New
Year signifies an end of the 365 days of the present year and the
start of a new year, yet again. It is celebrated all over the world with
the same zeal, vigor and enthusiasm. Here are some interesting facts
about New Year :-1. New Year is the oldest of all holidays, as it was first observed in ancient Babylon as many as 4000 years ago.
2. Celebrating New Year on January 1 is purely arbitrary, as neither it has agricultural significance nor astronomical. Many countries still celebrate it in spring, the season of rebirth of new crops.
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| Happy New year Poster !!! |
3. The Roman senate declared January 1 as the New Year in 153 BC. Though even this date saw major tampering, it was Julius Caesar who again declared January 1 in Julian calendar as the New Year, in 46 BC.
4. The first month of the year i.e. January has been named after God Janus (Latin word for door), in the Roman calendar. Janus is the God with two faces, one looking backwards and one forward, at the same time and marks the ‘spirit of the opening’
5. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve, by giving one another branches from sacred trees, for good fortune.
6. January 1 was revived as New Year in 1582, by the Gregorian calendar and so celebrated by most of the countries till date.
7. In Britain, when the Big Ben clocks strikes 12, everyone gathers around to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, a Scottish song. It was written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, literally meaning "the good old days", to remember old and new friends.
8. Many cultures believe that anything given or taken on New Year, in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle".
9. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate New Year by consuming black-eyed peas and other legumes, as it has been considered good luck in many cultures.
10. The tradition of making New Year resolution dates back to the early Babylonians.
11. The Spanish ritual on New Year's eve is to eat twelve grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure twelve happy months in the coming year.
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| Celebrating new year, Times Square !!! |
12. Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year's Eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck.
13. Probably the most famous tradition in the United States is the dropping of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M. Thousands gather to watch the ball make its one-minute descent, arriving exactly at midnight.
14. Small oil lights are lit all along the roofs of buildings in western India as part of their New Year celebration.
15. To burn up the old year and roll in the new one, people in some areas of Scotland barrels of tar are set afire and rolled down the streets.
16. The most common New Year's Resolution is none other than to lose weight.
17. In Denmark, it is a good sign when you find broken dishes in front of your door. Danish people specially keep a few plates that they break on New Year's Eve at their friends' doors.
18. Traditionally, it was thought that people could alter the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. It has, therefore, become important to celebrate first day of the New Year in the company of family and friends.
19. New Year is celebrated like a festival throughout the world and everyone around is in festive mood, partying, singing and dancing to ring out the old year and ring in the new.
20. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck for the rest of the year, depending on who he/she was.
