It's New Year's Eve

Susie Black shares the history of this celebration

History of New Year’s Eve

The celebration of New Year’s Eve has a history dating back thousands of years. The holiday’s origins can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such as the Babylonians and the Romans, who marked the beginning of the new year with religious festivals and celebrations.

In ancient Rome, New Year celebrations took place on the first full moon in March, coinciding with the festival of Anna Perenna, the goddess of the year. The festival was a time of feasting and drinking, during which people exchanged gifts and made wishes for the new year.

In medieval Europe, the new year was celebrated on March 25th, which was the Feast of the Annunciation. This date marked the start of the new year on the Julian calendar, which was used at the time. The celebration of the new year on this date persisted until the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, which moved the start of the new year to January 1st.

New Year’s Eve, as it is celebrated today, is largely a modern creation, with many of the traditions associated with the holiday having developed in the 20th century. Despite this, New Year celebrations have a rich and varied history that spans many centuries and cultures.

How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

Around the world, New Year’s Eve is observed in a variety of ways, with some people taking part in customs and rituals to mark the end of the old year and the start of the new. Some common ways people celebrate New Year’s Eve include:

Participating in Cultural Traditions

Different cultures have their own customs associated with New Year’s Eve. For example, in many Latin American countries, people celebrate by eating grapes, one for each chime of the clock at midnight. In Japan, people celebrate by visiting temples to pray for good luck in the new year. Many people also participate in the tradition of “hatsumode,” which involves visiting a shrine on the first day of their new year.

The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

One of the most iconic New Year’s Eve traditions is the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, New York City. Every year, a large crystal ball is lowered from the top of a flagpole at the stroke of midnight, signaling the ringing in of the new year. The first ball, which was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds and was adorned with 100 light bulbs. This tradition has been taking place in Times Square since 1907.

What are some fun facts about New Year’s Eve?

• The first recorded celebration of New Year’s Eve took place in ancient Babylon, around 2000 BC. The ancient Babylonians celebrated the new year with a festival called Akitu, which was held in honor of the god Marduk.

• The most popular resolutions for the new year are to lose weight, followed by exercising more and saving money.

CREDIT: THE HISTORY CHANNEL