And now allow us to welcome the New Yr
Filled with issues which have by no means been.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Rabbit! Rabbit!
Showers of excellent fortune and blessings to you!
Welcome to the Tarot Yr of the Hermit card. He’s a magical determine who acts as a Guardian of thresholds, getting ready us for pivotal, watershed occasions.
I’ll be writing a lot extra about what this implies in a separate put up subsequent week.
However meantime, here’s what you would possibly need to find out about this very magical day, for it’s definitely one which is stuffed with lore and historical customized.
As I wrote yesterday, every thing you do on at the present time has magical implications for the approaching 12 months.
So don’t throw something out (even the trash), or lend cash, or pay payments.
For those who should carry one thing out, you should definitely carry one thing else in first, ideally a coin or money you hid outdoors final night time!
Since no matter we do on at the present time might be repeated all year long, I prefer to make New Yr’s Day an superb day, and do some of all of the issues I most need to get pleasure from within the coming 12 months.
For example, it’s good luck to do a little bit of labor on the primary day of the 12 months, so long as you get pleasure from and are profitable at no matter it’s. However greater than a token quantity of labor right now could be very unfortunate.
Which is why I’ll maintain off on the reasonably massive job of writing my Card of the Yr until later.
Additionally, I’ll not be doing any laundry right now, lest somebody I like be ‘washed away’ (die) within the upcoming months. The extra cautious warn in opposition to even washing dishes, which is simply nice with me.
Naturally, I’ll put on one thing new, to make sure that new garments might be coming my approach within the new 12 months, and, similar to my mama taught me, I might be talking solely candy phrases.
A Little Historical past
New Yr’s, as we now have fun it, comes from the Romans, who moved the New Yr from Spring Equinox to January in 153 BCE and celebrated with six days of carousing and rejoicing, ending simply because the Twelve Days of Christmas do, on January 6.
They received drunk, wore disguises, and saved their tables laden with meals all night time lengthy to make sure loads within the coming 12 months (and maybe to appease the Fates).
In that spirit, I like what the ever-sublime Caitlín Matthews observes, relating to the revelries of Hogmanay and different New Years’ festivities:
If the celebrations of this night change into generally riotous or rowdy, it’s value remembering that the mysterious crack between one 12 months and one other is finest leaped reasonably than crawled over.
from The Celtic Spirit: Every day Meditations for the Turning Yr
Too unhealthy Archbishop Boniface, visiting from England in 742 C.E., didn’t possess this knowledge. He complained about how the Kalends of January have been celebrated in Rome with “dancing within the streets, heathenish cries, sacrilegious songs, tables laden with meals and girls sporting amulets and providing them on the market.”
To considerably dampen the keenness, the Roman Catholic church declared this the Day of the Circumcision. Cringe.
The traditional Romans additionally gave one another small presents (known as strenae) on at the present time, symbolic of excellent luck for the brand new 12 months, like cash with the faces of the God Ianus (Janus) on one facet and a ship on the opposite (for He was thought-about the patron of ships and commerce).
The trendy Roman ritual is a plunge within the icy Tiber River. For higher or worse, evidently the customized has caught on in lots of different locations as effectively.
New Yr’s Across the World
In England, gloves and pins have been the normal New Years presents up till the nineteenth century. In France, kids give their mother and father handmade presents with a want of “Bonne Année!”
Meals eaten on New Years Day at all times has significance, because it additionally impacts the standard of the approaching 12 months. In historical occasions, the Romans gave mates a glass jar stuffed with dates and dried figs in honey, together with a bay leaf department, so the approaching 12 months can be candy and full of excellent fortune. (Bay is a well known prosperity botanical).
All through Japan, getting ready and serving particular New Yr’s meals are vital rituals. This sacred meal is shared with the kami (spirits) in addition to members of the family.
Rice is without doubt one of the most vital meals served. It’s specifically ready and shared with the ancestors and the Gods, like Toshigami, the reasonably fierce Yr God, who every household hopes will smile upon them, and convey success for the approaching 12 months.
Hoppin’ John
One of many most well-known magical meals to be eaten on New Yr’s comes from the American South.
Hoppin’ John is an outdated favourite dish that was a staple of slaves within the American antebellum Carolinas, the place African bean stews (additionally discovered within the Caribbean) met the native rice business and got here deliciously collectively.
Presumably the earliest look of the dish by the title Hopping John was in an 1847 cookbook known as The Carolina Housewife. Nobody is aware of for positive how the title originated, however one cheap suggestion is that it’s a corruption of the French-Caribbean phrases pois à pigeon, or pigeon pea, a relative of the black-eyed pea, and which might be pronounced “pwah-ah-pee-john.”
Virtually each Southern cook dinner (and cookbook) I do know has a recipe for Hoppin’ John, however there are three fundamental substances that by no means differ (except you’re a vegetarian).
The black-eyed peas (generally subject peas or crowder peas could also be substituted) are essentially the most vital symbolic meals. In lots of cultures, beans and different legumes are thought to carry good luck due to their resemblance to cash (which implies the promise of wealth).
The rice is for fertility, which is why we used to throw rice at newlyweds with such gusto, till we realized it was dangerous to birds.
And naturally, most elderly Southern recipes require that fatback, ham bone, or bacon is used to taste the stew, since (as talked about yesterday) pigs are fortunate and cooking up a pig in a pot is an indication of prosperity.
Normally, simply to make sure loads of further folding money, collard or mustard greens are additionally served on the facet.
Whereas these days, yow will discover Hoppin’ John recipes which are all stylish and gussied-up, with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black beans, or made with a elaborate rice pilaf, I believe that plain and easy is the actual spirit of it. It’s simply a mixture of cooked rice, black-eyed peas, and a few form of seasoning (pork, in case you eat it).
As a vegetarian, I skip the ham hocks. However I’ve discovered that authentic (previously Uncle) Ben’s Wild Rice® could be very satisfying. In addition to, it jogs my memory of my mother, who at all times mounted it for our vacation meals once I was a bit of lady.
For those who’re veg, too, you should definitely learn the substances fastidiously – some sorts have hen flavoring. Simmered with black-eyed peas, served with sides of greens and cornbread, this can be a easy, tasty, and satisfying meal that has introduced loads of luck to our desk!
Blessings of the Three Graces – Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia
Regardless of all of the darkish clouds of strife that hover on the horizon, and maybe will stay with us for a very long time, the web page has turned. As our Solstice Wreath ceremony has confirmed, from coronary heart to coronary heart, throughout the gap, we are able to share a cup of kindness but.
So don’t overlook: Rilke is correct. The times forward might be stuffed with issues which have by no means been. And positive because the Goddess made little inexperienced apples, there will be marvelous issues, wondrous issues which have by no means but been!
So right here’s to light months forward, very important with good well being, ample wealth, and overflowing love.
Wishing you huge reserves of braveness to leap with religion, and leap but once more when needful.
Might the Gods of loads load your life with extra and finer abundance than you might think about! Might the Graces, who’re at all times invoked on the graduation of each meal, journey, and vital endeavor, illuminate all the times of this 12 months for you.
Might peace, prosperity, kindness, and concord be restored in loads, for ourselves and all our relationships.
Welcome, 2025 — Blissful New Yr!
