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