The first recorded celebration of New Year’s Eve took place in ancient Babylon around 2,000 B.C.  The ancient Babylonians celebrated the new year with a festival called Akitu, which was held in honor of the God, Marduk.  The New Year’s Eve ball-drop, located in Times Square in New York City, has been taking place since 1907.   Therefore, New Year’s Eve is the eve (night before) the new year begins.  Most persons are not celebrating the old year but are anxiously awaiting and looking forward to leaping into the new year.  In repetition, the first known record of celebrations was in Mesopotamia.  This occurred at the time of the vernal equinox (the sun is exactly above the equator), which occurs toward the end of March, wrote www.wikipedia.com.   “The origin of January as marking the New Year dates back to 46 B.C. when Julius Caesar developed the solar-based Julian calendar.” For educational purposes, New Year’s Eve is from 12 a.m. – 12 p.m. at which time New Year’s Day begins at 12 a.m. until 12 p.m. each year.  For clarification, the date of December 31st has nothing to do with the date and activities of the new year.

For further documentation about New Year’s Day activities, the New Year’s Six, sometimes abbreviated as NY6, are the following NCAA Division, Football Bowl Division (FBS) bowl games; the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl.  These games are played annually on January 1st, New Year’s Day and represent six of the ten oldest bowl games played at the FBS level.

New Year’s Day is observed by users of the Gregorian calendar.   The varied celebrations include making resolutions, church services, parades, parties, sporting events, fireworks, etc.  The most important aspect of the day for my family was the yearly traditional devouring of black-eyed peas and hog’s jowl (not hog’s jaw).

Furthermore, in pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar, the day was dedicated to Janus, God of gateways and beginnings for whom January is also named.  According to the calendar, January 1st is the most celebrated public holiday in the world.

For an historical retraction and knowledgeable inferno, the ancient Egyptians, for example, celebrated the arrival of the new year on the day that the annual inundation of the Nile occurred. This marked the beginning of the agricultural season.  The ancient Greeks and Romans also celebrated the new year with the Greeks marketing the start of the year in the fall and the Roman marking it in March. 

The modern celebration of New Year’s Day, again, which is based on the Gregorian calendar, began in the 16th Century.  The Catholic Church adopted the calendar as the standard of Western Europe.  The celebration of New Year’s Day spread through Europe and, eventually, to the remainder of the world.  It then became a widely recognized holiday.

Many persons celebrate New Year’s Day by missing a day from work or from school and engaging in leisurely activities, such as watching the above sporting events, going on hikes, or indulging in favorite hobbies.  Also on January 1st  is Haitian Independence Day, Ellis Island Day, National Hangover Day, and the World Day of Peace.  Many years ago, it was the day when locals were notified of DeKalb County’s first baby born.  However, this countdown no longer exists.

The celebrations and traditions of the New Year are as follows and can be reciprocated at www.history.com:

·     Good Luck food, such as 12 grapes at midnight.

·     Cakes, such as round cakes, which symbolizes good luck in the coming year.

·     Pork, such as pigs, which symbolize progress in several countries.  This includes “Hogs Jowl.”  It is incorrect to say “Hogs Jaw!”  The latter is not a correct word.  Webster's definition of Hogs Jowl is “a cut of pork derived from the cheek of a pig.”  Daddy made Lucy and me eat it for good luck on January 1.  All we wanted to do was not touch it and run outside!!!  The black-eyed peas (not black eye) were delicious, cooked with a side of pork.

·     Legumes, such as black-eyed peas, symbolize financial prosperity.

·     Noodles, such as long noodles, symbolize a longer and healthier life.

·     Wearing the right color of underwear is a superstition having success and prosperity.

·     Sharing a midnight kiss is the most popular event on New Year’s Eve.

·     Making New Year’s Resolutions is centered on personal developments.

·     Throwing fireworks and noisemakers originated in the seventh century A.D. in China.

·     In keeping doors and windows open, it helps you get rid of negative energy from last year and attract good energy for the upcoming year.

·     When hanging onions on your door, this means growth and rebirth.  The parents of children would put onions on their heads to draw good luck for the year to come.

·     Throwing water out the window symbolizes warding-off evil spirits and renewal.

·     Wearing white clothing (in the winter?) makes one experience good luck and peace for the next year.

·     Singing Aude Lang Syne means, “for the sake of old times.”  In 1788, Robert Burns wrote the poem in the Scottish language.  Yet, it was later inspired by a Scottish folk song.  It is now pronounced “Old Lang Zine!”

·     Dropping the ball on New Year’s Eve began in New York City in 1907 at Times Square.  The first ball was called a time ball, made for keeping the correct time.

·     Having a toast was another fun event.  It also became the most popular.  It originated from Christians’ tradition of drinking wine in the Eucharist (church communion), thus symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Knowing more about the history of New Year’s Eve indeed helps us to understand the occasion more and its literal and compensatory meaning.  Of course, singing, dancing, and “big-time” drinking alcoholic beverages are each an integral part of the New Years’ Eve experience.  

 Today, New Year’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. Each culture has its own unique traditions and customs.  Despite the variety of celebrations, the holiday is generally marked by a sense of hope and renewal, as people look forward to a new year and the wonderful possibilities encrusted within them.

In summation, a New Year’s quote by an unknown poet encompasses the holidays:

“As the new year begins, now is the perfect time to set goals and make positive changes in your life.  Start the year off on the right foot and make this year your best yet!”

And, don’t forget your memories of many past New Year’s celebrations when you were acting sensibly.