Laden's Rest

The Native Americans called this month the Wolf Moon because the cold and deep snows of midwinter caused the wolf packs to howl hungrily outside the Indian Villages. Interestingly enough, the Old English name for the month was the Month of the Wolves, "Wulf-monath," because it was the time of the year wolves routinely attacked the villages.

The Romans called the month "Month of Janus." Janus was a two-faced god, looking both forward and backward, and was thought to be the god of beginnings and endings or the god of doorways. The word janus came from an old Etruscan word janua meaning "door.' The Romans would celebrate the New Year in a celebration called the "Calends" and people would decorate their homes and give each other gifts.

In Scotland, January began with the celebration of Hogmanay on December 31 where the "old" was cleaned out and the "new" welcomed in. Redding occurred throughout the day on the 31st, a intense cleaning of the homes including in older times the removing of the ashes from the fireplace. It was also the day to clear up old debts. The night is one big celebration that leads up to the "ringing of the bells" announcing the new year. This was then followed in the early hours of the new day by "first footing" where family and friends entered each others' homes to bless it with love and cheer for the new year. It was thought that the first person entering a home should be a handsome, dark-haired male carrying goodies to bring luck to the house. This was a throw-back to the blond Vikings entering that would bring bad luck. This is still a bigger celebration in Scotland than even Christmas and not only do the Scots have the holiday of January 1 off, they also have January 2 to rest up from all their excess from the 1st. This celebration's popularity is due to the fact that Christmas was banished from Scotland by the Presbyterians for over 400 years being that it was considered a popish holiday. (My Scottish grandfather - though he was the 5th generation on this shore - still held that thought throughout his lifetime.)

During this month the Jews month of Shivat takes place. Each Jewish month is thought to have a spiritual meaning and this month is thought to be one of finding the meaning of happiness by discovering the splendor in the Tree of Life. In addition, each Jewish month is thought to have a part of the body more in focus than any other time of the year. This month would be the stomach with the sense of taste. The lesson is two-fold. One should take the time to throughly savor life and yet one should also master the tummy without letting the tummy master you. (Wonder if that is why dieting has become the popular focus in January? )

Important Dates in January

1st - New Year's Day
6th - Epiphany/Twelfth Day (the official ending of the holidays.)
9th - Tradition states the anniversary of the Baptism of Christ
16th - Martin Luther King's Day
25th - Tradition states the anniversary of the conversion of St. Paul

Folklore of January

• If the grass do grow in Janiveer,
  
  It grows the worst for it all the year.
• The blackest month of the year
  
  Is the month of Janiveer.
• A wet January, a wet spring
  
• As the day lengthens, so the cold strengthens.
  
• Eat poor on New Years's Day and eat fat the rest of the year.

Short Poems about January

January brings the snow,

Makes our feet and fingers glow.

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January sparkles.

January's bold.

January huffs and puffs.

January's cold.

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The New Year lies before you

Like a spotless track of snow

Be careful how you tread on it

For every mark will show.

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