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Ancient New Year’s traditions still in effect today

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By Mya Cannon

At the start of each year people all over the world make promises to themselves that they will do something to better themselves in some way during the new year.

Historians believe New Year’s resolutions have been around for almost 4,000 years and were first created by the Babylonians. 

At the beginning of each year, the Babylonians would make promises to their gods that they would pay off the debts they owed and would return anything that they borrowed to its rightful owner.

The new year began in March for them because that is when spring starts so they would start planting their crops around that time.

According to Ancient History of New Year’s Resolutions, only 12 percent of people today actually carry out and succeed with their New Year’s resolutions even though 58 percent of people thought they would succeed in completing their New Year’s resolution.

The Babylonians had a stronger will to succeed in their resolutions than people do today because they believed if they completed it the gods would grant them a good year, but if they did not complete their resolutions the gods would not grant them with a good year.

The Babylonians called the 12 days when they planted their crops “Akitu,” and they had to return the things they borrowed within those 12 days.

Hundreds of years later, the Romans moved the new year from March to January.

January is named after the two faced god Janus who is said to look backwards into the past year and look forward into the upcoming year. The Romans also believed that Janus was the protector of endings and beginnings.

The Romans often made resolutions that revolved around being good to others much like the resolutions people make today.

Today people celebrate the new year on January first, just like the Romans did, and make resolutions that will better themselves and their way of living.

While there is not a direct known link to New Year’s resolutions from the past and the New Year’s resolutions made today, it is believed that past has played a role in today’s traditions.

Front/Home, News

Science Olympiad sparks a new year

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The second quarter is nearing its end, and with the new quarter will come a new season for the high school’s Science Olympiad team. For months, the team has been studying and preparing for the spring competitions, but as winter break draws nearer, the group has been working harder than ever.

The areas of study change every few years, so each year, just as much preparation, if not more, is needed to succeed as in previous years. Some of the new areas of interest this year include: Game On, which involves coding a game; Hydrogeology; Protein Modeling, where participants build a large-scale model of a protein molecule; and even Electric Vehicle building.

The first of the three invitationals will be at Kenston High School on January 16th, followed by invitationals at Solon and Mentor. If the Stow team does well in these invitationals, it will move on to the Regional Competition at the University of Akron. From there, it may get a chance to move on to the state competition in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University campus.

The high school’s team has gone to states for the past two years, though it has never made it to nationals, so the team members are looking forward to doing as good a job this year. Who knows; maybe this is the year the team will move on to nationals.

Front/Home, Sports

Bulldogs strike defeat in final four bout

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It is said that all good things must come to an end, and for the Stow Bulldogs it was a thirteen game winning streak, a push for a state title, and the careers of many seniors, that finally reached that point.

On Nov. 28, the undefeated Stow Bulldogs took on the football powerhouse, top seeded, Lakewood St. Edward Eagles, in the OHSAA Division I final four.

Stow’s perfect record was on the line, and both teams found themselves in a win-or-go-home situation. For the Eagles, they were reaching for another opportunity at a state championship, as they earned it last season as well.

Stow found themselves in a rut early on as the initial kickoff was dropped on the 3-yard line putting Stow in a dangerous situation right out the gate. From there not much was to be done from the offense of the Bulldogs as they were forced to punt nearly every possesion.

The Eagles were the first to score with a 43-yard field goal at the 7:49 mark, followed by a 42-yard touchdown pass to end the first quarter with the lead at 10-0.

The second quarter really opened things up for the Eagles. Numerous turnovers by the Bulldogs were capitalized on by St. Eds, resulting in 38-0  deficit going into halftime.

Junior quarterback Kyle Vantrese was able to find senior wide receiver Monte Board for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give Stow their first, and only points of the night. The Eagles tacked one more touchdown to end the night with a 45-7 victory over Stow.

With more than likely the greatest season of football to come through Stow in history, the Bulldogs surely have nothing to be ashamed of. For some it is the end– a cumulation of all the years spent dedicating their lives to a sport they knew they eventually could no longer play — but for the returning players, this season has set the bar to a new level, one that a legacy of winning seasons is destined to be built upon.

 

Front/Home, News

DECA holds “Hoops for a Cause”

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By Erika Green

     DECA will be hosting their annual “Hoops for A Cause” event on Nov. 24 here at the high school. The purpose for this event is to raise money to go towards building a school in Mali, Africa. Hoops for a cause has been going on for over ten years now. DECA hopes to raise $14,000 to build the school and as of now they have raised about $10,000. DECA teamed up with Dr. Scott Lacey and got involved with African Sky thus making this an international cause. The event will take place in the upper gym and the DECA students will be playing the staff. It is $2 to get in to watch and an additional optional $1 for half time half court shots.