Christian Spirituality Examiner: Monday, December 31, 2012 through Sunday, January 6, 2013
As we move into the first week of the New Year, here are some of the events and celebrations coming up in the Week Ahead in Central Ohio:
First Night Columbus—Dec. 31, 2012
Location: Throughout Downtown
Hours: Monday 5 p.m.-midnight
Admission: $10
Phone: 614-299-9221
Web: www.firstnightcolumbus.com
First Night Columbus, Central Ohio's award-winning New Year's Eve celebration, is a community-oriented, family-friendly, alcohol-free event. There is something for everyone with more than 40 live performances, including jazz, funk, ragtime, storytelling and magic, hands-on activities and a children's festival.
Watch Night Services—Dec. 31, 2012
A number of Protestant Churches, particularly predominantly African American congregations, hold special church services on New Year’s Eve called “Watch Night Services” or “Watch Meeting Services.” Click here to read about history of this popular gathering on the last night of the old year and its connection to the Emancipation Proclamation which was written and signed 150 years ago.
New Year’s Day—Jan. 1, 2013
How you begin the New Year is important to many people. To learn about some of the traditional food eaten on New Year’s Day in a various cultures around the world, click here.
Celebration of Life Week—January 1-7, 2013
The first Week in January is designated as “Celebration of Life Week,” with the entire month being called “Celebration of Life Month.”
Learn more about the Celebration of Life Week and find out more about the significance of this observance in Columbus, Ohio which has a bronze “Celebration of Life” statue erected in Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown Columbus.
National Bird Day—January 5
National Bird Day is a day to appreciate our own native wild birds flying free outside our windows, and a day to reflect on how we treat the native birds of other countries. National Bird Day also is a time to commit to improving the lives of birds in captivity and supporting efforts aimed at protecting birds in the wild.
Click here to find out about this commemoration and possible ways to celebrate with children, while exploring some of the references to birds in the Bible.
Epiphany--January 6
The 12 days of Christmas end with the feast of Epiphany. Learn more about the significance of this celebration this week. Click here to learn more about the underlying significance of the familiar Christmas carol and its relationship to Epiphany, the celebration written about in the following article: “The 12 days of Christmas: A deeper meaning.”
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