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As the year 2023 is gradually coming to an end, it is getting more difficult to wait for grand New Year celebrations, parties, tempting feasts, and a kiss on the cheeks at midnight. People around the world are gearing up with their New Year resolutions to ease the transition. Amidst all this, have you ever wondered where were the first New Year celebrations seen? Or what about the confetti at the Times Square? Well, this blog has all your answers. Continue reading to find 30 fun facts about New Year.
10 Fun Facts About New Year History
Table of Contents
1. It is believed that the Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in October 1582. It was a revised version of the Julian calendar and took almost 300-350 years for the world to finally accept and implement it.
2. The earliest records of New Year celebrations are believed to be somewhat 4000 years old and happened in ancient Babylon.
3. In many parts of the world, the tradition of Baby New Year is followed religiously. It dates back to around 600 B.C. and started in ancient Greece when an infant was kept in a basket and paraded around to celebrate Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine.
4. Interestingly, Auld Lang Syne is actually a Scottish folk song. It gained popularity in the late 1920s due to a Canadian bandleader known by the name Guy Lombardo.
5. The tradition of kissing someone at midnight came from Ancient Romans and their Saturna festival. It was held in honor of the god of time, Saturn.
6. Interestingly, more than 105 million Americans travel for Christmas.
7. Approximately 1/4th of Americans celebrate New Year in public or attend parties while almost half of the total American population plans to kiss someone at midnight.
8. In the early Roman calendar, there were 10 months or around 304 days only. It marked March 1 as New Year.
9. In Spain, a popular tradition includes eating 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve with each grape at a single stroke of the clock at midnight. These grapes represent the 12 months of the year and are supposed to bring good luck.
10. In Scotland, Hogmanay is the traditional celebration of New Year’s Eve for Scotts. It is time for singing, feasting, and drinking your hearts out.
Also Read: Happy New Year Wishes, Quotes, and Messages for Your Loved Ones
10 Fun Facts About New Year Celebrations
1. Every New Year celebrations leave Times Square with 50 tons of trash and confetti which is a lot to clean up.
2. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are the two days that face the highest vehicle thefts.
3. In 1974, Dick Clark began hosting the popular New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show which eventually began a tradition.
4. The confetti that is dropped on the crowd in Times Square contains New Year wishes written on them.
5. In Demark, people break plates on New Year’s Eve and invite good luck in their homes.
6. The annual tradition of gathering in Times Square for New Year’s began as a party to celebrate the grand opening of the New York Times building in the year 1904.
7. In many parts of Brazil, making seven wishes while jumping seven waves is considered good luck. It is often done during the New Year countdown at a beach party.
8. Interestingly, nearly 80% of the resolutions made at the beginning of the year are forgotten by the month of February.
9. Every year, the production and selling of champagne increases at an unprecedented rate as people around the world use it around New Year’s celebrations.
10. The ball which is dropped on New Year’s Eve was originally dropped at 1 p.m. every day from England’s Royal Observatory in Greenwich.
Also Read: 10 Best New Year Resolutions for Students to Achieve Academic Excellence
10 Quirky Facts About New Year Celebrations Around the World
1. The world’s largest New Year’s Eve party happened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
2. In Italy, eating lentils is considered prosperous as they resemble coins.
3. Every year on New Year, people in Italy wear red underwear to bring good luck and love to their lives.
4. In the Philippines, people wear polka-dotted clothes to bring peace, harmony, and prosperity into their lives.
5. The Quiet Quitters often come on the second Friday of January. It marks the date when many people around the world give up their resolutions.
6. The people of Nepal celebrate New Year by flying kites as this activity wards off evil and negativity.
7. Longplayer, a one thousand year long musical composition has been playing since the midnight of the 31st December 1999.
8. Bolivians wear yellow underwear for financial fortune and good luck.
9. Greeks smash a pomegranate against their front door to bring positive vibes and good luck into their lives.
10. Researchers in Antarctica hold New Year’s celebrations with a music festival.
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FAQs
It is believed that New Year celebrations were first observed somewhere around 4,000 years ago in the city of Babylon, ancient Mesopotamia. The Babylonians waited for the spring equinox and held festivities during the first new moon. This was later known as the festival Akitu.
Our lives are full of everyday ups and downs and uncertainties and thus, it is important to celebrate every little thing of joy. This spirit of never giving up despite all odds gives people a ray of hope to celebrate New Year’s with great enthusiasm. Moreover, it fills them with positivity and gives them a reason to look forward to a great start to the year with some celebrations and new beginnings.
People around the world follow a wide range of customs and traditions according to their religious and cultural beliefs. Some of the most common and interesting holidays around the world include St. Nicholas Day (Europe), Diwali (India), Night of the Radishes (Mexico), Simbang Gabi (Philippines), and so on.
Hope you enjoyed reading about these fun facts about New Year. For more such articles, make sure to check the trending events page of Leverage Edu.