President’s Message, 0222 UTBJ, Vol. 35, No. 1. 9
| Author | by Heather L. Thuet |
| Position | Vol. 35 1 Pg. 9 |
January, 2021
by Heather L. Thuet
Key Legal Group, LLC
New Beginnings “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s ending.” – Seneca
For many, the new year symbolizes both an ending and a new beginning. An opportunity to reflect on the success and challenges of the past year, and to embrace with renewed vitality the gift of a new year.
Ringing in the new year and bidding adieu to the old one is a tradition that spans the globe. Many individuals celebrate the first day of the new year on a day other than January 1 and celebrations occur throughout the year. For example, Rosh Hashanah began on September 6 and ended September 8. The Korean New Year, Seollal, is February 1, 2022, as is the Chinese New Year. 2022 will mark the year of the Tiger. Hindu New Year is March 22. The Islamic New Year, Hijri, begins at sunset on July 29.
Under the Roman calendar, New Year’s Day had originally been observed on March 15th and corresponded with the vernal equinox. During his reign, Roman King Numa Pompilius revised the Roman year so that January replaced March as the first month. For the Romans, the month of January carried a special significance. Its name was derived from the two-faced deity Janus, the god of change and beginnings. Janus could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other. Janus symbolized transitions such as the progress of past to future, from one condition to another, from one vision to another.
Romans celebrated January 1 by giving offerings to Janus in the hope of gaining good fortune for the new year. This day was seen as setting the stage for the next twelve months, and it was common for friends and neighbors to make a positive start to the year by exchanging well wishes and gifts of figs and honey with one another.
In many ways that tradition has carried over into modern times. While an offering to Janus may not be made, many will gather with family and friends and reflect on 2021 as it comes to a close. Plans and resolutions for the coming year will be made in the hopes of good health and good fortunes, both personally and professionally.
As I look forward to what lies ahead for the Bar, I am excited by what we have accomplished the past year. With the pandemic, we all embraced a sudden shift in how we practiced law. We pivoted from in-person hearings, depositions, and trials to remote attendance via...
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