The History of New Year's Celebrations

New Years is the oldest recorded holiday dating back about 4,000 years ago around 2000 BC. It was first celebrated by the Babylonians, and was not originally held in January. Time was measured by phases of the moon, and other astrological bodies; so their 'New Years' celebration began upon Vernal Equinox. This is the first day of spring which seems like a logical time for a new year to begin.

Spring was the time when crops could be planted, and the fruitfulness of the season started. This time would've held great significance in their lives. This was originally an eleven day long celebration with different festivities for each day.

The Romans continued to observe New Years at this time, but like with many cultures they had problems with keeping standardized systems. With new rulers would come new rules, and their calender kept changing. It soon fell out of sync with the sun, and in order to set it right again the Roman Senate declared January 1st the start of the new year in 153 BC.

The tampering continued until Julius Ceasar established the Julian calendar in 46 B.C. While he left January 1st as the new year; the previous year had to drag out for 455 days in order to come back into alignment with the sun!

The church originally condemned the festivities as a pagan festival; much like the arguments against common Easter practices like hiding eggs. However, as Christianity became more widespread these holidays became more accepted like they are today; and they developed their own practices.

The New Years resolution was also adapted by the Babylonians in a similar manner to ours they would lay out that which they planned to do for the coming year. No word on whether they had a better accomplishment rate then we do, but I'd immagine not!

Baby new year first came into being 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.Again, the Catholic Church look down on this practice as pagan, but the popularity of the baby symbolizing rebirth forced them to re-evaluate their decision. Christians then used babies to symbolized the birth of Jesus. The baby with a New Years banner as a symbol of the new year was brought to the Americas from Germany who had been using it since the 14th Century.

New Years parties are also a tradition. It was commonly believed that you could affect the luck you would have in the New Year by what you did or ate during your get together. I had a co-worker who went on about how his ex-wife would make everyone eat black-eyed peas for good luck (which he hated), but I'd never heard of such a thing before. People commonly believed that the first visitor on New Years Day would bring good or bad luck for that year; and that that luck increased it that person was a tall, dark haired man. Snopes has a very long explanation of things he should do, and things he should bring, but I've not found any information on the reasons for it being a 'tall', 'dark haired man' other than perhaps those were desirable qualities at the time?

Certain foods are also considered lucky on new years. The before mentioned black-eyed peas have ties to humility; since they were traditionally a food that only the poor would eat. The Egyptians belevied that eating these on New Years would show your humility, and gratitude for what you had been giving. This act was meant to save you from the wrath of the gods in the New Year.

Anything 'circular' in shape was meant to be a symbol of completion. The year coming to an end - And then starting over. The Dutch eat donuts on the New Year to symbolize this manner of thinking. Ham or similar pork items are considered lucky, because they symbolize prosperity. Ham is often eaten with black-eyed peas which seems a balance between modesty, and wealthy. There are countless others including cabbage, and rice as well.

Pork is also considered lucky, because of pigs. Poultry scratches backward, a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward. Which is supposed to insure that you move forward instead of back track or stay in a rut the next year.

Kissing at the stroke of midnight is probably one of the most well known New Years traditions, and it's meant to assure affection, and ties for the next year. it is also common to stock your pantries, and pay off debts so as not to go into the New Year on the wrong foot.

If you've not noticed the pattern most of these superstitions have to do with a chain effect. Where in one thing will effect you for the next 12 months of your life. Wearing new clothes is supposed to get you many more new garments through out the year. Paying back debts on New Years day ensures you'll be paying all year, crying on New Years ensures sadness for the rest of the year, ect.

There's too many of these to even cover in an article, but they're all very interesting reads! Hopefully this gave you a little insight in to the holiday you're soon to be celebrating.