Watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have
probably heard of "Watch Night Services," the gathering of the
faithful in churches on New Year's Eve. The service usually begins anywhere
from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year.
Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate. For others, the church is the only New Year's Eve event. Like many others, I always assumed
Watch Night was a fairly standard Christian religious celebration, but my
grandmother said no there was more to the story, enjoy the whole story of watch night as told by my grandmother.
December 31, 1862, also known as "Freedom's Eve." On that night,
Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation,
anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation actually had become
law. Then, at the stroke of midnight, it was January 1, 1863, and all slaves in
the Confederate States were declared legally free. When the news was received,
there were praying and shouting and songs of joy as people fell to their knees
and thanked God. Black folks have gathered in churches annually on New Year's Eve ever since praising God
for bringing us safely through another year. It's been 141 years since that
first freedom's eve and many of us were never taught the African American
history of watch night, but tradition still brings us together at this time
every year to Celebrate "HOW WE GOT OVER".
