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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 31, 2020)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL | DECEMBER 31, 2020 | 9A The origins of NYE traditions IT’S NEW YEAR’S TIME! There’s no time like the present, to let you know how much we appreciate your past support. Happy New Year and many thanks! El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant 725 E. Gibbs • 541-767-0457 Wishing you a Happy New Year! www.homesteadcg.com Happy New Year! 109 Hwy. 99 South, Cottage Grove 541-942-4466 ® OLD MILL FARM STORE Traditions are the glue that hold many celebrations together. Individuals and families embrace many cus- toms that serve as the script for commemorating year- end holidays. Some celebrants may ad- here to traditions without really knowing how they began or why they contin- ue. Here is a closer look at some of the most popular traditions tied to New Year’s Eve, both domestically and around the world. itage might eat soba noo- dles on New Year’s Eve. The Toshikoshi Soba, which means “year crossing buck- wheat noodle,” denotes the crossing from one year to the next. Nibbling the noodles represent traveling from one year to the next as well as letting go of the pre- vious year’s regrets. In Spain, people gobble grapes to bring good luck in the coming year. The goal is to eat 12 green grapes during the 12 remaining seconds until the New Year. Drinking champagne Those able to do so will The use of champagne have 12 months of good the Times Square Alliance. for celebrations is rooted fortune. in the Christian ritual of Making resolutions consuming wine during the Dropping the ball Historians trace the mak- Eucharist. In the year 496, a Revelers have long ing of resolutions to the wine from the Champagne watched the giant ball drop Ancient Babylonians. Cit- region of France was of- in New York City’s Times izens made spoken resolu- fered during the baptism Square in person and on tions during their new year of the Frankish warrior television. This tradition festival known as “Akitu.” Clovis, according to the may be rooted in the cus- This ritual required making Champagne Committee of tom of sailors using “time an oath to the sitting or new France. It then became cus- balls” to set their own time- king. Romans also swore tomary for champagne to pieces while at sea. These oaths of loyalty to the em- be used at religious events chronometers were em- peror when the New Year like consecrations and at ployed by using a spyglass started. coronations or soirees. to scan the harbor looking Eventually the tradition be- for balls that were dropped Fireworks and noisemak- came associated with secu- into the water at certain ers lar rituals, such as celebrat- times, PBS reports. The first Fireworks are a big part ing the new year. ball was installed in 1829 in of celebrations and are Portsmouth, England. The not to be outdone on New Food Times Square ball was first Year’s Eve. Fireworks were People of Japanese her- used in 1907, according to 6 popular health-based resolutions Lane County’s Oldest Feed Store Conventional, Organic, Homeopathic Thanks to all our Customer Family, together we can create a great 2020! 327 So. River Rd. • 942-3042 Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-6:00pm & Sat. 10:00-4:00pm NEW YEAR’S GREETINGS Your generous support makes it all possible, and your friendship makes it all worthwhile. Happy New Year & many thanks! South Lane County Fire & Rescue 233 Harrison Avenue Cottage Grove 541-942-4493 invented in the seventh century in China. Accord- ing to Anthony Aveni, an astronomer and anthropol- ogist at Colgate University, the fireworks were designed to ward off evil spirits. In cultures around the world, fireworks, banging drums and other efforts were used to chase away spooky crea- tures, especially during the transitional period that is the passing of the new year. Today fireworks and noise- makers are employed not for scaring away spirits, but rather to add to the revelry. New Year’s Eve traditions abound, and many of these annual customs have inter- esting origin stories. Resolutions that focus on health and fitness are made each year. Numerous peo- ple are eager to lose weight, improve their physical fit- ness levels or even stop habits that can hinder their mental or physical wellness. As the new year ticks clos- er, individuals can explore these popular resolutions as they get on the path to bet- ter health. 1. Commit to quit. The American Cancer Society says about half of all Amer- icans who keep smoking will die due to the habit. Smoking kills more Amer- icans than alcohol, car acci- dents, guns, HIV, and illegal drugs combined. Smoking not only causes cancer, it also damages nearly every part the body, including the bones, reproductive or- gans, mouth, skin, eyes, and blood vessels. Quitting can help reverse the effects of years of smoking. 2. Limit alcohol intake. The phrase “everything in moderation” applies to alcohol consumption. Ex- cessive consumption of al- cohol can lead to liver and kidney damage. When these organs are not functioning properly, they cannot filter tox- ins out of the body, resulting in potential- ly irreparable damage. Resolve to cut down on alcohol consump- tion if you are drink- ing more than two drinks per day. 3. Address stress. It’s easy to underes- timate the effects of stress on the mind and body. Left unchecked, stress can contrib- ute to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, says the Mayo Clinic. Resolving to reduce stress by adopt- ing certain techniques can improve self-esteem and mood. 4. Exercise more read- ily. Physician Partners of America states that exer- cise can improve mood and sleep, help people control their weight, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve bone and muscle strength, and potentially extend their lives. Resolving to exer- cise doesn’t require drastic changes. Small steps can add up to big results. 5. Visit the doctor. Too often people put off going to the doctor until some- thing is wrong with their health. It is much better to be proactive and avoid ill- ness through testing and conversations with a phy- sician. Doctors may be able to recognize symptoms and risk factors that could be indicative of future illness. Routine physical exams also will check cholesterol and glucose levels, monitor blood pressure and include other preventive care op- tions. 6. Improve your diet. Eating more meals made at home and incorporat- ing more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein into your meals can improve overall health. Healthy changes top the list of New Year’s resolu- tions each year. Certain resolutions can greatly im- prove overall health. Friendship Is Timeless …and it’s time to thank you for yours! Happy New Year and hearty thanks to all the kind folks who have contributed to our success here in the community. Your support means a lot to us. Cheers! New Year’s Greetings With thanks from all of us to all of you at year’s end. We look forward to serving you in 2021! Coast Fork Nursing Center 515 Grant Avenue Cottage Grove 541-942-5528 www.prestigecare.com Birch Avenue Dental 1325 Birch Avenue, Cottage Grove • 541- 942- 2471 birchavenuedental.com