A new year brings hope: Ruralite reader David Bullock snapped this picture outside The Dalles, Oregon. After such a tough year, he sees in the image better days on the horizon: “To me it represents the hope for our nation, even if somewhat fuzzy during this time.”
Seeking a fresh start is nothing new: Civilizations have been marking the new year with festivities and new beginnings for at least 4,000 years. The earliest recorded celebrations date back to ancient Babylon, according to www.history.com.
Our New Year’s history: Julius Caesar instituted January 1 as the first day of the year in 46 B.C., partly to honor the month’s namesake, Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. In 1752, England and its American colonies officially adopted January 1 as New Year’s Day, adopting the Gregorian calendar. For more New Year’s history, go to www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-years.
A final word: As we begin 2021, President Abraham Lincoln’s wisdom suggests keeping our eyes ahead: “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.”