January 02, 2019

Greetings Infomaniacs,

Did you know that celebrating the New Year is a tradition that dates back nearly 4000 years? If you had lived in Mesopotamia and Babylon 4,000 years ago (2000 B.C.), you probably would have celebrated the new year in mid-March, at the time of the Vernal (Spring) Equinox. If, however, you were an Egyptian, your new year began with the Autumnal Equinox and the flooding of the Nile. If you were Greek, the Winter Solstice began your new year celebrations.

Enjoy!

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WHO SAID IT?

QUOTE: "And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been."

HINT: (1875-1926), Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist, regarded as one of the most lyrically intense German-language poets.

RANDOM TIDBITS

According to old English and German folklore, the first person you come across in the new year could set the tone for the next 12 months. The superstition doesn't just apply to singles - if a couple ringing in the new year together doesn't lock lips, then the future of their relationship might not be all that bright.

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The top 10 New Year resolutions are usually to lose weight, eat more healthily, exercise more, stop smoking, stick to a budget, save money, get more organized, be more patient, find a better job and to just be a better person over all.

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In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, some families stuff a large doll, which is called Mr. Old Year, with memories from the past year. They also dress him in clothes from the outgoing year. At midnight, he is set ablaze, thus burning away the bad memories.

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It's good luck to eat foods like black eyed peas, ham and cabbage because it is thought they bring prosperity. But if you want to have a happy new year, don't eat lobster or chicken. Lobsters can move backward and chickens can scratch in reverse, so it is thought these foods could bring a reversal of fortune.

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January: named after Janus, the god of doors and gates.

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The earliest Latin calendar was a 10-month one, beginning with March; thus, September was the seventh month, October, the eighth, etc. July was originally called Quintilis, meaning fifth; August was originally called Sextilis, meaning sixth.

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Weekly Mind-Scrambler

What are the next two letters in this series?

J F M A M J J A S O

Submit your answer by clicking: TheDailyTease

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WHO SAID IT?

QUOTE: "And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been."

ANSWER: Rainer Maria Rilke.