‘Auld Lang Syne’ is a traditional song that’s sang widely around the world as part of their new year’s celebrations. For many, celebrating a new year means a new beginning filled with possibilities. It’s a time for making resolutions, spending time with family and even taking things into retrospect.
So now, let’s talk about how different countries are celebrating a new year. We also explore how it all started and its significance within different cultures.
First thing’s first. Let’s start off with the history of new year’s eve and new year’s celebrations and take it from there.
The History of New Year’s
It’s said that for more than four millennia, we’ve been celebrating new year’s around the world. Of course, as you move from country to country and explore different cultures and traditions, the new year’s celebrations vary.
For the most part today, new year’s celebrations start on December 31. We know this as new year’s eve. And it spans into January 1, the start of the new year. This chain of events take place in accordance with the most widely used calendar, the Gregorian calendar.
New year’s celebrations all started back in ancient Babylon. It was in accordance with the first new moon that followed the ‘vernal equinox’. (As a side note, the vernal equinox is known as two separate moments within the year when the sun falls right above the Equator when the day and the night are the same lengths of time. The vernal equinox occurs around March 20 or 21 of each year, it also marks the beginning of what we know as spring.) Beyond this, Babylonians marked the beginning of the new year with a massive religious festival called ‘Akitu’.
As time went by, however, civilization developed more modern and sophisticated calendars which associated the new year to either an astronomical or agricultural event. Take for instance, the Chinese new year which is celebrated at the second new moon that takes place after the ‘winter solstice’.
Modern Day New Year’s Celebrations and Traditions
The month of January, as we know it today, comes from the Roman word ‘Januarius’. It was the Roman emperor Julius Caesar who implemented January 1 as the first day of the year and as paying homage to the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings.
The earlier days of new year’s celebrations saw people offering sacrifices to Janus and exchanging gifts, having parties, and decorating their homes. Fast forward to more recent times, new year celebrations begin from December 31. This day is known widely as new year’s eve.
Within many cultures, tradition has them using fireworks to ring in the new year. In the US, Times Square, New York City, in particular, the Times Square Ball Drop has become a world-famous attraction and way to celebrate new year’s. As the countdown begins to midnight to mark the beginning of a new year, a large ball descends a specially designed flagpole and comes to a stop when the clock strikes 12, symbolizing that official start to a new year.
In countries such as Spain, they eat 12 grapes before midnight as a symbol of hope for goodwill in the months to come. In other parts of the world, watching fireworks and singing songs to welcome the new year is also a popular tradition.
Other New Year’s Traditions and Practices
For the most part, New Year’s day is usually recognized as a public holiday right across the world. With this in mind, there are also many religious and cultural festivities that take place to either welcome the new year or to celebrate it.
The Chinese New Year
Tuesday, February 1, 2022 will be the beginning of the next Chinese new year. This new year is considered the year of the Tiger. The Chinese new year is sometimes called the lunar new year. As you might guess, it goes according to the phases of the moon.
Chinese new year celebrations usually last fifteen days and usually, there’s no work for the first seven days of the celebration. During this time of the Chinese tradition, a thorough cleaning is done in your home to get rid of all bad luck that may be lingering. Additionally, food is prepared and enjoyed by everyone on certain days during the festivities. The highlight of the Chinese new year’s celebrations is the lantern festival which often occurs on the last day of all the festivities.
The Jewish New Year
The Jewish new year is called ‘Rosh Hashanah’. The term Rosh Hashanah translated means ‘head of the new year’. It is a holiday within Judaism and falls within the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah usually falls within the month of September or October on the Gregorian calendar. The Jewish new year celebrates the creation of the world and signals the beginning of ten days of awe.
To celebrate the new year, a popular custom of eating apples and honey is widely practiced. This is usually done after saying a special prayer. It is believed that apples have healing qualities and the honey signifies hope for a ‘sweet’ new year.
The Jewish new year celebrations come to an end with ‘Yom Kippur’, the day of atonement. The practice of the sounding of the shofar, which is a trumpet made from the horn of a ram, plays a significant role in these celebrations.
Closing Out
Celebrating the start of a new year is a significant practice for many. It’s especially of great significance to see that you’ve made it to the end of one year with the opportunity to start a new one. For many, a change in behavior and mindsets in the form of resolutions is common practice right around the world.
What are your plans for new year’s eve celebrations? Do you have any new year’s resolutions? However, you choose to celebrate, make it a good one.
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Happy new year when it comes! From us to you.