Populations around the world have been commemorating the beginning of every new year for over a period of at least four millenia. In the current day, the vast majority of celebrations start on New Year’s Eve, which is the last day of December and the final day on the Gregorian Calendar, and then finish well into the early hours of the first day of January.
Though its traditions and dates have changed quite a bit through the years, New Year's Eve is one of the oldest holidays still being celebrated today, with the earliest records of such activity dating back to approximately 4,000 years ago in ancient Babylon. The Babylonians held a grandiose, 11 day religious festival at the start of spring, or the first new moon after the vernal equinox. They used the new year celebration to honor the victory of their sky deity Marduk over the evil sea goddess, Tiamat; as well as a time to either crown a new king or renew the old king’s divine right to rule.
Throughout the ages, numerous other cultures had similar festivities to mark the onset of a new year, each according to their own calendars. In ancient Egypt, their new year corresponded with the annual flooding of the Nile River, coinciding with the visible rising of the star, Sirius, after an estimated absence of seventy days. During this time, Egyptian people celebrated the extended fertility of their farmlands, with many feasts and religious activities. For China, another early civilization, the celebration is traced back to over 3,500 years ago; during the earlier years, they commemorated the new planting season at the start of springtime, and it was not until several hundred years later that they established the lunar calendar, and began an elaborate celebration of fifteen days.
Now, the traditional Gregorian calendar that those in the United States and many other countries are used to, has not always been around. It is a product of the Roman Empire, with Julius Caesar modifying the early Roman calendar in order to realign it properly with the sun; thus, presenting the Julian calendar, which closely resembled the Gregorian and marked the first day of January as the beginning of the new year. During their celebration, the Romans would give offerings to the god of beginnings, Janus, exchange gifts with one another, and attend parties.
For some time after, the date of New Years was often tampered with and moved around, European Christians attempted pushing the date back to December 25th in accordance with the birth of Jesus Christ, and so on. Finally, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar of today, and reestablished New Years day as being the first of January once more.
Over time, though much of the festivities surrounding the new year still contain elements of old traditions, it has become much more secularized. Modern traditions still include food, especially those that are thought to bring in good luck. In many countries such as Portugal, Cuba, and Austria, pork is traditionally eaten, as pigs are seen as representative of prosperity. In Asia, Chinese people are sure to eat noodles for general longevity, and Koreans consume a special rice cake soup to promote another year of life. Countries like Greece, Sweden, and Norway hide a coin or an almond inside of a food dish, and the unknowing recipient is said to be blessed with good fortune for the upcoming year.
In addition to eating, many people around the globe participate in celebrations by gathering together and watching fireworks shows, drinking, singing, playing games, and all general merrymaking activities. In America, New York City’s Time Square Ball Drop is a spectacular watched by the masses; it is a program filled with performances and entertainment leading up to the fateful moment in which the country counts down until the last few seconds, launching into the new year.
In spite of the differences, at its heart, the ancient holiday of the new year is about revitalization, reflection, and a celebration of life.
As 2019 draws to a close, marking the end of another decade, it is also nice to know about the local events. For a more family friendly outing, consider visiting the exciting Orange Drop in Redlands, and if you are considering a night out on the town, check out the New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration at Arrowhead Country Club just over in San Bernardino.