Looking Forward Looking Back

January, the first month, is named for Janus, the two-faced god. (Ianus in Latin since the Roman alphabet had no J) He could look backward to view the past and forward to greet the future. In virtually every culture at the conclusion of the year, thoughts turn to what has been and what will be.

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, loud noises fill the air to scare off the evil spirits of the past year. Fireworks, noise makers, pistol reports, the clang of pots and pans, Auld Lang Syne sang off-key, a cacophony of sundry sounds serenade us as we enter the new year.

The first visitor over the threshold after midnight is a portent of the new year. A dark-haired attractive person foretells good fortune. Ideally he/she should carry a lump of coal, a coin and a piece of corn or grain. These objects insure warmth, wealth and bounty for the upcoming year. Beware of redheads! For if a person with red hair should be the first through your door, a tumultuous year awaits. Less adventurous sorts have a dark-haired ringer waiting in the wings to guarantee an advantageous transition.

Not only the pandemonium you make, or the people who darken your doorway, but the food you serve on the first day of the year impacts the next 364. Many prepare pork, or other porcine products. Why pork? Because pigs root forward. Cows stand still and chickens scratch backwards. Symbolically, pork helps us prepare for what comes ahead. From the southern United States, by way of the Caribbean, comes the traditional New Year's dish - Hoppin' John - black-eyed peas cooked with ham hocks or fatback, rice and collard greens. Eaten on New Year's Day, this concoction bestows good fortune.

So as the new year approaches, look back fondly, look forward excitedly, but most importantly enjoy the now. The past is but a memory; the future but a dream. The present is to be savored. - as ever BB

"There is superstition in avoiding superstitions." - Francis Bacon

Santa's Other Half

I don't mean Mrs. Claus, but Kris Kringle's retribution doppelganger. In many cultures, the seasonal gift-giver is accompanied by a less benevolent sidekick whose metier is to punish the naughty.

With the modern world's predilection for saccrification and innocuousness, the dark side of the holiday has waned. This "Pollyanna" effect, has removed some of the more interesting Christmas figures. Here's a short list of my favorites:

Krampus - with goat horns and cloven hoofs, this counterpart to St. Nicolas bears more than a slight resemblance to Satan. His demonic mien and rattling rusty chains frighten bad children into contrition. In modern Austria, Krampus celebrations have a feeling of Mardi Gras with costumes and drinking. The party hearkens back to Roman Saturnalia which also occurred in late December.

Black Peter - in German, Zwarte Piet, he assists St. Nicolas. Resembling a wild man clad in fur, he goes down the chimney, ergo his black, sooty appearance. Peter delivers candy and treats in good children's shoes and leaves only soot for the bad ones.

Belsnickel - Santa Claus brings candy and gifts to the good children. For the naughty ones, Belsnickel leaves lumps of coal and switches for the parents to whip the mischievous ones into better behaviour. In France, he is known as Le Pere Fouettard, the Whipping Father.

Rather than focus on the yin of rewarding good behavior and the yang of punishment for bad behavior, we should stress caring and giving for this season and throughout the year. Although, it couldn't hurt to carry a switch to smite those little mischief makers . The writer assumes no responsibility for ensuing legal action - as ever - BB

"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, than we are a sorry lot indeed." - Albert Einstein