19 Fun Facts About New Year

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Fun Facts About New Year

Fun facts about New Year can make learning about the holiday even more exciting! As the year 2024 is gradually coming to an end, it can be difficult to wait for grand celebrations, parties, and tempting feasts. Similarly, people are gearing up with their New Year resolutions to ease the transition. Amidst all this, have you ever wondered where the first New Year celebrations were seen or what about the confetti at Times Square? From unique traditions around the world to the history behind popular customs, here are some fun facts about New Year we bet you didn’t know. 

Fun Facts About New Year History

1. The Gregorian Calendar Was Introduced in 1582
The Gregorian calendar, introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, replaced the Julian calendar and was adopted gradually across the world. It took nearly 350 years for countries worldwide to fully accept and use it, which shows how significant changes in timekeeping can take time to implement.

Source: Medium/ Evolution of the Gregorian Calendar

2. New Year Celebrations Date Back 4,000 Years
The earliest records of New Year celebrations come from ancient Babylon, around 4,000 years ago. They celebrated the arrival of the new year during the first full moon after the spring equinox, marking it as a fresh start with grand festivities.

3. The Roman Calendar Had Only 10 Months
In the early Roman calendar, the year had only 10 months, adding up to around 304 days. The Romans celebrated New Year on March 1st before January and February were added later to align the calendar with the solar year.

Source: India Today/ Old Roman calendar by Romulus, the first king of Rome

4. Baby New Year Tradition Began in Ancient Greece
The tradition of Baby New Year dates back to around 600 B.C. in ancient Greece. It started with the Greeks honoring Dionysus, the god of fertility and wine, by parading a baby in a basket. The baby symbolized a new beginning for the year ahead.

5. Midnight Kissing Tradition Dates Back to Ancient Rome
The tradition of kissing at midnight during New Year’s Eve has its origins in Ancient Rome. The Romans celebrated the festival of Saturnalia, in honor of Saturn, the god of time, and exchanged kisses as a symbol of good luck and good will for the year ahead.

6. Times Square Ball Drop is a Tradition Since 1907
The Times Square ball drop began in 1907 after fireworks were banned in New York City. Over the years, the ball has evolved into a 12-foot, 11,875-pound sphere covered with 2,688 Waterford Crystals, making it a breathtaking symbol of the New Year.

Source: Inside Edition/ Picture of Times Square Ball Drop

7. Kiribati is the First to Ring in the New Year
The island nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific is the first place on Earth to celebrate the New Year each year, as it sits just west of the International Date Line. On the flip side, American Samoa is among the last places to ring in the new year.

8. Eating 12 Grapes Brings Good Luck in Spain
In Spain, it’s a tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, one for each month of the year. This custom is believed to bring good luck and fortune in the year ahead, ensuring a prosperous start.

Source: Food Republic/ Picture of people eating grapes on New Year

9. “Auld Lang Syne” Is a Scottish Tradition
“Auld Lang Syne” is a popular New Year song that originated in Scotland. While it became famous worldwide in the 1920s due to Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo, its roots lie in a traditional Scottish folk song about friendship and remembrance.

10. A Quarter of Americans Celebrate New Year Publicly
Around one-quarter of Americans celebrate the New Year in public or attend large parties. Additionally, almost half of the American population kisses someone at midnight, following the tradition of wishing each other good luck and happiness for the upcoming year.

11. More Than 105 Million Americans Travel for Christmas
In the United States, more than 105 million people travel during the Christmas holiday season. This large number highlights how the festive period encourages travel for family reunions, vacations, and other holiday celebrations.

12. Hogmanay is Scotland’s New Year Tradition
In Scotland, Hogmanay refers to the traditional celebration of New Year’s Eve. It is marked with singing, dancing, feasting, and drinking, as Scots believe the way you celebrate the new year influences how the rest of the year will go.

Source: BBC/ Picture of men dressed as Vikings during Hongmanay celebrations

13. The Champagne Boom
Between 1800 and 1850, champagne production soared from 300,000 to 20 million bottles annually. This dramatic increase was due to its association with ship christenings and, of course, New Year’s celebrations, cementing its place as the drink of choice for toasts.

14. Unique New Year’s Traditions Across the U.S.
Different U.S. cities have unique New Year’s traditions. For example, Miami features a rising Big Orange, while Mobile, Alabama, celebrates with a Moon Pie drop, and in Pennsylvania, a Hershey’s Kiss is raised.

Source: WPLG/ Picture of the Big Orange in Miami during New Year

15. Eating Black-Eyed Peas Brings Good Fortune in the South
In the Southern United States, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is considered a tradition that brings good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year.

16. Certain Foods Are Considered Bad Luck on New Year’s Day
Lobster and chicken are considered bad luck to eat on New Year’s Day. Lobsters move backward, and chickens scratch backward, both believed to symbolize negative or backward movement for the year.

17. Denmark’s Plate-Throwing Tradition Brings Good Luck
In Denmark, people throw unused plates at the front doors of friends and family on New Year’s Eve. The more the plates are broken, the luckier the person is believed to be in the coming year.

Soure: The Greek Herald/ Picture of people smashing plates

18. Chinese New Year Lasts for 15 Days
Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration that follows the lunar calendar. This vibrant festival, filled with parades and family gatherings, is one of the longest and most colorful New Year’s celebrations worldwide.

19. The First Visitor on New Year’s Day Brings Luck in Greece and Scotland
In Greece and Scotland, it is believed that the first person to enter your home on New Year’s Day will determine whether the year brings good or bad luck. The tradition encourages positive energy by entering with the right foot.

FAQs

Who started the New Year first?

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.

What is special about the New Year?

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.

What are some interesting holidays?

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.

What are some fun facts about the New Year?

Some interesting facts about the New Year include that it has been celebrated for over 4,000 years, starting with the ancient Babylonians, the famous ball drop in Times Square began in 1907, and lastly, in Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight for good luck! 

What are some fun facts about New Year’s resolutions?

Some fun facts about the New Year’s resolution include that around 45% of people make New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% actually achieve them. The most common resolutions include exercising more, saving money, and learning new skills. Interestingly, resolutions date back to ancient Babylonians who promised to be better in the new year to their gods.

What is a fun fact about January?

One fun fact about January is that the month is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, symbolizing the start of the year. It’s also the coldest month in the Northern Hemisphere! 

What is special in the New Year?

One special thing about New Year is that it marks the beginning of a fresh chapter, filled with new opportunities, resolutions, and celebrations. It’s special because it encourages people to reflect on the past and make positive changes. From fireworks to traditions around the world, it’s a time of joy and hope for everyone!

What are 5 facts about New Year’s eve?

5 facts about New Year’s eve include that the famous Times Square ball drop in New York City began in 1907, different places have unique traditions, like the orange drop in Miami, the song “Auld Lang Syne” is sung at midnight in many countries to bid farewell to the old year, fireworks are a major part of New Year’s Eve celebrations globally, many people make New Year’s resolutions on December 31st, aiming to improve their habits, fitness, or lifestyle in the upcoming year.

Interesting Reads on New Year

8 Fun and Exciting New Year Activities for StudentsEssay on New Year for School Students: 100, 200 and 300 words
New Year’s Eve: Date, Definition, History, TraditionsLittle-Known Facts About Global Festivals and Traditions
New Year’s Celebrations Around the WorldHappy New Year Wishes, Quotes, and Messages
8 Fun and Exciting New Year Activities for Students16 Interesting Facts About April Fools Day
Top New Year Resolutions for Different Purposes10 Best New Year Resolutions for Students to Achieve 
10 New Year Crafts Ideas for Kids30 Funny New Year Resolutions- What Will Be Yours?

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.

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