History of Modern New Year's Celebrations
by Michelle Gonzalez

The tradition of celebrating the beginning of the New Year actually dates back as early as approximately 2000 B.C. - about 4000 years ago. The ancient Babylonians would begin an 11 day celebration with the first day of the New Moon after the Vernal Equinox (beginning of Spring). This was also known as Akitu. The purpose was to celebrate the Spring rains and the renewal of nature as well as of the people in the community. 

Specific traditions were tied to each of the eleven days of their celebration. On the third day, the King's royal powers would be ceremoniously stripped and the Priest would hit the King in the face. The Priest would tell the King to leave and pray for his sins to be forgiven. This was known as the ritual of humiliation. Three days later, the King would return and his powers would be restored. 

Ceremonies were performed to ensure that nature would support the King during the coming year. The next three days would include a plethera of activities, culminating in a grand feast on the 10th day to celebrate the restoration of order to the society. 

The Ancient Romans continued the celebration of the New Year in late March, but the various emperors of the time took it upon themselves to change the calendar until it was far out of sync with the sun. In 153 B.C., in order to set the calendar right, the Roman Senate declared that the new year should begin on January 1st. However, the Roman Emperors still couldn't resist altering the calendar. It wasn't until Julius Caesar established the 'Julian Calendar' in 46 B.C. that the calendar became consistent with January 1 as the beginning of the new year. 

However, in order to establish this calendar as it is today, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days to account for all the previous emperors tampering. 

New Year's Traditions 

One of the more universal symbols of the New Year is a baby. The use of this symbol actually began around 600 BC in Greece. Their tradition was to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket. The baby represented the yearly rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. 

The use of the traditional image of a baby with a New Year's banner to represent the new year in America was started by the German immigrants, who had been using this symbol since the fourteenth century. 

Traditions around the World 

Ancient Egypt In Ancient Egypt, the beginning of the new year was celebrated when the Nile River flooded, in late September. The flooding signified the start of the planting season. During this time, statues of the god Amon and his family were placed on a boat and taken up the Nile. The people would celebrate for a month, and then the statues would be returned to the temple. 

Celtic New Year The Celts, inhabitants of what is now France and parts of Britain before the Roman period, celebrated Samhain. Meaning "Summer's End", Samhain was celebrated at the end of October. The people would gather mistletoe to keep ghosts away. Believing that the end of summer is when the ghosts of the dea returned to haunt the living. 

Jewish New Year The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah, and occurs generally in September or October for two days. During this time, people think of the things they have done wrong in the past, and promise to do better in the future. Special loaves of bread are baked and the people eat fruit to remind them of harvest time. 

Muslim New Year The Muslim calendar is based on the movements of the moon, so the date of New Year is eleven days earlier each year. In 2002, the New Year was celebrated on March 23. A few days prior to the New Year, the people will place grains of wheat or barley into a dish of water to grow. By the New Year, the grains will have produced shoots, reminding people of a new year of life. Many will also plant new trees to signify the a new beginning of life. 

Hindu New Year The majority of Hindus live in India, but they don't all celebrate the New Year on the same day or at the same time. In West Bengal, people like to wear flowers for New Years in a variety o colors. The most popular color of flower is yellow, the color of Spring. 

In Kerala, mothers put food, flowers, and small gifts on a special tray. On New Year's morning, the children are led to the tray with their eyes shut - Surprise! 

In central India, orange flags are flown from buildings. 

In Gujarat, in western India, New Year is celebrated at the end of October, and it is celebrated at the same time as the Indian festival of Diwali. Small oil lights are lit all along the roofs of buildings. 

At New Year, Hindus think particularly of the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi. 

Vietnamese New Year In Vietnam, the New Year is called Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet for short. It begins between January 21 and February 19, the exact date changes each year. The people believe that at the New Year a god who resides in every home, travels to heaven where he will report on how good or bad that family has been in the past year. They also believe that the first person to enter the home at New Year will bring luck, good or bad. 

Japanese New Year The Japanese celebrate New Year on January 1 just as we do here in the U.S. To keep out evil spirits, they hand a straw rope across their houses, representing happiness and good luck. While we here in the U.S. give a customary kiss at New Years, the Japanese ring in the New Year with a hearty laugh, which is supposed to bring them good luck in the new year. 

Chinese New Year Celebrated at the New Moon, the Chinese new year is celebrated on a date between January 17 and February 19. The Chinese New Year is marked by grand street processing lit lights from thousands of lanterns. The Chinese use fireworks to frighten spirits away. 

New Year's in Greece In Greece, New Year's Day is celebrated along with the Festival of Saint Basil, who was famous for his kindness. Greek children will leave their shoes by the fire in hopes that Saint Basil will fill them with gifts. 

Scottish New Year In Scotland, barrels of tar are set on fire and rolled through the streets. The old year is thus burned up, and the new one is allowed to enter. 

As you can see, New Year's is celebrated all around the world. Whether it's celebrated in Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, it's a universal tradition for many cultures around the globe. 

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