New Year Eve
Celebrations for New Year begin from New Year's Eve on 31st December. This is the last day of the Gregorian calendar and the day before New Year's Day. The idea behind New Year's Eve celebration is to bid adieu to the year gone by and give a warm welcome to the coming year. Popular way of celebrating New Year's Eve is to party until the moment of the transition of the year at midnight.
New Year's Eve is a public non-working holiday in several countries including France, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Greece, the Philippines, and Venezuela.
New Year Eve Traditions
Tradition of celebrating New Year's Eve vary in several parts of the world due to cultural variations. In most countries people cut cake as the clock strikes for midnight on New Year's Eve and open champagne bottles to express their joys. Given here is a brief description of some of the other most popular and interesting traditions of New Year Eve celebrations.
Father Time and Baby New Year
A common image of New Year's Eve celebration is the incarnation of Father Time - the old year represented by an old bearded man wearing a sash across his chest with the previous year printed on it. This Father Time hands over his responsibilities to the Baby New Year - the personification of New Year represented by a baby wearing a sash with the new year printed on it.
Auld Lang Syne
Inspired by an old Scottish tune, the song Auld Lang Syne (meaning 'the good old days') has become the National Anthem of New Year's eve celebration. The song is traditionally sung at the midnight on the New Year's Eve in almost all English speaking countries of the world. The lyrics to the song Auld Lang Syne were written by the poet Robert Burns and published after his death in 1796. Bursting of Firecrackers In most parts of the world, people welcome the New Year by bursting noisy firecrackers. Some even fire celebratory gun-shots. The tradition emerged from an ancient belief that noise and fire helped to dispel evil spirits and bring good-luck.
Greeting Happy New Year
Just as the clock strikes at midnight on New Year's Day people start Greeting Happy New Year to everyone around. At several places there is also a tradition to kiss one's beloved at midnight. It is said that kissing ensures affections and ties will continue all through the year. To dear ones staying in distant cities, greetings are sent over phone or through SMS and New Year greeting cards.
Popular New Year Eve Celebrations Around the World
Many countries take pride in their New Year's Eve celebrations but New Year's Eve of Times Square, Trafalgar Square and Sydney are most popular amongst them all.
New Year's Eve at Times Square in New York City
New Year's Eve celebration of Times Square, New York city is one of the most popular New Year's eve celebrations around the world. The event is noted for the famous ball drop atop One Times Square. Every year, thousands of people from across the world descend upon Times Square to experience this traditional event.
New Year's Eve at Trafalgar Square in London
This is yet another most popular New Year's Eve celebrations. Each year thousands of revelers throng the Square to welcome the New Year to the sound of Big Ben's famous chimes.
New Year's Eve at Sydney, Australia
Sydney is said to be the world's preferred destination for New Year's Eve celebrations. Breathtaking firework display is said to be the major attraction that pull thousands of people to Sydney from all over the world. An estimated 80,000 firecrackers are shot from Sydney Harbour Bridge on the New Year's Eve, offering a truly stunning view. The other major attraction is The Harbour of Lights Parade. It is a delightful sight to watch cruise boats covered in fairy lights cruise the centre of the harbour all night.
New Year Day Celebrations
New Year's Day marks the end of one year and beginning of the other. New Year is celebrated by all countries that measure yearly calendars. Most countries across the globe follow the Gregorian calendar and celebrate their New Year's Day on January 1. In several countries January 1 is a holiday. Grand bashes, balls and parades are organized to welcome the New Year and bid adieu to the old.
History of New Year's Day Celebrations
New Year's Day is said to be the oldest and most universally celebrated holiday. The tradition of celebrating New Year's Day is said to have started by Romans circa 153 BC. Romans celebrated their New Year on March 1 according to old Roman Calendar. Even before the Romans, Mesopotamians are said to have celebrated new years at the time of the vernal equinox in mid-March around 2000 BC. After a series of changes in calendar, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII instituted the Gregorian calendar still in use today, and set January 1 as New Year's Day.
New Year's Day Eve
Celebrations for New Year's Day begin on the eve of the New Year on December 31. Late night parties and bashes are organized to give farewell to the year gone by and welcome the New Year. Just as the clock strikes for midnight, people hug everyone around and wish each other a 'Happy New Year'. Cakes are cut and firecrackers are burst to give a celebratory welcome to the upcoming year.
Exchanging Greetings on New Year's Day
On the New Year's Day people wear bright new clothes and spring clean their houses. At several places people follow the tradition of 'first footing' and do not leave the house before someone comes in first. First footing person should ideally get some gifts and is accorded a warm welcome by the people. Later, people move out to exchange greetings and New Year gifts with their friends and dear ones. Popular New Year gifts include cake, flowers, chocolates, decorative and New Year Greeting cards. The idea behind exchanging gifts and greetings is to give warm wishes for a New Year and strengthen the bond of love shared with dear ones.
New Year's Day Resolutions
There is also a very strong tradition to make New Year Resolutions on January 1. This is done to give away old bad habits and adopt better ones. Some of the most popular New Year resolutions include weight reduction, quitting smoking, giving up junk food and being punctual. Though it has been noticed that many people fail to keep their resolutions a week after New Year's Day, the importance of making a fresh New Year's Day resolution every year is still the same.
New Year's Day Outing
Several countries observe a holiday on New Year's Day. And in some countries, especially those dominated by Christians have their Christmas holiday extended till New Year's Day. Hence, people have all the time and reasons to celebrate the occasion. A popular trend is to go out for vacations in tourist places. Those who are unable to go in far off places go out for picnics, campings, trekking, skiing etc. A huge rush is also observed in malls, theaters and restaurants as many people especially, youngsters celebrate the New Year's by moving out with their dear ones. Some countries organize New Year Day Parades and Sports, many people participate and witness these joyful events. Those who prefer a bit of sobriety organize New Year's Day parties in their homes and spend the first day of the year with their friends and dear ones.
New Year's Day Review
In modern times, media, such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television make a review of the pas year. They give reports recollecting the events of the past and make predictions for the coming year. Various types of astronomical predictions for the coming year are also made which are lapped up by people too eager to peep into the coming year.
