Happy New Year 2013!

December 31^st is New Year's Eve which is the last day of the year and the traditional day to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. People have various ways of celebrating New Year’s Eve depending on a person culture and/or circle of friends. It is a major social observance and many parties are held, particularly in the evening.Many people celebrate New Year's Eve by going to church; others go to nightclubs, friends’ houses, or take to the street to celebrate. At midnight, fireworks are displayed across various cities in the United States including popular amusement parks and beaches to bring in the New Year. Some uses this time to reflect on the past and make plans for the future and if a person is spiritual this day serves as a day to give thanks for making it another year and to strengthen the faith in hopefulness of a prosperous new year. Many Christian congregations have New Year's Eve services at church known as “Watch Night” continuing past midnight giving thanks for the blessings of the outgoing year and praying for His divine favor for the upcoming year. This traditional “Watch Night” service can be traced back to before the founding fathers when Moravian Brethren came to England in the 1730s. Watch Night took on special significance to African Americans on New Year's Eve 1862, as slaves anticipated the arrival of January 1, 1863, when Lincoln had announced he would sign the Emancipation Proclamation. (Sutton (August 2004) ,"Watch Night". Western States Black Research & Educational Center). However one chooses to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the important reason for the celebration is meant to show appreciation for all we have whether it’s things, special people in our lives making it more meaningful or that we are still alive and still have a chance to make a difference in making our world a better place. So let’s all have mercy on one another therefore giving peace always. Happy New Year!