- It was on New Year's Day in 1976 that Life Magazine was discontinued after a 36 year run.
- Bangor, Maine drops a purple beach ball decorated with Christmas lights. A walleye drops from its perch each New Year's Eve in Sandusky, Ohio.
- In 1904, The New York Times sponsored a large public fireworks extravaganza in the city to celebrate the new year's arrival. When fireworks were banned just three years later, they replaced the show with a lighted 700 hundred pound ball that dropped from Times Square. Today that ball weighs over 1200 pounds.
- Auld Lang Syne means "Times Gone By". Partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was published after his death in 1796.
- The festival 'Hogmanay' is celebrated in Scotland to celebrate the new year.
- 'First Footing' or the door custom is a British Isles celebration that removes the old year while ushering in the best of luck for the the coming year.
- The Tournament of Roses Parade began in 1886. The first Rose Bowl football game was played in 1902. Chariot Races replaced the football game through 1915. The parade and football game became permanently linked in 1916. Both continue today.
- Apples and honey are eaten to symbolize a sweet new year in Rosh Hashanah.
- The ancient Greeks used a baby around 600 B.C. to signify a new year. The baby was carried around in a basket to honor their God of Fertility, Dionysus.
- The New Year's Waterford crystal ball is six foot in diameter and weighs over half a ton.
"Happy New Year" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year (2012) gets under way. The 'New Year' brings such a new found sense of responsibility, renewed hope in lost endeavors, and pledges to change the way we think, eat, and feel. My last blog 'MMXII - Carpe Anno' encouraged people to volunteer, to commit a few hours to a local non-profit historical society. 2012 will inevitably see many opportunities present themselves. Two communities will celebrate their bicentennial in 2012. July 27-28-29, 2012 will be the celebration for Chardon, Ohio. May 16 will kick-off the official bicentennial celebration in Fairport Harbor. Both communities will host various programming throughout the year. I hope you will pledge to take the time to visit both of these communities as they celebrate the moments that are their history.
For more information, visit-
Chardon Bicentennial Committee Fairport Harbor Historical Society
P.O. Box 121 www.fairportlighthouse.com or
Chardon, Ohio 44024 Fairport Harbor Tourism Council
www.chardon200.org www.fairportharbor.org
2012 will see a minor change in postings for Local Lore by Max. Monday's posting will continue to highlight various historical events and feature hidden gems in Lake County's history. Beginning January 12, 2012 all Thursday postings will feature bicentennial moments from Fairport Harbor.
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