Jody Victor : Super Bowl Sunday has become more than just a championship play-off event - it's a party, it's watching the best TV ads all year, it's almost a national holiday. For some wives, it seems that the Super Bowl has gone on forever! But, it actually all began on January 15, 1967 in the Los Angeles Coliseum with the Green Bay Packers beating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. 

And where did the name "Super Bowl" come from? Originally. many suggested it be titled, "The Big One" or "The Final Game." but a Texas financier and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, Lamar Hunt, came up with the idea of calling it "The Super Bowl" after watching his daughter play with a Super Ball - a small, high-bouncing ball very popular at that time. Ironic, that a woman was responsible for naming this beloved male annual event!

The games have always been identified with Roman numerals rather than numbers. It wasn't until Super Bowl IV in 1970 that the title, "Super Bowl" actually appeared on tickets.

It took a few years before the pre-game show became a tradition. In 1976, Super Bowl X broadcasted it on television. Super Bowl XII in 1978 was the first indoor game and drew the largest crowd at that time to have ever watched a sporting event which was also broadcast on television. Super Bowl XV in 1981, displayed a huge yellow ribbon (bow) over the main entrance of the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans to commemorate the 52 American hostages who had just been released by Iran after 444 days in captivity.

It was NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle who made sure that the Super Bowl provided entertainment on a big razzle dazzle scale. The first pre-game show released 4,000 pigeons and continuing pre-game shows have featured top entertaiment and Hollywood celebrities, and even jets with tailing plumes of dyed smoke in red, white, and blue. Another tradition of the pre-game show is who will sing the "Star Spangled Banner"? It is usually sung by a well-known American pop singer - sometimes with mixed reviews. But all-in-all it is a fun time shared by friends and family.

Have a great Sunday!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor : The custom of delivering as address on Inauguration Day started with the very first Inauguration - George Washington's - on April 30, 1789. After taking his oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, Washington proceeded to the Senate chamber where he read a speech before members of Congress and other dignitaries. His second Inauguration took place in Philadelphia on March 4, 1793, in the Senate chamber of Congress Hall. There, Washington gave the shortest Inaugural address on record - just 135 words - before repeating the oath of office.

Every President since Washington has delivered an Inaugural address. While many of the early Presidents read their addresses before taking the oath, current custom dictates that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administer the oath first, followed by the President's speech.

William Henry Harrison delivered the longest Inaugural address, at 8,445 words, on March 4, 1841 - a bitterly cold, wet day. He died one month later of pneumonia, believed to have been brought on by prolonged exposure to the elements on his Inauguration Day. John Adams' Inaugural address, which totaled 2,308 words, contained the longest sentence, at 737 words. After Washington's second Inaugural address, the next shortest was Franklin d. Roosevelt's fourth address on January 20, 1945, at just 559 words. Roosevelt had chosen to have a simple Inauguration at the White House in light of the nation's involvement in world War II.

In 1921, Warren G. Harding became the first President to take his oath and deliver his Inaugural address through loud speakers. In 1925, Calvin Coolidge's Inaugural address was the first to be broadcast nationally by radio. And in 1949, Harry S. Truman became the first President to deliver his Inaugural address over television airwaves.

Today, Presidents deliver their Inaugural address on the west front of the Capitol, but this has not always been the case. Until Andrew Jackson's first Inauguration in 1829, most Presidents spike in either the House or Senate chambers. Jackson became the first President to take his oath of office ad deliver his address on the east front portico of the U.S. Capitol in 1829. with few exceptions, the 37 Inaugurations took place there, until 1981, when Ronald Reagan's swearing-in ceremony and Inaugural address occurred on the west front terrace of the Capitol. the west front has been used ever since.

Most Presidents use their Inaugural address to present their vision of America and to set forth their goals for the nation. Some of the most eloquent and powerful speeches are still quoted today. In 1865, in the waning days of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln stated, "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt avowed, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." And in 1961, John F. Kennedy declared, "And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: There is plenty happening this month even though the cold and snow makes us want to hibernate. Here are some dates around the world.

* New Year's Day - January 1

* Handsel Monday in Scotland and northern England - First Monday

* Coptic Christmas - January 7

* Plough Sunday in Scotland and northern England - Sunday after January 6

* Coming-of-Age Day in Japan - Second Monday

* Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States - Third Monday

* Presidential Inauguration in the United States - January 20 at Noon EST

* Australia Day in Australia - January 26

* Republic Day in India - January 26

* Makara Sankranthi (Festival of Harvest) in Inida - January 15

* Auckland Anniversary in Auckland, New Zealand - Monday closest to January 29

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: January is named for Janus (Ianuarius), the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianna) - January is the door to the year. Traditionally, the original Roman claendar consisted of 10 months, totalling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BC, the semi-mythical successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January and February, allowint the calendar to equal a standard lunar year (355 days).

Although March was originally the first month in the old Roman Calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writer differ). In contrast, years in dates were identified by naming two consuls, who entered office on May 1 and March 15 before 153 BC when they began to enter office on January 1.

Various christian feast dates were used for the New Year in Europe during the Middle Ages, including March 25 and December 25. However, medieval claendars were still displayed in the Roman fashion of twelve columns from January to December. Beginning in the 16th century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again - sometimes called Circumcision Style because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the 8th day from December 25.

Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month) and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth (winter/cold month). In Finnish, the month is called tammikuu, meaning month of the oak, the the original meaning was the month of the heart of winter, as tammi initially meant axis or core. In Czech this month is called leden, meaning ice month (deffinitely describes the month in our area!!).

Happy January!

Jody Victor

Jody Victor: New Year's Day is traditionally a family day at our house. We visit, eat and watch football!! Just like us, on January first, most Americans visit friends, relatives and neighbors. There is plenty to eat and drink even when you just drop in to wish your loved ones and friends the best for the year ahead. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses parade preceding the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena California. Following the Rose Parade, the 95th Rose Bowl Game will feature an exciting match-up between BCS ranked No. 8 Penn State and No. 5 USC at 2:00 pm (PST) 5:00 pm our time. That's what we'll be doing is watching the game and eating great leftovers and Christmas cookies.

The parade was started in 1887, when a zoologist who had seen one in France suggested to the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena, California that they sponsor "an artistic celebration of the ripening of the oranges" at the beginning of the year. At first the parade was aline of decorated horse-drawn private carriages. Athletic events were held in the afternoon, and in the evening, a ball where winners of the events of the day and the most beautiful float were announced. In later years colleges began to compete in football games on New Year's Day, and these gradually replaced other athletic competitions. The parade of floats grew longer from year to year, and flower decorations grew more elaborate.

The theme of the Tournament of Roses varies from year to year. On Thursday, January 1, 2009 at 8am (PST), 11am our time, millions of spectators from around the world will celebrate the New Year with the 120th Pose Parade. This year's theme is Hats Off To Entertainment. The Rose Parade will once again feature the beautiful pageantry and tradition of magnificent floral floats, high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands. Today, the parade is usually more than five miles long with thousands of participants in the marching bands and on the floats. City officials ride in the cars pulling the floats and a celebrity is chosen to be the grand marshal, or official master of ceremonies. The queen of the tournament rides on a special float which is slways the most eleborate one of the parade, being made from more than 250,000 flowers. Spectators and participants alike enjoy the pageantry associated with the occasion. Preparation for next year's Tournament fo Roses begins on January 2.

In the warmer regions all around the country there are other games whose names are characteristic of the state. People watch the Orange Bowl game in Florida, the Cotton Bowl in Texas, and the Sugar Bowl in Louisiana.

Happy New Year!

Jody Victor