The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed to have been in Mesopotamia, c. 2000 B.C. and was celebrated in March. The early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the new year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March. The first time the new year was celebrated on January 1st was in Rome in 153 B.C. (In fact, the month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the months of January and February.) The new year was moved from March to January because that was the beginning of the civil year. But this new year date was not always strictly and widely observed, and the new year was still sometimes celebrated on March 1.
In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar introduced a new, solar-based calendar that decreed the new year would occur with January 1. In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year’s day.
The exact date and nature of the festivities has changed over time. During this time, many cultures used the sun and moon cycle to decide the “first” day of the year. It wasn’t until Julius Caesar implemented the Julian calendar that January 1st became the common day for the celebration. The content of the festivities has varied as well. While early celebrations were more paganistic in nature, celebrating Earth’s cycles, Christian tradition celebrates the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on New Year’s Day. Roman Catholics also often celebrate Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a feast honouring Mary. However, in the twentieth century, it grew into its own celebration and mostly separated from the common association with religion. It has become a holiday associated with nationality, relationships, and introspection rather than a religious celebration, although many people do still follow older traditions.
New Year Symbols and Traditions
New Years marks a date of newly found happiness and a clean slate. For many celebrating New Years, it is their opportunity to learn from the prior year and make positive changes in their life.
Hogmanay (Scotland) : One of the traditions is “first-footing.” Shortly after midnight on New Year’s eve, neighbours pay visits to each other and impart New Year’s wishes. Traditionally, First foots used to bring along a gift of coal for the fire, or shortbread. It is considered especially lucky if a tall, dark, and handsome man is the first to enter your house after the new year
Oshogatsu (Japan):The new year is the most important holiday in Japan, and is a symbol of renewal. At midnight on Dec. 31, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in a effort to expel 108 types of human weakness.
Spain:The Spanish ritual on New Year’s eve is to eat twelve grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure twelve happy months in the coming year.
The Netherlands: The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the street and launch fireworks. The fires are meant to purge the old and welcome the new.
Greece: A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake. Whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will be especially lucky during the coming year.
United States: Probably the most famous tradition in the United States is the dropping of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M. The tradition first began in 1907. The original ball was made of iron and wood; the current ball is made of Waterford Crystal, weighs 1,070 pounds, and is six feet in diameter.
France :The French typically celebrate New Year’s with a feast and a champagne toast, marking the first moments of New Year’s Day with kisses under the mistletoe, which most other cultures associate with Christmas celebrations. The French also consider the day’s weather as a forecast for the upcoming year’s harvest, taking into account aspects like wind direction to predict the fruitfulness of crops and fishing.
Phillipines :In the Philippines, celebrations are very loud, believing that the noise will scare away evil beings. There is often a midnight feast featuring twelve different round fruits to symbolize good luck for the twelve months of the year. Other traditional foods include sticky rice and noodles, but not chicken or fish because these animals are food foragers, which can be seen as bad luck for the next year’s food supply.
New Year’s Day Resolutions
While celebration varies all over the world, common traditions include new year resolutions. It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year’s resolutions, and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since. The early Christians believed the first day of the new year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the new year.
Fireworks: Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year’s eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. The Chinese are credited with inventing fireworks and use them to spectacular effect in their New Year’s celebrations
Ways to say “Happy New Year” in diffrent languages:
Language- Happy New Year!
Afrikaans- Voorspoedige nuwe jaar
Arabic –Kul ‘am wa antum bikhair
Basque- Urte Berri on
Bengali- Shuvo noboborsho
Chinese (Cantonese)- Sun nien fai lok
Chinese (Mandarin) –Xin nian yu kuai
Czech- Stastny Novy Rok
Danish –Godt NytÅr
Dutch- Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Esperanto- Bonan Novjaron
Finnish -Onnellista uutta vuotta
French –Bonne année
German- Ein glückliches neues Jahr
Greek- Eutychismenos o kainourgios chronos
Hawaiian- Hauoli Makahiki hou
Hebrew –Shana Tova
Hungarian- Boldog uj evet
Indonesian (Bahasa)- Selamat Tahun Baru
Italian- Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno
Japanese- Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Korean- Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo
Laotian (Hmong)- Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab
Latin- Felix sit annus novus
Nigerian (Hausa) –Barka da sabuwar shekara
Norwegian- Godt Nytt År
Philippines (Tagalog)- Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish –Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Romanian- La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit