The month of January kicks off by welcoming the new year — there are countdowns, fireworks, and of course, the ball drop in a freezing-cold Times Square. But why? Why do we start our calendars when much of the U.S. is in the dead of winter? Why January? The short answer is Julius Caesar and Roman politics. The calendar had long been a political tool in Rome. Depending on who was in power, Roman pontifices would add or subtract entire weeks from the year, manually adjusting the term limits of elected officials. As you could imagine, this caused a lot of chaos, because months frequently slipped out of time with the changing seasons. After becoming emperor, Julius Caesar brought about some much- needed reforms. Inspired by the Egyptian solar calendar, Caesar fixed the Roman year at 365 days and instituted the leap year to keep months aligned with the solstices. He moved the new year from the spring to the day that elected officials traditionally began their year- long terms, Jan. 1.
Whether you’re making a new coffee table or trying a new recipe, the first step is to take the initiative. Starting a new project requires imagination and ingenuity. When I see the blueprint Sam is working toward, it’s remarkable to me how she even gets started. Having that vision — that blueprint — from the start is important. Likewise, some of the most important work we do at our firm happens at the very beginning of our client’s case. We would never get to trial if we did not first believe we could put in the work to take on big insurance companies. You also have to be willing to learn. The discipline required to learn a new skill is useful, both professionally and recreationally. None of Sam’s projects are ever the same. In the construction of each, she learns something new. The same can be said for each client we represent. Every case is different, and we are constantly learning better ways to advocate for our clients. As lawyers, we strive to serve and protect our clients to get them the results they deserve. That is our finished product. As Sam knows, sometimes it can be energizing to create something tangible — like a sconce or a flowerbox. Regardless, we should always work to broaden our horizons. So, in the spirit of the new year, keep your eyes open for something new, and sign up. This choice carried spiritual significance, since January was named for Janus, god of doors and gates. What better month to celebrate new beginnings? Under Caesar and subsequent rulers, the Roman Empire expanded its reach, carrying its calendar with it. While much of Europe adopted Caesar’s calendar, New Year’s Day remained a hot-button issue for centuries. Thanks in part to the spread of Christianity and to the colder conditions in Northern Europe, there was a lot of resistance to the January start date. Religious leaders saw it as a pagan holiday, and much of Europe chose to restart the calendar on March 25, during the Feast of Annunciation. Much of Catholic Europe officially recognized January 1 as the start of the new year after Pope Gregory reformed the solar calendar again, correcting certain mathematical errors made in Caesar’s day. There were still holdouts, however. In fact, England and its American colonies continued to celebrate New Year’s Day in March until 1752. So there you have it — we were very close to having our fireworks celebrations in lovely spring weather. Ultimately, the ubiquity of the Gregorian calendar won out, as the demands of our increasingly interconnected world made a shared calendar a necessity. So if you struggle to start your New Year’s resolutions this winter, blame Julius Caesar.
MY WIFE, THE WOODWORKER
My wife, Sam, recently signed up for a woodworking class taught on the northwest side of Chicago. After just two classes, she came home with a beautifully stained, masterfully crafted, multiwood cutting board. This wasn’t the first time she took on a project like this. A couple of years ago, she constructed a three-tiered wooden bar cart for storing our glassware. Last year, she built a new headboard for our bedroom. When we first moved into our current home, she refurbished an old coffee table. We routinely pass on buying furniture and fixtures — Sam says, “I can just make that myself.” I am inspired by the way she takes on these projects.
–Jon Svitak
2 www.shannonlawgroup.com
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