- New Year is the oldest of all holidays, as it was first observed in ancient Babylon as many as 4,000 years ago.
- Celebrating New Year on Jan. 1 is purely arbitrary, as neither it has agricultural significance nor astronomical. Many countries still celebrate it in spring, the season of rebirth of new crops.
- The Roman senate declared Jan. 1 as the New Year in 153 B.C. Though even this date saw major tampering, it was Julius Caesar who again declared Jan. 1 in Julian calendar as the New Year, in 46 B.C.
- New Year is celebrated like a festival throughout the world and everyone around is in festive mood, partying, singing and dancing to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
- In Britain, when the Big Ben clock strikes 12, everyone gathers around to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, a Scottish song. It was written by Robert Burns in the 1700s, literally meaning “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days,” to remember old and new friends.
- It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck for the rest of the year, depending on who he/she was.
- Many cultures believe that anything given or taken on New Year, in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle.”
- Many parts of the U.S. celebrate New Year by consuming black-eyed peas and other legumes, as it has been considered good luck in many cultures.
- The tradition of making New Year resolutions dates back to the early Babylonians.
- Traditionally, it was thought that people could alter the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. It has, therefore, become important to celebrate the first day of the New Year in the company of family and friends.
- The Spanish ritual on New Year’s Eve is to eat 12 grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure 12 happy months in the coming year.
- 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.
Source: festivals.iloveindia.com/new-year/facts.html
