Resources Harry K. Jones on 01 Jan 2009 10:00 am
January Journey
The exhaustion, frustration and despair of 2008 is now behind us, and the hope, faith and anticipation of better times lie ahead of us. The world is watching our business and political leaders to see if they’ll lead our country back to the level of respect, success, and prosperity we once enjoyed.
The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago.
In the United States, the actual holiday is January 1st. However, we begin celebrating on December 31st … midnight church services, New Year’s Eve parties, and cozy family get-togethers around the family fireplace as we witness the decorative ball drop in New York City’s Times Square amidst several million snow-covered but jovial party-goers. Everyone has their favorite way to celebrate.
Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions, which are usually broken within a week to ten days. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians.
Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. The use of an image of a baby with a New Year’s banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century.
In appreciation for our many successful relationships over the past year, the AchieveMax® team is sending you our very best wishes for a happy holiday season to you, your dear ones, and your organizations! It has been a great pleasure working with you in the year 2008. We would like to wish all of you a joyful and prosperous New Year, filled with good health and good friends. Let the next year be full of promise, hope, and dreams fulfilled.
Whatever is enjoyable, whatever brings you happiness … may it be yours during this magical season and throughout the coming Year 2009!
Monthly Celebrations and Observances:
- International Creativity Month
- International Quality of Life Month
- National Birth Defects Month
- National Blood Donor Month
- National Book Blitz Month
- National Braille Literacy Month
- National Celebration of Life Month
- National Cervical Cancer Screening Month
- National Get Organized Month
- National Glaucoma Awareness Month
- National Hobby Month
- National Hot Tea Month
- National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month
- National Mentoring Month
- National Oatmeal Month
- National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month
- National Poverty in America Awareness Month
- National Radon Action Month
- National Soup Month
- National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
- National Thyroid Awareness Month
Weekly Celebrations and Observances:
- Catholic Schools Week
- Celebration of Life Week
- Diet Resolution Week
- Elvis Presley Week
- Healthy Weight Week
- Home Office Safety & Security Week
- Hunt for Happiness Week
- National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week
- National No Tillage Week
- National Nurse Anesthetists Week
- National Take Back Your Time Week
- Slam Dance Week
- Women’s Self Empowerment Week
- World Leprosy Week
Daily Celebrations and Observances:
- 1 – New Year’s Day
- 1 – Mummer’s Parade
- 1 – Rose Bowl Game
- 1 – Tournament of Roses Parade Day
- 3 – Fruitcake Toss Day
- 3 – National Chocolate-covered Cherry Day
- 4 – Trivia Day
- 4 – World Braille Day
- 4 – World Hypnotism Day
- 5 – Bird Day
- 7 – Harlem Globetrotters Day
- 7 – I’m Not Going to Take It Anymore Day
- 8 – Women’s Day
- 10 – National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
- 10 – United Nations Day
- 12 – National Clean Off Your Desk Day
- 12 – Organize Your Home Day
- 15 – Get to Know Your Customers Day
- 15 – Humanitarian Day
- 16 – Women in Blue Jeans Day
- 16 – Religious Freedom Day
- 17 – Customer Service Day
- 18 – World Religion Day
- 19 – Martin Luther King Day
- 20 – Inauguration Day
- 21 – National Hugging Day
- 22 – Celebration of Life Day
- 22 – Roe vs. Wade Day
- 22 – Women’s Healthy Weight Day
- 23 – National Pie Day
- 24 – National Compliment Day
- 26 – Chinese New Year
- 26 – National Peanut Brittle Day
- 26 – Better Business Communication Day
- 27 – Holocaust Memorial Day
- 27 – National Speak Up and Succeed Day
- 29 – Freethinkers Day
- 29 – World Leprosy Day
- 30 – Fun at Work Day
- 31 – Inspire Your Heart with Art Day
Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of motivational speakers who provide custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has appeared all over North America addressing topics such as change, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork and time management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2MAX or fill out our contact form.