Another year is coming to an end, but wow, this year — 2021 — has been especially tough, and most of us are probably looking forward to starting a new year.
In many places around the world, New Year’s celebrations begin on December 31 and continue into the early hours of January 1. And New Year is coming soon, and let’s hope 2022 will bring a ray of sunshine!
Before we ring in the new year, let’s get some facts about New Year’s Day.
The First New Year was in March
New Year’s wasn’t always celebrated on January 1, and the earliest New Year festivities date back about 4,000 years. At that time, the people of ancient Babylon began their new year in what we now call March.
They would have an 11-day festival to celebrate the beginning of spring and that crops were being planted for the coming year.
Who changed it to January 1st?
The calendar that we use, known as the Gregorian calendar, was introduced 400 years ago by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. He declared once and for all that January 1 should be New Year’s Day.
And since that time, much of the western world has celebrated the start of the year just like you do — on the first day of January.
How does everyone celebrate?
In North America, we often ring in the New Year by gathering with family and friends for parties, special meals and spectacular firework displays. But remember, celebrations will look different this year because of the pandemic.
Maybe new traditions will be created!
In Greece, a gold or silver coin is baked into a cake, called a vasilopita. The person who receives the cake with the coin inside is said to have luck the rest of the year. In Spain, they eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve to bring 12 months of happiness. While in Bolivia, families often hang tiny homemade dolls outside their homes for good luck.
Over in Japan, at midnight on New Year’s Eve, bells and gongs sound like banishing evil spirits. To leave the old year behind and welcome in the new one, the Dutch make bonfires in the street using Christmas trees. Portuguese children go from home to home and sing songs for neighbours, and they may receive sweets and coins in return.
What’s with the fireworks?
Fireworks originated centuries ago and are believed to have been invented by the Chinese. They are said to chase away evil spirits and bring good luck, making them a perfect way to begin a new year!
Why do we make resolutions?
Many of us make resolutions for the coming year. We promise ourselves that we’ll do something differently or better after January 1, whether it’s quitting a bad habit or getting better grades in school.
But where did we get this idea of making resolutions for the New Year? It’s believed that the ancient Babylonians were the first ones to make New Year’s resolutions. They made promises to begin the year off right and to earn the approval of their gods.
The song that’s traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve is called Auld Lang Syne. Its title means times gone by.
While the song is an old Scottish tune, a Canadian bandleader named Guy Lombardo is responsible for making it a New Year’s tradition. He performed the song at midnight at a New Year’s Eve party in New York City in 1929. It was eventually broadcast on the radio and TV stations around North America for a holiday.
Even though it’s become the go-to song every New Year’s Eve, very few people actually know its words!
