New Year’s History
New Year’s Day is a national holiday celebrated on January 1, the first day of the New Year. People mark this New Year’s holiday by fireworks, displays, and thoughts of the past year. As they look forward to future opportunities.
Many people celebrate New Year’s with their loved ones. This includes rituals designed to bring good luck and success the following year. Many cultures around the world celebrate this lucky day in their own unique way. So, let’s get started to know more about the most popular celebration of the world!
What is the New Year Celebration?
A new year is the time or date when the counting of the new calendar year starts. Many cultures celebrate the event in a certain way, and they often mark January 1 as a national holiday.
The Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today, the New Year takes place on the 1st January. This was also the first day of the year on the first Julian calendar and the Roman calendar (after 153 BC).
Usually the customs and traditions of a good New Year’s Day include celebrating with champagne and a variety of foods. New Year sets the day for a new joy and a clean slide. For many who celebrate the New Year, it is their chance to learn from the past year. And on this day, they tend to make optimistic changes in their lives.
Some Key Facts About New Year Celebration:
Here are some facts about New Year’s Eve to explain some of your existing traditions. And perhaps to inspire you to try some new ones!
- The song usually sung on New Year’s Eve is, “Auld Lang Syne,” meaning “times have passed”.
- People consider black-eyed beans, ham, and cabbage to bring good luck when you eat them on New Year’s Eve. In some countries, they believe that Lobster and chicken bring bad luck.
- The first well-known New Year’s festivities were in Mesopotamia and dates back to 2000 B.C.
- January is named after Janus, a two-faced god, one looking forward and the other looking back. He is the God of beginnings and changes.
- To ensure a year of good luck, firecracker and sound creators became a tradition to scare away evil spirits.
- A new year is a time when most people decide to stop bad habits or to start a good start.
In many places, people stay up late to see the old year come out with the new year. Almost everywhere in the world, church bells, trumpet blasts, whistles, sirens shriek. The New Year we are most familiar with following the Gregorian calendar. There are ceremonies dating back to Mesopotamia on the March 20, which were based on the vernal equinox. All over the world, cultures embrace the changing of the calendar with their different New Year’s customs.
What is the History of New Year Celebrations?
New Year’s Eve is one of the oldest holidays still celebrated, but the exact date and nature of the festivals has changed. It all began thousands of years ago in ancient Babylon, celebrating the 11th day of the festival on the first day of spring. During this time, many cultures use the solar cycle to determine the “first” day of the year. It was not for Julius Caesar to create the Julian calendar when January 1 became a normal day of celebration.
The content of the festivals also varies. While early festivals were naturally pagan, celebrating the cycles of the Earth. Christian tradition celebrated the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on New Year’s Day. Roman Catholics also regularly celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, and a celebration honoring Mary. However, in the twentieth century, the holiday grew into its celebration and was largely separated from normal religious association.
It has become a holiday associated with nationalism, relationships, and understanding before a religious ceremony. Although many people still follow old traditions.
A History of the Months:
The first Roman year had 10 months named after Martius “March”, April “April”, Maius “May”, Junius “June”, Quintilis “July”, Sextilis “August”, September “September”, October “October”, November “November”, December “December”. The year began with Martius “March”. Numa Pompilius, the second Roman emperor about 700 BC, added two months Januarius “January” and Februarius “February”. He also moved the start of the year from Marius to Januarius and changed the number of days in a few months to a weird, lucky figure. After February, from time to time there was an extra month Intercalaris “Intercalendar” -46 BC, Julius Caesar changed the Roman calendar (hence the Julian calendar) which changed the number of days in many months he removed Intercalaris.
New Year’s Day Resolutions and Traditions:
While celebrations vary around the world, traditional customs include:
- Making decisions or goals to improve a person’s life.
- Common decisions affect diet, exercise, bad habits, and other issues related to personal life. A common idea is to use the first day of the year as a clean slide for having a good start for the following year.
- Friends and Relatives gatherings: Here you will find champagne, a party, a feasting, sound makers, and other ways to use fireworks.
- Popular celebration includes London’s New Year’s Day Parade and Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Superstitions about food or guests bring good luck.
This includes mainly circular foods, which symbolize cycles. Superstitious notions that the first day of the year sets the following days. Common superstitions about New Year’s Day affect the first visitor of the year. The tradition is that if a tall, dark-haired stranger is the first to enter your door, called the First Footer or Lucky bird. You will have good luck all year round. Also, if you want to sign up for superstition, don’t let anything leave the house in the New Year, except for people. Tradition says: don’t take out the trash and leave anything you want out of the house for the New Year except the night before. If you have to remove something, be sure to replace it by bringing the item home. These balance rules also apply to other areas — avoiding debt, breaking anything or shedding tears.
Top 10 New Year’s Eve Celebrations:
New Year Eve is a global celebration and you will find a party that takes place on every continent. With so many fun hotspots, the only thing chosen is where you can celebrate. Here are ten places where you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable NYE experience.
01. Rio de Janeiro:
Warm, tropical weather, panel views and deceptive beats, New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro life acknowledges. The festivities here coincide with the city’s famous Carnival, and the last event is in Copacabana Beach where about two million people come together for music, swimming, football, barbecue and great fire watching. Smaller beaches such as Ipanema and Flamengo, meanwhile, are also worth considering. Restaurants near Copacabana fill up quickly so early reservations are advised if you want to plan ONE dinner. Try the Rio institution Bip Bip with live music and the local favorite Pavão Azul with its octopus rice and batida de coco. It is a cocktail made from coconut cream, condensed milk and cachaça (air from dripping sugar juice).
02. New York City:
Times Square, with its famous Ball Drop, is one of NYE’s most important gatherings, or the lines for this usually start on the afternoon of December 31st. Brooklyn Prospect Park is a great place to see fireworks, or you can soak up the Manhattan sky with a riverboat for fireworks, fun and food. Roof bars in New York are another great place to party. Magic Hour is a very large indoor city / outdoor roof and includes part of the urban entertainment and State view.
03. Tokyo:
Hear another New Year’s Eve in Tokyo and see in 2022 the way to Japan by visiting one of the city’s temples for the ringing of the bell ritual. At midnight the monk rings the temple bell 108 times. In line with the number of earthly desires recognized by the Japanese Buddha, purifying the participants. The ancient temple of Zōjō-ji, dating back to 1393, attracts both locals and hatsumōde visitors, a pilgrimage to visit the first New Year’s site. If you choose for more of a party atmosphere, Yokohoma across Tokyo Bay offers laser and light displays, and walk-in-bay walks. The Roppongi area is another NYE hotspot, with many counting events and all channels.
04. Cape Town:
Cape Town has just entered the summer of New Year’s Eve, making it an ideal time to visit. It’s a beautiful place to look at and all your NYE options here are fun. V&A Waterfront is hosting a big party of the year, a free event with music performance, light shows and great food from over 80 restaurants and food trucks. You can also take a cruise around the harbor to see the last sunset of 2020. And, if you are looking for a magnificent view of fireworks, take a cable car. Set up a picnic at the top of Table Mountain.
05. Sydney:
All eyes are on Sydney for New Year’s Eve. The 2018/19 fireworks in Sydney was watched by one million people at the port and one billion people worldwide. There are some great places in town, and you can check online for any time. It may be full and you can have a drink there. The Sydney Royal Botanic Garden is a great place to celebrate the New Year’s Eve. As with Sydney Harbour National Park, they select groups of three islands or parks from around the harbor. Excellent option for the night at the Sydney Opera House where Puccini’s La Bohème and Opera Australia performance are planned.
06. Bangkok:
Another city famous for its octane night, the Thai capital, did not disappoint on December 31st. Central World Plaza in Bangkok is the major focus of the race, with a beer field and live entertainment. While the open Asiatique night market is one of the most popular venues, with restaurants offering special menus in the evening. There are high ceilings and spectacular restaurants to choose from in Bangkok, and you can reach the stars at the Lebua Hotel in the State tower. It has 4 restaurants that intersect with heights and bars and claims to have the highest outdoor bar in the world. If you are looking for a romantic evening, take a river trip with a twisting barley drawing. And eat a Thai meal with ten lessons.
07. Dubai:
Dubai certainly knows how to throw a New Year’s Eve party. Pictures of the fire on display at Burj Khalifa are so bright that you can see them throughout the Emirates. There are many beautiful places to enjoy, including the breath-taking Kite Beach, where you can bring a picnic. It’s full of galas and gourmet soirees like opulent Atlantis with free champagne, live cooking stations and fireworks display. It looks like it is not a trip to Dubai for a small shopping spree, where the Mall of the Emirates and The Dubai Mall can offer a dream shopping experience.
08. St Petersburg:
We know Moscow for its large New Year’s Eve celebrations. However, if you want to hear a little quiet Russian festivity, St Petersburg is a wonderful winter place. Official fireworks took place in front of Peter and Paul Fortress on the banks of the Neva River. And Palace Square in front of the Heritage Building Center is where the crowds join. Also, to be visited is Strelka with amazing views of the city and Catherine Palace, a summer residence for tsars, 25km outside the city. Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is a Christmas miracle all over the world and in St Petersburg you can see it at the Mariinsky Theater.
09. City of Qubec:
Temperatures average around -9 ° C in Québec City in winter, but warmer because of New Year’s thanks to the popular parties and outdoor fireplaces. An escape from the Quebec caribou, a combination of red wine, heavy alcohol and maple syrup can also help. The main NYE party is in the Grande Allée, with live bands, street dancing, Ferris wheels and fireworks. One of the Québec’s best-known restaurants is the Auberge Saint Antoine Chez Muffy restaurant, which features a regional product.
10. Las Vegas:
The Las Vegas Strip takes place in the middle of a party on New Year’s Eve. It closes traffic from 6pm so that guests can take to the streets of the world’s largest organization. They shoot the furnace from the roof of seven different casinos, illuminating the Nevada sky. Along with the Strip, the Freemont street party is always worth a catch.
Essential Tips to Help You Enjoy the New Year Festivals Around the World:
- Preparation is essential – plan your trip in advance, make all bookings in advance, check local news and any security warnings and allow plenty of time and flexibility.
- Carry copies of your identity – if you travel abroad, make sure you have copies of all-important travel documents. This includes passports, visas and insurance documents etc. Make sure you have at least three copies.
- Road safety – Road safety is one of the biggest risks for travelers. Increased traffic and crowds during the Spring Festival could make this more dangerous than usual. For safe road travel, review traffic, road and weather conditions and make sure you follow road safety measures every time you walk.
- Stay Healthy – China’s New Year falls amid the flu season. To reduce the risk of infection, make sure you get your annual flu vaccine. Wash yourself clean – wash your hands regularly or use a hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face.
Safety Concerns During the New Year Festivals Around the World:
- Stay alert to crowds – where possible, avoid crowded places, such as train stations, docks and airports. If you find yourself in a crowd, stay alert with a planned exit.
- Stealing and petty crime can be common among the crowd, so be careful and make sure your belongings and valuables are in a safe place.
- Limit time outside in the time of high air pollution. Keep doors and windows closed, open air conditioner and adjust reuse mode. If you need to go outside, follow the advice of the authorities and limit your activity.
- Medical services – some medical facilities may be closed; others may have limited hours with staff. If you need medical care, call your medical aid company and they will refer you to the facility.
- Expect traffic disruptions – travelers should know weather forecasts and contact local contacts for details. Keep hiking trails changing because of terrible winter conditions such as heavy snow, freezing rain.
- Use extra caution when driving.
Some people celebrate New Year’s Eve by attending church services at midnight, while others gather at public places such as Times Square in New York City, or Trafalgar Square in London. Many people hold parties to greet each other on the anniversary and to celebrate the New Year. Many New Year’s festivities are highlighted by fireworks.
Most people count down to New Year’s Day in the last minutes or seconds. They do it before the last night of the year ends and the new year begins. Some people get involved in watching television countdowns.
New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest celebrations in the world because it marks the last day of the year on the Gregorian calendar, December 31, before the new year. Count on the New Year no matter where you are in the world.
What Do People Do?
New Year’s Eve is a day of mixed emotions. On the other hand, it is time to celebrate the end of the past year and embrace what has been saved in the New Year. Some people feel a sense of belonging when they reflect on the events that took place in their lives 12 months ago. Many people begin to think about New Year’s resolutions at this time of year.
As the clock begins at midnight on New Year’s Day, many people celebrate the occasion by taking turns kissing, hugging, and wishing each other a “happy new year”. In some parts of the world, including the United States, many people sing the Scottish song “Auld Lang Syne” in celebration of New Year’s Eve.
