So What Is New Year's Day All About....
 New Year's Day, first day of the year, January 1
in the Gregorian calendar. In the Middle Ages most European countries
used the Julian calendar and observed New Year's Day on March
25, called Annunciation Day and celebrated as the occasion on
which it was revealed to Mary that she would give birth to the
Son of God. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in
1582, Roman Catholic countries began to celebrate New Year's Day
on January 1. Scotland accepted the Gregorian calendar in 1600;
Germany, Denmark, and Sweden about 1700; and England in 1752.
Traditionally the day has been observed as a religious
feast, but in modern times the arrival of the New Year has also
become an occasion for celebration and the making of personal
resolutions. The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, or the
Feast of Trumpets, and is prescribed by the Old Testament as a
holy Sabbath. It is celebrated (generally in September) on the
first and second days of Tishri. The Chinese celebrate New Year's
Day sometime between January 10 and February 19 of the Gregorian
calendar. It is their most important holiday.
Traditionally, it was thought that you could affect
your luck throughout the coming year by what you did or ate on
the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common
for people to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year
in the company of family and friends. After ringing in the New
Year parties often last into the middle of the night. 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. It was
particularly lucky if the visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired
man. Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring good
luck.
Other traditions of the season include the making
of New Year's resolutions. This tradition dates back to the early
Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions include anything from
making a promise quit smoking or lose some weight. The early Babylonian's
most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year began in
Greece at around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to
celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a
basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit
of fertility. Although the early Christians denounced the practice
as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced
the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed
its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to
symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. January 1st has only been
celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for about the past
400 years.
All around the world people celebrate the coming
of a New Year and the season with traditions from their country.
Although the celebrations are not always held on the same day,
they often include traditions of religious celebrations, special
prayers and blessings, costume parties and parades. Here is how
the New Year is celebrated in a few countries.
Greece
In Greece, St. Basil fills the children's shoes
with presents at midnight.
Denmark
It is a good sign to find your door heaped with
a pile of broken dishes at New Years. Old dishes are saved year
around to throw them at the homes where their friends live on
New Years Eve. Many broken dishes were a symbol that you have
many friends!
Japanese New Year
People in Japan spend weeks planning for their
New Year celebrations. They buy special food and make decorations
for their front door out of pine branches, bamboo and ropes that
are believed to bring health and long life. Fan ropes are also
hung over the doors and roofs with seaweed or ferns to bring them
happiness and good luck.
Ecuador
In South America "Ano Viejo" is celebrated by creating
a fake person or dummy. The scarecrow looking person will be completely
dressed and stuffed with old newspapers and firecrackers. The
dummy is usually placed outside the home. He represents something
that happened during the last year. At midnight each family lights
the dummy on fire. As the dummy goes up in smoke the firecrackers
also go off to add to the festivities. The old year is forgotten
and the new year begins.
Good Luck Traditions
As you can see many countries have traditions that
they believe will bring good luck for the new year.
In Puerto Rico children enjoy throwing pails of water out the
window at midnight. Some believe that this rids their home of
any evil spirits!
In Spain when the clock strikes midnight the people eat 12 grapes.
One grape for every stroke of the clock to represent each month
in the year. Each grape is said to bring good luck in the new
year. Switzerland believes good luck comes from letting a drop of cream
land on the floor on New Years Day.
In France people eat a stack of pancakes for luck and good health.
Belgium farmers wish their animals a Happy New Year for blessings.
Armenian women cook a special bread for their family. The bread
is kneaded with luck and good wishes pressed into the dough before
it is cooked.
In Northern Portugal children go caroling from home to home and
are given treats and coins. They sing old songs or "Janeiro's"
which is said to bring good luck.
Romanians had a tradition of listening to hear if the farm animals
talked on New Years Day. If the animals talked it was considered
bad luck so they are relived when they do not hear any talking
animals.
Auld Lang Syne
 The song, "Auld Lang Syne," is sung at the stroke
of midnight in nearly every English speaking country around the
world. It was partly written by Robert Burns in the 1700's and
was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. In the 1700's,
early versions of the song were sung and this inspired Burns to
write the well known modern version. Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish
tune which means "old long ago," or more simply, "the good old
days."
The lyrics of the song are.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
DISCOVER MORE...
Read more about New Year's resolutions
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