also a physician and the first ordained female Methodist minister in the United States. Her birthday is celebrated as Anna Howard Shaw Day, as an alternative to St. Valentine's Day.

In Saudi Arabia, during the year 2002, religious police banned the sale of all Valentine's Day items, telling shop workers to remove any red items, as the day is considered a Christian holiday. And in 2008, this ban created a black market of roses and wrapping paper.
In Pakistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami political party has called for the banning of the holiday. Despite this, the celebration is increasingly popular and the florists expect to sell great amount of flowers, especially red roses.

In Iran, the first part of the 21st century, the celebration of Valentine's Day has been harshly criticized by Islamic Teachers who see the celebrations as opposed to Islamic culture. In 2011, the Iranian printing works owners' union issued a directive banning the printing and distribution of any goods promoting the holiday, including cards, gifts and teddy bears.

While the Islamic officials in Malaysia warned Muslims against celebrating Valentine's Day, linking it with vice activities. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the celebration of romantic love was "not suitable" for Muslims. On Valentine's Day 2011, Malaysian religious authorities arrested more than 100 Muslim couplesconcerning the celebration ban. Some of them would be charged in the Shariah Court for defying the department's ban against the celebration of Valentine's Day.

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