Origins of New Years
December 28, 2022 2023-03-24 13:16Origins of New Years
Beginning of a New Era
On the first day of January, New Year’s Day is celebrated worldwide to start the beginning of a new year. The new year celebrations do not have one specific way of being enjoyed but are celebrated differently worldwide.
New Year’s is a holiday where 12 months have passed and marks the start of a new year. Though, January 1st was not always the original date of the yearly renewal.
Before January, March was the beginning month due to the beginning of the spring equinox. January and February were not on the calendar until about 700 B.C. However, in 153 BC, Rome celebrated the first New Year on January 1st.
Every culture has its contrasting traditions for celebrating this holiday. Such as in the United States where people all throughout the nation watch the Times Square ball drop and observe the new year’s coming. There are many other traditions like making New Year’s resolutions, having a midnight kiss, and drinking champagne.
People make New Year’s resolutions to stay motivated to change themselves for the better before or during the following year. Kisses at midnight between two people fond of each other is a sign of good luck. It dates to ancient Europe, where it was done to ward off evil beings. Not only that but, people also set off fireworks in a celebratory way.
In Spain, people eat twelve green grapes and get together with their families to watch the clock go around to midnight. Each hour they eat one grape. Every hour represents every month. Twelve hours stand for the twelve months in a year. Each grape brings good luck and prosperity for the months of the new year.
For lunch, they eat lentils and chorizo sausage. It is called the soup of coins and is said to bring one wealth in the coming year. They believe one should start the year off on the right foot. People step into things using their right foot. Like after the bell chimes, the first step they walk on is with their right foot.
In France, New Year’s is known as le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre. It is also the name of the feast they eat on New Year’s and Christmas. People party at home or, when they are not having a party at home, they party in the streets with many others. People would even party at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. They exchange cards and eat Galette des Rois, known as king cake, on the epiphany which is the last day of New Year’s for them, January 6th.
Another country that celebrates the new year is China. It is celebrated as a 15-day festival starting on the day the new moon appears, around January 19th and February 20th. China’s New Year is commonly known as the Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year. Families thoroughly clean their houses to sweep away bad luck and make room for any incoming good luck.
People have been celebrating New Year’s for thousands of years. Although it is celebrated differently everywhere, the new year still comes for everyone.
