Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

Red Belly Resolution

sheaser
Frequent Flyer B
[asset|aid=240|format=image|formatter=asset|title=RBRiPodLogoSmall.gif|width=180|height=179|resizable=true|align=right]The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions dates back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome who had two faces, could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus was placed at the head of the calendar which is where we get the word January. Janus became the ancient symbol for New Year’s resolutions as many Romans believed Janus could look back at the old year and forward to the new.
 
A new year’s day falling on January 1 is only for cultures that use a 365 ¼ day solar calendar. That solar calendar began in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars.
 
After Christian gained momentum in the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, to coincide with the birth of Jesus. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.
 
In this episode of Red Belly Radio, I ask Southwest Employees about their New Year’s resolutions and we discuss the origins of why black-eyed peas are eaten with the New Year in the South. Two words—Civil War. I also disclose why Legendary Southwest Airlines Founder Herb Kelleher doesn’t much care for leap years.
 
1 Comment