As I said in last week’s article January gets its name from the two-faced Roman god Janus. Janus was a guardian of thresholds such as doorway and notably crossroads. So, January has many of coming to a proverbial crossroads with resolutions. The new year featured many rituals to het the year started off on the proverbial right foot. In the old days when visiting someone on new years eve it was thought it wise to bring a gift to ensure good luck in the coming year. A sprig of mistletoe was offered to a home to bring about good luck to the household. Perhaps a candle might be offered to bring positive light to the home in the new year. Another ritual was to sweep through the house to drive out the negative forces of the old year and allow in the positive energies of the new. It was a good idea to start from the back door and sweep to the front. The customary broom should be a besome with enchanted elements added. Sometimes the hearth fire extinguished and relit from the sacred bonfires that wee lit during this time. The practice making rough music or a noisy racket to chase away evil spirits or the bad forces of the old year. Lighting firecrackers on New Year’s Eve is a relic on this practice. And so, it goes.