Famous Babies Born on New Year's Day

The tradition of using a baby to symbolize the New Year has been very popular in Western Civilization. It started in Greece about 600 B.C. when depictions of the God Dionysus carrying a baby in a basket were used to symbolize the rebirth of the New Year. The Catholic Church objected to this because it was a pagan belief. A compromise was met when the Catholic Church agreed to this symbol only if it represented the Christ child.

The Germans have used the symbol of the New Year's Baby since the 14th century and they brought it to early America. Today we have the "New Year's Baby" and "Father Time" decorating our New Year's Banners. Since babies are seen as symbolic as rebirths and fresh starts it is a special baby that is actually born in the New Year.

I personally know of 2 babies born on New Year's day but neither of them were the first baby born. A call to the local hospital with a Labor and Delivery Unit told me that the way the rules go is that the first baby born is officially considered the first baby of the New Year. That could be at the stroke of midnight or at 12:00 noon on January 1st, it just depends on when the baby comes. They tend to take their own time.

There are some hospitals give prizes to the first baby of the year. It is common to give a year's supply of diapers to the first baby. Other gifts include baby formula, baby bottles and baby grooming products. Occasionally the hospitals give baby furniture and perhaps even Savings Bonds for future college education.

Famous New Year's Babies
Betsy Ross 1752 -1836
George Washington Carver 1864 - 1943
J. Edgar Hoover 1895 - 1972
J. D. Salinger 1919
Frank Langella 1940
Grand Master Flash 1958

Different countries have different traditions on New Years. In England and Germany they have fancy "popper" or "crackers" as the call them. This is a paper package in different shapes, usually a champagne bottle. When you pull the string on the popper it makes a small popping noise with streamers that fly out. If you don't have any fancy Poppers, in many households the kids are allowed to stay up until midnight and at the stroke of midnight they bang pots and pans.

In Spain on the stroke of midnight they eat 12 champagne grapes to symbolize the next 12 months. If you are a person that is making soul food in your kitchen then you have to make black-eyed peas and collard greens for good luck in the New Year. If you do nothing else you must at least have a glass of champagne and sing Auld Lang Syne which means "Times gone by". Of course you must do this with loved ones and friends to get the full effect.

If you have the first baby of the New Year then you have a great symbol of new beginnings. If you don't have one of your own and you know someone that has a New Year's Baby, try holding the baby for a new beginning and perhaps a little good luck.