Tuesday, December 31, 2013

New Year's Celebrations Around the World

Happy New Year!


There will be no post, Wednesday, January 1, 2014. Happy New Year’s!!!

                                          ♥
The Library will CLOSE Early, Tuesday, December 31, at 5:00 pm, New Year's Eve. and CLOSED January 1st, New Year's Day. We will reopen on the 2nd at 9 a.m.

There will be no Children's Programming until January 4th.


Computer Classes every Sat. mornings 10-12. "Open House" Whatever you need. Drop in anytime during those two hours.

                     ♥

Check out our new blog on movies and music at: RPL's Movies and Music by Robert Finch
                     ♥




Times Square

Genealogy tip for today: New Year’s celebrations

New Year’s Day is different from country to country, especially when countries use different calendars. We wanted to share with you the customs and dates as they vary. Instead of rewriting all the information we found, we are sharing with you this article, instead. This is an article from Yahoo describing how various countries do the Big Do:

Many countries celebrate New Year’s Day at different times of the calendar year. The definition of New Years is the custom of celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of another. It marks the closing and the start of a measurement of daily time in a period of one rotation of the earth around the sun.
A calendar year for modern day time, in the western world, was first started by the Romans in 713 BC. However, they used a ten month rotation. The first official start date was moved to January 1 in 153 BC. Julius Caesar (*then) moved the calendar to 12 full months in 53 BC. It was called the Julian calendar
The oldest known measurement of a calendar year was by the Mayans.
The custom of New Years is different to different nations and even religions. The Christian Liturgical or Ecclesiastical Calendar starts with Advent. It is a cycle of dates that even has movable dates like Easter for church celebrations. It starts four Sundays before Christmas. It is kept separate from the governmental Calendar.
The Eastern Orthodox Church starts their Civil New Years on January 14th. Their Liturgical calendar begins on September 1.
The Chinese New Year is also referred to as the Lunar New Year. It can start anywhere between January 21 and February 21. It depends on when the first new moon of the month begins during the first lunar month. It is astronomically defined. Each Chinese year is symbolized by one of twelve animals and one of the five elements. These combinations cycle once every 60 years. The twelve animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and the Pig. The five elements are rotated every two years with the addition of yin and yang. The five elements are wood, fire, water, metal, and earth.
The Iranian New Year begins with the vernal equinox (spring). In 2007, it was on March 20th. The Assyrian New Year begins on April 1. The Punjabi begins on April 13th. The Thai and Cambodian begin their New Years between April 13th and 15th.
The Islamic New Year is somewhat confusing. It is based on 12 lunar months. The start date is about 11 days earlier each year. In 2008, they will have two New Years with the 12 month Gregorian calendar.
The Gregorian calendar is our actual modern day Calendar that is commonly accepted. It is an improvement over the Julian calendar. It was named after Pope Gregory the 13th. It was started in 1582. It used the initials of AD and CE. CE stands for Christian Era and AD stands for the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary. (*And BC for Before Christ…)
In the modern Western World, it took quite some time to get one particular start day of a Calendar year. It took from 1522 to 1752 for the date of January 1st to be recognized as the official date for New Years.
There are many different customs with the start of the New Year. Many regard it as a Holy Day for different religions. However, in almost every country and nation, it is a day of celebration. People party and happily look at the exchange of years.
In America, one of the largest celebrations is in Times Square in New York. Preparations begin months in advance for this event. It is broadcast over radio and television live. A countdown begins as the ball makes it descent to mark the beginning of a New Year. The ball has been lowered every year since 1907 with the exception of two years during World War II. A new ball will be used this year.


*ed.


“History – it’s who we are; Genealogy – it’s who I am” sg



If any of these posts are helpful drop us a line in the comments section below. We just want to know if the information we provide to you is beneficial in anyway.





December 31
1775

George Washington orders recruiting officers to accept free blacks into the army.
1852

The richest year of the gold rush ends with $81.3 million in gold produced.
1862

Union General William Rosecrans' army repels two Confederate attacks at the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River).
1910

John B. Moisant and Arch Hoxsey, two of America's foremost aviators, die in separate plane crashes.
1911

Helene Dutrieu wins the Femina aviation cup in Etampes. She sets a distance record for women at 158 miles.
1915

The Germans torpedo the British liner Persia without any warning killing 335 passengers.
1923

The Sahara is crossed by an automobile for the first time.
1930

Brewery heir Adolphus Busch Orthwein is kidnapped. (Died, November, 2013, age 96)
1941

General MacArthur reports that U.S. lines in Manila have been pushed back by the Japanese.
1942

After five months of battle, Emperor Hirohito allows the Japanese commanders at Guadalcanal to retreat.
1944

Hungary declares war on Germany.
1965

California becomes the largest state in population.
1977

Cambodia breaks relations with Vietnam.
1720

Charles Edward Stuart, grandson of James II, known as the Young Pretender and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
1815

George Gordon Meade, Union general who defeated Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg.
1869

Henri Matisse, French artist.
1889

George Catlett Marshall, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army during World War II, Secretary of State under Truman, won Nobel Peace Prize for the Marshall Plan.
1908

Simon Wiesenthal, survivor of the Nazi Holocaust who dedicated his life to tracking down former Nazis.


jilt

PRONUNCIATION:
(jilt)

MEANING:
verb tr.: To end a relationship suddenly or callously.
noun: A person, especially a woman, who discards a lover.

ETYMOLOGY:
Of uncertain origin, perhaps from the name Gillian (or Jillian/Jill). Earliest documented use: 1660.

USAGE:
"Even so, it is unlikely, analysts said, that China would jilt Khartoum for Juba [capital of South Sudan] -- that would probably alarm other repressive and corrupt regimes, such as those in Angola and Equatorial Guinea, where China has forged highly profitable oil relationships."
Sudarsan Raghavan & Andrew Higgins; China Caught Between Two Sudans; The Washington Post; Mar 24, 2012.
Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you. -Carl Sandburg, poet (1878-1967)



Today’s Recipe
Holiday Cooking


Martha has a sparkly idea for jazzing up your drink for the party.




ENJOY!

Now You Know!

Monday, December 30, 2013

New Year's Customs


Computer Classes every Sat. mornings 10-12. "Open House" Whatever you need. Drop in anytime during those two hours. 


The Library will CLOSE Early, Tuesday, December 31, at 5:00 pm, New Year's Eve. and CLOSED January 1st,  New Year's Day. We will reopen on the 2nd at 9 a.m.
 

There will be no Children's Programming until January 4th.

 

Check out our new blog on movies and music at: RPL's Movies and Music by Robert Finch

 


 



 

Genealogy tip for today: New Year Traditions:

 

This does not directly have anything to do with genealogy. However if you have an ancestor(s) from any of the countries listed below, this is what you probably would hear them saying at New Years. Customs are also different, as well as what day is celebrated as the first day of each new year.

 

How New Year is said around the world

Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan

New Year Around the World


 

 

 

“History – it’s who we are; Genealogy – it’s who I am” sg

 

 

 

If any of these posts are helpful drop us a line in the comments section below. We just want to know if the information we provide to you is beneficial in anyway.

 

Duke of York


 

1460
 
The Duke of York is defeated and killed by Lancastrians at the Battle of Wakefield.
1803
 
The United States takes possession of the Louisiana area from France at New Orleans with a simple ceremony, the simultaneous lowering and raising of the national flags.
1861
 
Banks in the United States suspend the practice of redeeming paper money for metal currency, a practice that would continue until 1879.
1862
 
The draft of the Emancipation Proclamation is finished and circulated among President Abraham Lincoln's cabinet for comment.
1905
 
Governor Frank Steunenberg of Idaho is killed by an assassin's bomb.
1922
 
Soviet Russia is renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
1932
 
The Soviet Union bars food handouts for housewives under 36 years of age. They must now work to eat.
1947
 
Romania's King Michael is forced to abdicate by Soviet-backed Communists. Communists now control all of Eastern Europe.
1965
 
Ferdinand E. Marcos is sworn in as the Philippine Republic's sixth president.
1972
 
After two weeks of heavy bombing raids on North Vietnam, President Nixon halts the air offensive and agrees to resume peace negotiations with Hanoi representative Le Duc Tho.
1976
 
Governor Carey of New York pardons seven inmates, closing the book on the Attica uprising.
2006
 
Saddam Hussein, former Iraq dictator, is executed by hanging for crimes committed against his own people during his rule.
 

Sandy Koufax
 ,





1865
 
Rudyard Kipling, British author (Jungle Book, Soldiers Three).
1867
 
Simon Guggenheim, philanthropist and U.S. senator for Colorado.
1884
 
Tojo Hideki, Japanese Prime Minister during World War II.
1928
 
Bo Diddley, blues composer and singer.
1935
 
Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame left-handed pitcher with the L.A. Dodgers.

 

 


The poet Robert Southey once said, "It is with words as with sunbeams, the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn." While he was talking about using fewer words, the same can be said about using fewer letters. That is, using short words.

While days are now getting longer, words are still short, at least for this week. This week we bring you one-syllable words.

bleb


PRONUNCIATION:

(bleb)

 

MEANING:

noun: 1. A small blister or swelling. 2. A bubble.

 

ETYMOLOGY:

Perhaps alteration of blob. Earliest documented use: 1607.

 

USAGE:

"His worried face shone with moisture; rivulets of sweat slid down his jaw bone. A bleb hung from his chin."
William Boyd; A Good Man in Africa; William Morrow; 1982.


Nothing so soon the drooping spirits can raise / As praises from the men, whom all men praise. -Abraham Cowley, poet (1618-1667)

 

 

 

Today’s Recipe

Holiday Cooking


 


Ingredients

    • 1 (8 ounce) packages hormel sliced pepperoni ( or any brand)
    • 1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
    • 2 (10 1/8 ounce) packages Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Dinner Rolls

Directions

  1. Take out the crescent rolls, and seperate into the individual triangles.
  2. Flatten each triangle and slice it so that it becomes three small triangles.
  3. Dice or chop your pepperoni into tiny, tiny pieces.
  4. Mix the pepperoni into the cream cheese, stir very well so all of the pepperoni pieces are mixed into the cream cheese.
  5. Take a little spoonful of your cream cheese/pepperoni mixture and put it in the middle of one of your crescent rolls triangles.
  6. Pinch up all of the sides around the filling.
  7. Repeat and place them all on a cookie sheet.
  8. Bake for the amount of time stated on the crescent rolls (usually 11 minutes at 350°F).
  9. Let cool for a few minutes before serving!

 

 

 

ENJOY!

 

Now You Know!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

End of Life Traditions: Funeral and Burial Services


Computer Classes every Sat. mornings 10-12. "Open House" Whatever you need. Drop in anytime during those two hours.

 


 

The Library will CLOSE Early, Tuesday, December 31, at 5:00 pm, New Year's Eve. and CLOSED January 1st,  New Year's Day. We will reopen on the 2nd at 9 a.m.


 

There will be no Children's Programming until January 4th.

 


 

Check out our new blog on movies and music at: RPL's Movies and Music by Robert Finch

 


 

 

 

Genealogy tip for today: End of Year/End of Life Traditions 

Since it is the end of the year, we have been looking at end-of-life traditions. Father Time has come and how do we handle it? Here are some more customs. 

Service:

A service is held and led by some kind of officiate. The service may be held in a church or synagogue, Funeral Home or home of the deceased. The service typically includes songs, Scripture, prayer, and words of comfort from the clergy or person in charge. Sometimes poetry is read, or a eulogy. This may largely depend on the location of the service and tradition of the place of worship, if that is where the service is held.  

What is the difference between Funeral Service and a Memorial Service? There is little difference except for one detail - the presence or absence of the deceased person. If the casket or urn is present, it is a funeral service, if the body is not there in any form, it is a memorial service. 

There are always exceptions to every tradition. I have a relative that lost her husband. She had a visitation for him, but no funeral, per se’. Instead she had a memorial dinner where friends and family got together and remember and shared the memories of their loved one. A meal is often served but, usually it is after everything else, including the burial service, or after the last event locally. 

In some countries, if cremation is the choice, then the cremation is the event in and of itself. Known as a funeral pyre, it is attended by the eldest son, in some cases, or by the immediate family. Some are done on land; others may be set afire and pushed out to sea. 

Burial:

Burial is the third stage of the death rituals. We have touched on that some already. When not required within 24 hours, the burial ritual is another service of its own. A short scripture, short words and a prayer of committal to the ground “from whence we came” are given. It may take place locally or in some cases burial may take place in another location. When it is local, then a funeral procession from service to cemetery takes place, with the Funeral Hearse carrying the casket leading the cortege. 

Speaking of the sea, there are times when burial is at sea. This may be dictated by circumstances or by choice - as in the case of Neil Armstrong, who requested it. 

In pioneer days in the US, folks were buried quickly because as people moved or traveled west, there was usually no one available to do the embalming. The one who has passed away was buried quickly.  Also, as we already mentioned, the Jews will bury within 24 hours as well. 

When the burial has to take place some distance away, the casket is usually sent to a local funeral home that is in charge of arrangements. They would be responsible for getting the casket to the cemetery, and a short committal service is held at that time. Often this is attended only by family, but is more determined by circumstances. 

Little has changed in the 200 plus years of our country. Procedures have improved; conveyances have changed, e.g. from carrying the body on a plank, to a horse draw wagon, to a funeral car. But basically, in this country the customs have roughly remained the same. The biggest difference comes usually when a death takes place in other countries.

 

 

 

“History – it’s who we are; Genealogy – it’s who I am” sg

 

 

 

If any of these posts are helpful drop us a line in the comments section below. We just want to know if the information we provide to you is beneficial in anyway.

 


 

Now You Know!