“Every new beginning comes from the end of another beginning” Seneca.
Even in ancient Rome the New Year corresponded to a new beginning. Giano was the god of passage, from one place to another, from one “state” to another.
On the first day of January, the Maximum Pontiff offered to the God Giano spelled with salt and a focaccia (bred) made with grated cheese, flour, eggs and oil. With this it was possible to attract the beneficial influence of divinity on nature and on crops. Romans invited friends to lunch and in their houses they used to exchange presents, which consisted of a jar of honey with dates and dried figs. As the Latin writer Ovidio has handed down to us, in this way the year was sweeter. The figs were embellished with bay leaves, as a wish for luck and happiness.
Giano bifronte (with a double face) was a Roman deity, was the god of “RITUALS OF PASSAGE”, which are represented by the symbol of the door, which in Latin is called “ianua”, for the name of that God.
So Ianua means door and ianus means passage, and that’s why that Ianus is portrayed with two opposing faces: not only past and future, but to signify the transformation of the Passage.
With this I want to wish a GOOD PASSAGE TO ALL!