New Year's Day customs traced from Dutch to White House receptions
The article outlines the evolution of New Year observances in the United States from Dutch origins in New York to diplomatic calls at the White House. It notes early presidents like Washington and Jefferson establishing or expanding receptions, with bands, fireworks, and formal greetings shaping the modern annual observance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Our Republic
Washington
Philadelphia
Martha Washington
New York State
South
White House
John Adams
Jefferson
Burrows
Marine Corps
Dolly Madison
January 1 New Year observance through Roman custom
The text traces how January 1 began as a Roman and Christian practice, noting early emperors maintained New Year rites, the church opposed three days of penitence, and by the eighth century fasting was dropped as jovial customs revived and persisted to the present.
The Sun Revealed To The Young Year
The Young Year gazes at a radiant sight and wonders what it is. The one he questions reveals it is the sun, a bright mysterious gift that warms his heart and sparks a wish to dance and sing.
New Year Reflections on Old and New Beginnings
A meditation on how the New Year arrives lively yet quickly grows old, while the past fades and the future holds new words and thoughts. The piece contrasts buoyant expectations with the weariness of time, urging acceptance of gifts and enduring values as years pass.
A New Year Reverie
A terse verse fragment reflects a traveler’s somber mood and a plea for grace and honesty on the road ahead. The speaker seeks reassurance and help from a trusted figure as they press forward into the new year.
New Year Beckons with Hopes and Warnings
The world holds its breath as a new year begins. Predictions say it will bring surprises and the guiding rule remains to hope for the best while preparing for the worst.
Remembered and Forgotten Remembered and Forgotten
A meditation on memory and friendship at New Year urges brushing dust from old ties and tending true loyalties. It contrasts easy acquaintances with lasting bonds, noting how couples recall courtship moments while many forget birthdays and aging elders, and reminds readers to regularly reach out to loved ones.
Green Bills Rule Out in New Year Budget
A concise directive limits carryover of existing bills into the new year, emphasizing green budget practices and avoiding unnecessary expenditures. Officials urge agencies to review and retire nongreen or obsolete authorizations to align with fiscal policy.
A Good Resolve to Improve in the New Year
A brief column urges readers to cultivate better temper and kinder behavior in the year ahead, calling for patience and courtesy in daily affairs and public life.
New Year Musings From a Tower by Tennyson
The speaker contemplates the meeting of New Year and Old Year atop a wet tower. Winds roar as seas surge and waves crash while he questions what there is to know beyond science and exploration.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alfred Lord Tennyson
New Year Card Carries Old Advice from Tuletoy
A man sending New Year greetings includes a second card bearing moral counsel urging kindness and patience. The note claims good deeds replace evil and reference to a gospel of love, suggesting the advice should be kept on a calendar daily.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tuletoy
Only Caterpillars Speak On Life In Oak Leaves
Two oak caterpillars recount their life cycle from eggs on oak leaves to chrysalis and final transformation into butterflies. They compare nest building, growth, and the idea that caterpillars forever stay caterpillars only in this part of town.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Charles
Mr. Oak
Mr. Charles Caterpllar
Mr. Charles Caterpillar
Glaad
Ufe
Lfe
Brother Charles
Mr. Charles Caterpliar
Mr. Oak Caterpiilar
Charles
Bogs and Hoy in Mock Battle of Witty Put-Downs
Fragmentary lines show a boastful exchange between bogs and hoy, each claiming superior effort. The crude rhymes hint at a playful rivaling contest rather than a serious event, with no clear participants or setting identified.
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!