History

New Year’s Eve is one the most loved holidays in the world. It’s a holiday that’s enjoyed by everyone, from children who are excited to be up late to celebrate it with their friends and family to adults trying to get to bed at midnight after a long day at work or drinking. How did New Year’s Eve become a tradition?

When did New Year’s Eve festivities come about?

According to Earth Sky, the earliest New Year celebrations were recorded in Mesopotamia around 2200 B.C. According to Earth Sky, the celebrations took place during mid-March’s vernal equinox. This was the beginning of the new year according to the calendar. However, an eleven-day festival was held which would be a shame for our current parties. states that the Ancient Mesopotamian people celebrated the religious victory over Tiamat of the sky god Marduk and either crowned or permitted their old kings to continue their reign.

Why is it January when we celebrate the New Year?

The new year was not always celebrated in January. The ancient Roman calendar followed the lunar cycle and the new year began in March. Sosigenes, an Astronomer, convinced Julius Caesar that the solar year was better.

Janus was partly responsible for January’s new year is started. Janus was able to simultaneously look back at the past and foresee the future, which made him an excellent spokesperson for today’s holiday.

Why is it that we throw a ball on New Year’s Eve?

The traditional New York City ball drop is well-known to most people. Even if they haven’t been to Times Square to witness it in person, many have probably seen it on television. Why is New York dropping a huge, lit-up ball on New Year’s Eve?

PBS reports that New Year’s Eve festivities moved to the New York Times in 1904, after having previously taken place at Trinity Church, Manhattan. There, spectators could hear the chiming bells signaling midnight. The fireworks started, but it soon became apparent that this spectacle would not work. Hot ashes fell on the streets, creating problems, and prompting the New York Police Department’s ban on fireworks.

Adolph Ochs, New York Times editor, went to Walter Palmer to design something new to attract people and keep them away from the fiery rains. Inspired by the maritime tradition of dropping a time ball to allow sailors to adjust their chronometers at sea, Palmer came up with the idea of dropping lit-up balls on New Year’s Eve.

Since 1907, Times Square has had a tradition of dropping the ball.

What are your ways to celebrate?

Every country celebrates New Year’s Eve differently. Date states that New Year’s Eve in some countries, such as the Philippines or Latvia, is a public holiday. In some other countries, such as Japan, it may even be a government holiday. However, in many countries, people are not allowed to leave work until the evening. Many retail shops remain open at most for a while.

Eating 12 grapes before midnight, and eating a dish from the legume group to bring luck. Many people sing “Auld Lang Syne at night, while others make resolutions – a tradition that could also be traced back to the Mesopotamians. states that the Mesopotamians made promises to the gods to do better in the next year to win their favor and avoid their wrath.

New Year’s Eve has many traditions. We can follow the ones we like or ignore them.