From every culture, tradition, or even made-up- fun right on the spot, people in every country in their own way celebrate the revelation of time marching on to a new year. Whether you spend New Year’s Eve in the Big Apple on 5th Avenue in New York City, or on a country lane, your heart will capture the moment the clock strikes 12:00 midnight. That is, if in your childhood your family celebrated that moment, and allowed you the privilege to witness such a memorable event. For me, I can still remember standing on my Grandma Fiorino’s front porch with a frying pan in my hand and beating it with a wooden spoon. Others had two old lids, or shallow pans that they would strike together. No one had sophisticated fireworks or party hats, we just grabbed anything we could put together to make a noise. The clamor we made on that front porch was enough to alert the neighborhood that we acknowledged a new year coming on. We laughed, yelled, whistled and even took each other’s arm and danced about on that old front porch. I always looked forward to that special time, and willed myself never to fall asleep before the party began.
When I got older and married, my memories took on a total new side of New Year’s Eve. It was called “Watch Night Service,” and it was offered by the Northside Pentecostal Church that we attended at the time. When I heard the announcement of the coming service, I had no idea what this could mean. I only knew we would be “praying” in a new year. The service began at 8:00 PM and started off with a time of singing and worship. Then it evolved into somewhat of a talent show, when almost anyone in the church that wanted to sing a special song, or play their instrument could do so. At about 10:00 the atmosphere changed and we had a communion and foot washing service. It was more of a solemn time, and an attitude of humility that everyone had toward one another. I can remember people going to one another and asking forgiveness for a long held grudge, or grievance.
At about 11:45 PM the pastor would summon all the men to gather their wives and families and kneel around the altar. If someone didn’t have family member present, we would adopt them and they would be taken in as family. Everyone would start praying in their own way, and right at 12:00 midnight we would usher in the New Year with prayer. Everyone would then gather in the fellowship hall and all the best dishes the ladies could cook or bake were spread out. It was such a glorious feeling, and a real spiritual experience and we continued this tradition for many years.
Whatever your tradition may be…on grandma’s front porch, or in a church service, or even enjoying your family around the kitchen table, thank God for our freedom, and do say a prayer for our beloved America. May our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, guide us in 2015, and I wish you a Happy New Year.
Rosalie
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