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This practice dates back to ancient history and has many religious origins as well. The ancient Babylonians made promises about 4000 years ago to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects or pay their debts. In the year 2000 B.C., they celebrated the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23 although they had no written calendar. To them, this was a logical choice since it is the time of year when spring begins and new crops are planted. January 1 has no real significance and is purely an arbitrary date chosen many years later. The Babylonians celebrated for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration.
The Romans continued to observe on March 25, but because of various emperors changing the dates when they chose to do so, the Roman senate declared January 1 the beginning of the New Year in 153 B.C. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus for whom the month of January is named. Janus was the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces—one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus, he could look backward and forward at the same time. The Romans would imagine him looking back at the old year and forward to the new one at midnight on December 31. The Romans would give gifts that night by giving each other sacred trees for good fortune.
In the Medieval era, the knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry. In the middle ages, Christians changed New Year’s to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25—a holiday called the Annunciation. In the 16th century Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration was returned to January 1. Although the date is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year. January 1 is only New Year’s Day in cultures that use a 365 day solar calendar.
Today many religions participate in the making of resolutions. At watch night services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), a person is supposed to reflect upon his wrongdoings over the year and seek and offer forgiveness. People may act in a similar way during the Catholic fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind the holiday is more of sacrificing than of responsibility. In fact, the practice of resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept, regardless of creed, is to offer a time to reflect upon self-improvement each year.
In five days, New Year’s Eve will be spent by many in the USA and across the world amidst a huge party with family and friends wearing top hats, tiara, and other fun party hats, and toasting the new year at midnight with a glass of champagne. At midnight the lighting of fireworks, horn blowing, and singing of the song “Old Lang Zyne” will be sung, and a kiss will be shared with someone special. New Year’s Day will include a huge family feast and a day of recovering from the last night very late festivities.
Randi D. Ward
December 27, 2013
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