[Why our area has its unique political and religious attitudes.]
Happy New Year!
Happy is invariably associated with New Year. No one is looking for the same old thing, the same old problems, the same old circumstances as last year. Each has hope that the New Year will be different, be better, be a good year.
As we noted last week, to everyone, the old year has been fraught with frustration, apprehension, and mis-information if not downright lies. We want to anticipate that the New Year will be different. Will it? Can your expectations be adjusted to the reality? We cannot control the circumstances, but we can control what we do.
There is no specific reference to a New Year in the traditional Tanakh or the New Testament. However, myriad references provide insight into seasons, hope, and a new spirit. The wisest man who lived recorded the event of passing seasons in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
“A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
“A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
“A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”
But the joy comes in verse 11.
“He hath made everything beautiful in his time:”
Historically, New Year has been celebrated for over four millennia, as far back as Babylon, well before Abraham watched his herd in the hills along the Jordan River. For most of history, the New Year began on the vernal equinox, the first day of Spring. How appropriate.
Because calendars were less than accurate, in a few centuries the dates were out of sync with the seasons. So Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, in 46 BC said to his astronomers and mathematicians in his best Latin voice “reficis”, which translates to Okie as “fix it”. At that time, January 1 became the first day of the New Year.
So how did the Babylonians, Hebrews, Romans, and Native Americans moved to Indian Territory celebrate the New Year. Pretty much the same, with a time of feasting, revelry, and renewal.
Local Native Americans celebrated the Green Corn Ceremony (Busk) when corn began to sprout around the Summer Solstice as their rejuvenation time. However, the Cherokee and others believe the Great New Moon Festival in the fall represents the creation of the world, and introduces the New Year. Both are times of celebration and renewal.
These New Moon festivals are very similar to the Jewish New Moon feast with blowing of trumpets (Numbers 10:10), day off from work (Nehemiah 10:31), and feasts and fellowship (1 Samuel 20:5).
In the southern region of the country, black-eyed peas are a traditional New Year delicacy among the Black, Indian, and White cultures. Eating black-eyed peas is supposed to bring success in the coming year. At least you will not be hungry. Just in case, we will have Cajun-seasoned black-eyed peas and a mess of greens on January 1.
New Years have been celebrated by most every culture through history in much the same way.
Let’s consider this New Year, 2022. We cannot ignore the present circumstances; but we can anticipate a better tomorrow.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”—Romans 8:18.
This contemplation is not just for some nebulous far-off future, but is applicable to us, today. I like that guarantee, a lot.
Some do not prefer the Tanakh for education, but it has really good nuggets, stories, and dietary guidance.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”—Jeremiah 29:11
Can you live with that? Although originally to the Jewish nation going into exile, it still applies to us, today.
Think about: New Year celebration goes back before Abraham, was the same for our Native American ancestors and neighbors, and is the same for us. A New Year is not just forgetting the past, or some fantasized future, but is a gift to restart, rethink, and rejoice. Happy New Year!
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Excerpts from our book:
Where Indians, Outlaws & Oilmen Were Real, ISBN: 9781658834643.