As I thought about it (after the idea was put in my head, by a friend), I began seeing "Happy" New Year as lacking. Yes, we all want happiness in our lives....but the original 14th century meaning of the word "happy" meant lucky, favored by fortune, prosperous. From HAP...meaning chance or fortune. In the 1500s, the meaning changed a bit... to great wealth AND silly. (source: Online Etymology Dictionary)
As words were translated from Greek or Latin, a majority of the European words for "happy" were first translated to mean LUCKY (Lucky Charms?).
The Welsh, however, translated it to mean WISE.
During World War ll, "happy" was attached to other words... such as "bomb-happy" which was to mean "dazed or frazzled from stress".
There is a lot more to this...and you can read the ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY for more info (if you are a Geek like me).
So after reading all this, I decided that I wanted a year filled with JOY!
The origins of the word JOY come from "feelings of pleasure and delight", "source of pleasure or happiness", "to rejoice".
So this year...2013...I want to REJOICE!
OK...enough of the etymology lesson...and it's time for a question...
What brings you JOY???
Here is one thing that brings me lots of joy...
My granddaughter and her daddy. |
5 comments:
Amen! Put so well...and much of what was in our Christmas letter--this year it was all about Joy.
Great post. I enjoyed every word and the pictures too. May you and your family have a Joyful New Year!
Thanks for the beautiful new word and the kind thoughts behind them, Jane. I wish you and yours the very best in the coming year.
THIS my friend, is a JOY-filled post! It was so uplifting to read! I love how you broke down the definition. I will be sharing this with my family lol :) love it! And yes! You have a lot to be happy about and celebrate. SWEET photos of your loves. <3
PS I didn't take a chance yet to send you a BIG thank you for the LOVING words you left on my perfectionism post! Your words soothed my spirit, as always. Thank you for caring!
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