Gaga Marketing rings in the New Year with a new website. The blog has changed too. Please excuse any glitches that might occur as this Luddite attempts to navigate new technological waters.

New Year's Day approaches. Observing the new year is one of man's oldest celebrations dating back 4,000 years to the Babylonians. Their New Year began on the vernal equinox.

Through the millennia, calendars and dates changed until Rome put the imperium's foot down making January 1st the year's commencement. They named the first month after the god, Janus. He has two faces, one looked back at the old year and the other forward to the new one.

Each culture carved unique facets onto the New Year's gem. A good example is Philadelphia's Mummer's Parade. From the British Isles comes mumming. Depending on the island, on St.Stephan's Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day, revelers would parade in costume stopping to perform at public houses. From Sweden comes noise-making. The New Year would be greeted with the banging of pots, pyrotechnics and discharging of firearms. From Africa via southern migration comes the Mummer's Strut as does the Mummer's theme song - the spiritual,Oh Dem Golden Slippers. This cakewalk based on West African steps became the official "dance" of the parade.

Since the 18th century, Mummer's have performed this pageant through the streets of the City of Brotherly Love. No matter what your time zone, ethnic origin, or personal beliefs, at the stroke of midnight tomorrow night, strut your stuff, raise your voice and rejoin with friends rejoicing the New Year. - as ever BB

Oh, dem golden slippers/Oh, dem golden slippers/Golden slippers I'se goin' to wear/Because they look so neat./Oh, dem golden slippers'/Oh, dem golden slippers/Golden slippers I'se goin' to wear/To walk the golden street.