OCR Text |
Show Saturday, January 12, 2002 The Park Record A-17 From Time to Time Historical designations of New Year differ Compiled by Kat James OF THE RECORD STAFF 100 Years Ago When the year is new All ancient and modern peoples, however differing as to the day from which to reckon the beginning of the new year, have honored the occasion with joyous festivals. The Romans had a superstition that every individual word and action on the first day would impact the whole year ahead. According to the Orthodox Jewish chronology, the year 5662 began at sunset Sept. 13, 1901, of the Christian calendar, the first of the month Tishri. The Jewish New Year festival is called Rosh Hashona. This is the Jewish civil year, the ecclesiastical year beginning with the vernal equinox in March. The neighboring peoples of the Jews in their original habitat -namely, the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians, Syrians, Phoenicians and Carthagenians - each began the year at the autumnal equinox, or about the 21st or 22nd of September. The Greeks began their year at the winter solstice until the fifth century B.C., when a new cycle was introduced, beginning at the summer solstice. The original Roman style was to begin the year with the winter solstice, which is about Dec. 21 or 22, but Caesar changed it to Jan. 1, so that the year would begin with the new moon. Before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the Christian nations had different dates for the beginning of the year. By the Florentine calculation, which was in use from the 10th century until 1745, the year began March 25. In France the year began under the Merovingians, Carlovingians and Capetans at different dates - first March 1, then Dec. 25 and finally at Easter. Charles IX, in 1564 ordered the year to begin on Jan. 1. In England from the 14th century to the change in 1752, the legal and ecclesiastical year began March 25. During the French revolution, a calendar was instituted which began the year on Sept. 22. This was in use from 1792 to Jan. 1, 1806. The Chinese New Year is a movable event, regulated by the phases of the moon. Ancient nations of northern Europe began their year from the winter solstice. In the East Indies, the year is lunar, beginning with the first quarter of the moon nearest the beginning of December. Among the ancient Peruvians the year began at the winter solstice and with the Mexicans at the vernal equinox. Not only the Romans and the peoples affected by their civilization, civiliza-tion, but the Druids and Saxons celebrated cel-ebrated the new year with feasting and giving gifts at one time in Rome and later in England the custom of giving was debased into a tribute, the nobility and even the common people feeling obliged by custom to send gold to their sovereign. 50 Years Ago Ten-month-old cat climbs 14,780-foot 14,780-foot Matterhom One of Europe's highest peaks, the 14,780-foot Matterhorn, has been conquered by a cat. Astonished Alpinists returning from a difficult climb up the sheer sides of the peak told about the cat, a 10-month-old, black and white kitten. kit-ten. Several days ago, the kitten, which has been named Matt, apparently appar-ently got bored with watching climbing parties leave the hotel on the Hornli ridge where it was born. So, without ropes, guides, pick-ax, a compass, food, water, maps and first-aid equipment, it started up the steep slopes on which a number of persons have died. Its first stop was the Solway hut, at 12,556 feet. It spent the night there and dined on milk. The next day it pattered up the difficult "shoulder" and spent the night there. It was seen by a party of climbers who decided it never could get over the difficult slopes to come. The climbers set out, leaving the cat behind. When they reached the top, congratulating one another that they had made it, they heard meowing. meow-ing. There was Matt. He had beaten them there. Matt looked for something to eat but found nothing but snow. With a switch of his tail, he walked off, headed down the mountain. 25 Years Ago Troubles mar Resorts first week Although the opening, at long last, of Park City's ski areas brought celebration, tentative smiles and hope to the too-long depressed town, life was not a bowl of cherries cher-ries for resort operators last week. Opening day problems, less than perfect ski conditions and the last minute cancellation of Interline Week, which would have given a shot in the arm to Park City's suffering suf-fering economy re-emphasized the need for what the town has lacked all season - enough snow. "The only way to sum up the week is that we opened,' said Craig Badami, , Park City Resort Marketing Director. "Things are better than they have been since April. We got started. We're coming com-ing along." At press time, the resort was advertising poor to good conditions with 10 to 22 inches of snow on a limited number of ski runs. Director of Mountain Operations Phil Jones denied rumors that the snow was deteriorating deterio-rating badly enough that the resort may have to close. "We have no intention of closing," clos-ing," he emphasized. Snow is being hauled up the mountain in snow cats and the dry powder is being salted, so that it will melt and refreeze to form a harder base. "It doesn't make for fantastic skiing, ski-ing, but ours is as good or better as anybody else's," said Jones. "And it's not going to get much worse than it is now." He said the resort still needs three feet of moist snow to begin full operation. Nearly 3,000 lift tickets were sold during the first full weekend of business, according to Badami. Badami described it as a "fairly slow" weekend, comparable to a normal weekend in the beginning of December. The resort usually sells about 6,000 tickets in a "typical" "typi-cal" mid-January weekend, he said. "We made money. We're on the way back," said Badami. "We obviously obvi-ously did better than the weekend before." Badami and Jones were optimistic, opti-mistic, in spite of several opening day near-disasters that would drive normal men to start pulling out their hair. The problems began at about 10:30 a.m. when a Utah Power and Light electrical system broke down, stopping the Prospector chair lift. By 1 p.m., power was back on and things were more or,t less back to normal, but the resort ticket office reported that several angry skiers demanded refunds after being trapped for up to two hours. The skiers were reportedly given rainchecks. Meanwhile, the resort was attempting to cope with problems created by a frozen water line leading lead-ing to the Mid-Mountain and Summit lodges. Food service in the lodges was reported operating normally, nor-mally, with a few adjustments, and portable toilets were set up. Jim Whitteron, customer services manager for the resort, told The Record a line leading to the pump that sends water up the mountain broke and the line froze due to a lack of snow as ground cover. Everyone agreed that the main demon haunting the resort was the weather, however. The resort management man-agement is facing its problems as they come, though, without regard to the latest forecasts, which are not promising. Badami said he has stopped listening to weathermen. "Only fools and angels predict weather in the mountains," he said. 1 0 Years Ago Olympic torch will burn in Park City Park City's Olympic torch will be relit Tuesday, Jan 21, when the town sends off the U.S. downhill and cross-country teams to the 1992 Winter Olympic Games in Albertville, France. The ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. at the Olympic pocket plaza at 575 Main St. Members of the cross-country team will join the ceremonies. Park City is the administrative headquarters for the U.S. Ski Team. The U.S. Ski Team's Director of Communications, Tom Kelly, will give an update on the athletes to watch this February in France. The jumping and nordic combined com-bined events are taking place in Courchevel, France, Park City's sister sis-ter city. Courchevel is a series of villages located south of Albertville. Five Park City residents resi-dents will be traveling to France to assist in guest services for the Olympic Games as part of the sister-city program. Also scheduled to speak at the torch-lighting ceremony is Park City Mayor Brad Olch. For more information, contact the Park City ChamberBureau. 3 P ff MOAB IN WINTER! A wpII kpnt sprrpt nf r rvstalline vistas. Drivate V . r V ---- r National Parks, outrageous iNoraic siuing ana sunny afternoons on blazing redrock. Your i u c : r.-U -... ji winter reireai is muau ouuuks i.uhu. uui 4 N 0 very cool new town-homes sleep 6 to 8 people and are bright and comfy! Torch Week in Moab is February 4th! Winter rates start at: WWfL S12Q.00NIGHT WEEKDAYS; S140NIGHT WEEKENDS. CLUBUTAHl Reservations: 801-588-0911 -iw' ' ORwww.clubutah.com For Rent: Olympic Hospitality Suite, Apartment or Office with Full Kitchen and Bath. O O O o rr . 4 r--f-r-. 5 If i Second Floor 301 112 Main St. Call 1-800-262-1121 or 1-330-225-7811 JT. PMLl INN 6 SPA Introductory Special $140 Two Nights Lodging Two Breakfasts Two Dinners One Hour Massage Located in the LaSal Mountains S.E. of Moab 435-686-2284 i UHTi BUTT XI 1,11 Gift Certificates Available Silent Retreats 2002 Schedule Available (Based on Double occupancy) i&hlU WISHES ' ffVt lift UUO,,.-- ....... V Mm s TRAINERS: JUSTINE W0LK0FF & NJ PAWLEY FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL 2001 - AND GOOD LUCK FOR 2002! V LINDSAY MCIVER & DUTCH CHOCOLATE ANNIE WALLACE & SPUR OF THE MOMENT DEBORAH FITTS & LUCKY STARS DEBORAH FITTS & MAX MOLLY CANNON & FARNLEY'S LOTTIE DA! BARBARA CANNON-REEDER & 'BOMBAY BARBARA CANNON-REEDER ' & CHARLIE HORSE ANNE PETERS & CROSSPOINTE KATE SUTTON & PICASSO PAM EPPERSON & BIG ANTHONY LANEY EPPERSON & PATSY CLINE . WENDY SLY & READY OR NOT ABBY MILLER & DREAM CATCHER RACHEL WESTRATE & GINGER ALE KAITIE & HANNAH YOUELL & STORYBOOK LADY ALI NAUGLE & DREAM CATCHER ALWAYS A NICE SELECTION OF HORSES & PONIES FOR SALE. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON LESSONS, TRAINING & BOARDING CALL (435) 649-0314 ' 1 ' J t A 1 1, mi mm ii i m 1 " 1 ri in A LINDSAY MCIVER & STORYBOOK LADY UHJA CHAMPION SM.MD. PONY DIVISION . 2ND UHJA PONY MEDAL DEBORAH FITTS & LUCKY STARS CHILDRENSADULT JUMPER' RESERVE CHAMPION HITS TAH0E WINNER OF $1000 R0UNDY GAMBLES CHOICE. UHJA RESERVE CHAMPION CHILDRENSADULT JUMPER. CONGRATULATIONS HALEY BARNDT ON THE PURCHASE OF SOCKS-GOOD SOCKS-GOOD LUCK! MOLLY CANNON & FARNLEY'S LOTTIE DA! 3RD UHJA LARGE PONY DIVISION CHAMPION SCHOOLING PONY HITS TAH0E |