Barb
December 31st, 2003, 12:13 PM
The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago.
The Ancient Babylonians originated the idea of New Year's resolutions about 4000 years ago. The most popular resolution at the time - to return borrowed farm equipment.
The Romans use to celebrate the New Year in March as a sign of a new harvest. In 153 BC, the Roman Senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.
The Chinese believe evil spirits lurk around on New Years Eve so they set off fireworks to frighten them away.
The early Catholic Church condemned New Years festivities as paganism. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.
The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. The Rose Bowl football game was first played in 1902. It was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year started in Greece around 600 BC. Greeks 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. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.
It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.
In English and German folk belief, special significance was attached to the sex, stature, appearance, complexion and even the occupation of the first person one encountered in the New Year. Over the years, we have taken this one step further and made a tradition of kissing a special person at midnight on New Years.
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.
Eating Black Eyed Peas for the first meal of the New Year is said to bring good luck and prosperity. The meal was once considered a delicacy for the rich in early America, even by our First President.
Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is eaten on New Year's Day. Cabbage leaves are considered a sign of prosperity, representating paper currency.
The song "Auld Lang Syne" was first published in 1796 as a Scotch tune. "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."
:party3: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :party3:
The Ancient Babylonians originated the idea of New Year's resolutions about 4000 years ago. The most popular resolution at the time - to return borrowed farm equipment.
The Romans use to celebrate the New Year in March as a sign of a new harvest. In 153 BC, the Roman Senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.
The Chinese believe evil spirits lurk around on New Years Eve so they set off fireworks to frighten them away.
The early Catholic Church condemned New Years festivities as paganism. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years.
The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. The Rose Bowl football game was first played in 1902. It was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.
The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year started in Greece around 600 BC. Greeks 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. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.
It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man.
In English and German folk belief, special significance was attached to the sex, stature, appearance, complexion and even the occupation of the first person one encountered in the New Year. Over the years, we have taken this one step further and made a tradition of kissing a special person at midnight on New Years.
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.
Eating Black Eyed Peas for the first meal of the New Year is said to bring good luck and prosperity. The meal was once considered a delicacy for the rich in early America, even by our First President.
Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is eaten on New Year's Day. Cabbage leaves are considered a sign of prosperity, representating paper currency.
The song "Auld Lang Syne" was first published in 1796 as a Scotch tune. "Auld Lang Syne" literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days."
:party3: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :party3: