Church Chronicles: Ep 1: From Janus to Jesus: Understanding New Year's Traditions

0:00 Welcome to Church Chronicles with a Diary of a Black Woman. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and today we're diving deep into the history of New Year's Day with our new series titled, The Real Story Behind New Year's Traditions. As the year begins and the old year comes to a close, and we look forward to a new year where fresh starts, Many of us celebrate with traditions that has been passed down through generations. But where do these traditions come from? Today, we're going to uncover the pagan organ of New Year's Day and explore how the ancient Romans celebrated this time of transition.

0:45 And hopefully by the end of this episode, we'll not only put these pagan beliefs to rest, but reaffirm the truth that God is the only one who can open and shut doors in our lives. So first, we're going to talk about the Roman God Janus and the festival of beginning. So this year, 2025, we're going to put to rest a lot of these pagan beliefs. And we're going to cover them with the word of God. There's so many beliefs. We just love Christmas. Christmas got some things going on. I didn't cover a lot of Christmas stuff this year, but it's on my list for next year, for 2025, I mean, and so for this year, for 2025.

1:33 And so I want to just cover a lot of the pagan origins of a lot of these holidays, and then we're gonna cover them with the blood of Jesus and the word of God and just put them to rest. Because as we know, Satan is a copycatter, right? And so if God has a holiday, so does Satan has a holiday. And a lot of times we get confused, like we worshiping God on the wrong day. Long as we worship in God in spirit and in truth, we are okay. So let's not get that twisted as we go into our new year of 2025, a year of divine surprises and jubilee blessing.

2:13 And so I want to just make sure that you understand that it's God who owns the earth. He controls the times and the seasons. And a lot of these holidays are kind of mixed with pagan beliefs and they get everybody twisted. So we have to be able to understand them. I'm not saying I'm the expert in these, but I give you enough information so that you yourself can go out and research more, okay? So let's get started. So let's talk about the Roman God, Janus, which is for January and the Festival of Beginnings. You know, January, February, March, these months are all pagan months.

2:54 And so somehow, someway, somehow they were changed. And so we're going to go through that and we're going to go into what the Bible months are listed in the Bible. And so we're just going to get our mind right for 2025. Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. So I don't want to confuse you, but like I told you, when we're doing church chronicles, I'm here to get it right. We're going to get the truth out. We're going to get the lies right. We're going to sprinkle it with the blood of Jesus and the word of God. So let's start by going over ancient Rome, where the new year was closely tied to the worship of Janus.

3:39 They name it after Janus, right? Janus was no ordinary God. He was a Roman deity of beginnings, transitions, and endings, depicting with two faces. And I'm going to put that on the, I got a copy of this picture. I'll put it on my website. You get a copy of it. Janus looked both to the past and to the future. simultaneously, making him a powerful symbol of new beginnings. The worship of Janus, the worship of Janus, Janus was considered the God, small case G, of doorways, gates, and all forms of passage, and all form of passage.

4:21 The Romans believed that every door, whether physical or metaphorical, was under his control. The belief extended to the passage of time, especially the transition from one year to the next. They honored Janus, J-A-N-U-S, as the start of a new venture, including the beginning of the year, hoping that his favor would bring them good fortune. The Festival of Janus, the New Year celebration held on January 1st, was dedicated to Janus. The month of January itself is named after him, symbolizing his role as a gateway to the new year.

5:05 The festival often, festival involved a variety of rituals. One, sacrifice and offering. The Romans made sacrifices of grain, wine, and incense to Janus, believing that these offerings would secure his favor for the year ahead. They sought his protection and blessings, hoping that he would open doors of opportunity and close those that might bring him harm. Don't that sound familiar? Exchange good wishes. It was us customary to exchange gifts and well wishes with friends and family, a practice that symbolizes the hope for prosperity and happiness in the coming year. Does that sound familiar?

5:51 Ritual purification. Romans also engaged in ritual purification, such as washing their hands or homes to cleanse themselves of the past year, impurities and start the new year fresh and pure in Janus' eyes. These practices reflected the deep-seated belief that the way one began the year would influence the entire course. Those are the New Year's traditions, right? By honoring Janus, the Roman hoped to secure a positive and prosperous future. So what was the significance to Janus in the Roman culture? The Romans didn't just celebrate Janus on New Year's Day.

6:36 His influence was felt throughout their daily lives. As a God, small case G, of doorways and transition, Janus was invoked at the start of almost every new endeavor. Whether it was a beginning of a new day, a journey, a marriage, or even a battle, the Romans sought Janus' blessing to ensure a successful outcome. Cultural practices for the Roman, Janus represented more than just transition from one year to the next. He symbolizes the importance of beginnings in all aspects of life. They believe that starting something with the right ritual and under the proper auspices was crucial to its success.

7:27 Daily prayers, Roman often began their days with prayers to Janus, asking for his guidance and protection as they navigated the challenges ahead. Architectural significance, Janus' presence was evidenced even in architecture. Many Roman gates, Doorways were adorned with his image symbolizing his role as protector for those who pass by. And then fear of uncontrolled beginnings. The importance placed on Janus also stemmed from fear of uncontrolled beginnings. The Romans were deeply superstitious, and they believed that if a new venture started poorly, it would bring misfortune.

8:17 By honoring Janus, they sought to mitigate these fears, believing that his favor would bring them success. However, as Christians, we know that these beliefs are rooted in superstition. However, as Christians, we believe these roots are, we believe these, hello, let me start over. However, as Christians, we believe these are rooted in what? Superstition rather than truth. While the Romans trusted Janus to control their beginnings, we trust in the one true God who hold our lives in our hands. Amen. So we see what Janus, what they did with Janus. And so we believe in the one and true and living God.

9:02 Now that we've explored the pagan origins of the New Year's Day, it's time for us to put these beliefs to rest. As Christians, we understand that the power to open and close doors to beginning and end seasons rests not with Janice or any false God, but with the Lord Almighty. John 10 verses 9 through 10 says, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I come that they might have life and have it abundantly.

9:43 In this passage, Jesus declares himself as the door, the true gateway to life and salvation. Unlike Janice, who believes to preside over the doorway's transitions, Jesus is the only one through whom we can enter into eternal life. The thief, representing false gods and deceptions like those of Janice, comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. But Jesus offers us life, abundant and eternal. Revelations 3, 7, and 8. These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. When he opened, what he opens, no one can shut. And what he shuts, no one can open. I know your deeds.

10:28 See, I have placed before you an open door no one can shut. This verse from Revelation reminds us that Jesus has the ultimate authority over our lives. He opens doors of opportunity and closes doors to protect us from harm. No God, small case G of Rome, or any other false deity holds this power. Only the Lord of Lord does. Amen. Isaiah 22, 22. I have placed on his shoulder the key of the house of David that he opens what he opens. No one can shut. And when he shuts, no one can open this prophecy fulfilled in Christ, emphasizing that God alone has the authority to control the doors of our lives.

11:20 Just as he controls the keys to the house of David, he controls the keys to our lives, our opportunities and our destiny. these. Colossians 1, 16 to 17, for in him, all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him, all things hold together. Amen. This passage reminds us that all things, including time, beginning and endings were created by God.

12:00 He is the one who holds everything together. We don't need to rely on superstitions, ancient rituals to ensure our success. We rely on the creator of the universe who is sovereign over all. So we need to put those pagan beliefs to rest. As we reflect on the pagan origins of New Year's Day, it's clear that the worship of Janus was rooted in fear, superstition, and misunderstanding of who truly controls the future. The Romans placed their trust in a God, who ultimately was powerless to affect their lives in any meaningful way.

12:42 But as Christians, we know better. We know that it is God, not Janus. Or any other false deity who holds the keys to our future. It is he who opens doors that no one can shut and shut doors that no one can open. Our beginnings, transitions, and endings, come on now, are all under his sovereign control. So as we prepare to enter a new year, let these pagan beliefs rest once and for all. Let's reject the superstition and rituals that have no power and instead embrace the truth that God alone directs our path.

13:23 As we close this episode, I encourage you to start the new year with renewed focus on God's sovereignty in your life. Remember that he is the one who holds your future and it's through him that all blessings flow. As we prepare for the new year, let's do so with a heart full of faith, trusting that the Lord will guide us through every door, every transition, and every new beginning. Amen. So in our next episode, we'll explore how the celebration of New Year's Day evolved from its pagan roots to include more secular and Christian practices. We'll look at how Christians began to incorporate their customs into these days of new beginnings and what that means for us today.

14:10 I hope you'll join me as we continue this journey through the history and faith behind the New Year's Day. Hallelujah. Thank you for joining me on this episode of Church Chronicles with the Diary of Black Women. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I pray that today's discussion is giving you new insights into the origins of New Year's Day and how we can approach this holiday with faith-filled perspective. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who might be interested in exploring these topics. Until next time, stay curious, stay faithful, and remember, the truth is often more surprising than we expected.