New Year’s fast facts

new years

New Year’s fast facts

History

The earliest known New Year celebrations were in Mesopotamia and date back to 2000 BC.

The early Romans used March 1 as New Year’s Day. Other cultures used the autumn equinox or the winter solstice to mark the new year.

1582 – The Gregorian calendar, which marks January 1 as the new year, is adopted by the Roman Catholic Church.

January is named after Janus, the god with two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

Traditions

New Year’s is the time when many people traditionally make resolutions to break bad habits or start good ones.

Black eyed peas, ham, and cabbage are considered good luck if you eat them on New Year’s Eve or Day because it is believed they will bring you money.

Ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.

Most New Year’s traditions are believed to ensure good luck for the coming year. Auld Lang Syne:

“Auld Lang Syne” is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve. “Auld Lang Syne” was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788. He may have based it on a folk song. The words auld lang syne mean “times gone by”.

Time Square New Year’s Eve Ball was first dropped in 1907 after there was a fireworks ban. The original ball weighed 700 pounds and featured 100 25-watt bulbs. Much different to the ball we know today!

The tradition to kiss at midnight isn’t a recent invention. According to old English and German folklore, the first person you come across in the new year could set the tone for the next 12 months.

To ensure a year of good luck, firecrackers and noisemakers became tradition in order to scare away any remaining evil spirits and to ensure a brand new start.

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