New Year's Day
The world wakes up to a hopeful and brand new year on January 1. New Year's Day signifies the beginning of a new year in the Gregorian calendar, and it's the first bank holiday of the year in the United Kingdom.
New Year's Eve
New Year festivities begin on New Year's Eve, that is, December 31. This day is not a bank holiday in the UK, but celebrations begin in offices decorated for this special day.
Happy New Year
People gather to celebrate all the possibilities, hopes, and dreams that the New Year might bring. On the night that ends the passing year and starts another, rejoicing voices all around the world say, "Happy New Year!"
New Year's Eve Day
This day is all about New Year's celebrations. People decorate their homes and workplaces, dress up in reds, greens and whites for the occasion. Church bells chime at midnight on New Year's Eve as the new year starts, and you hear ships' horns and people banging pots and pans. The clock tower at the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben's chimes complement the British New Year.
The Happiest New Year – The Year that Ends 2020
2020 has been one of the most challenging years that humanity had to go through. That's why everybody is waiting for 2021 to come and bring health, joy, and prosperity to the world.
History of New Years
The Romans used to celebrate the new year in March, based on the lunar cycle. When the Julian calendar was introduced in 45 BC, the first day of the year became January 1. The name January comes from the Roman god Janus, whose two faces allow him to look simultaneously into the past and the future. Romans celebrated this day by offering sacrifices to Janus and exchanging gifts, and attending festivities.
When the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582, January 1st was established and celebrated as New Year's Day in countries that used this calendar. Protestant Britain switched to it much later, in 1752, and started celebrating the New Year on January 1. Read all about the History of New Year in this article.
New Year's Traditions that will Bring You Luck
New Year's Eve Traditions
The earliest New Year's Eve celebratory gathering in London was in 1878 at St Paul's Cathedral to hear the newly installed bells ring to announce the New Year. After World War II, Londoners started to gather at Trafalgar Square to celebrate New Year, and more recently, at the banks of the Thames and around the London Eye.
Right before midnight, people in the UK sing "Auld Lang Syne," an old Scottish celebration song to reminiscence the finishing year and welcome the New Year. People hold hands upon hearing the final verse of the song, and ten seconds to midnight, the countdown begins.
Kissing someone you love at midnight is part of many traditions. So, at midnight, people hug and kiss, wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
In Scotland, the celebration of New Year's Eve is called "Hogmanay," a kind of oatcake traditionally given to children on New Year's Eve.
In Yorkshire, people have a funny tradition to bring good fortune for the year ahead. On New Year's Eve, they say "black rabbits, black rabbits, black rabbits" right before midnight, and their first words of the New Year are "white rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits."
New Year Traditions
Decorating our homes and gardens with lights, partying, watching fireworks and making New Year's resolutions are fairly modern New Year traditions. But in some parts of England, ancient traditions are still followed as well.
According to the old "first footing" tradition rooted in Scotland, the first person to enter your house on New Year's Day brings luck with them for the New Year. Entering the house, the first footers bring something that represents financial prosperity with them (like a lump of coal or a piece of food). Dark-haired men are believed to bring more luck.
In Wales, children call from door-to-door on New Year's Day ("Dydd Calan" in Welsh), bearing good wishes for the year ahead. They sing songs to their neighbours until midday. In return, they receive a Calennig (a New Year's gift, usually money or sweets).
The Celts celebrated their new year with fire because they believed that fire would bring the sun back and smoke could chase away evil spirits. Today, Scotland follows the ancient Celtic traditions with fire festivals and fireball parades.
Another crazy New Year's Day tradition is to dip in the freezing water! In the UK, thousands of people dive into the chilling sea on that day. In Scotland's Loony Dook celebrations, people dress up in costumes and get into the water wearing them.
New Year's Eve Traditions in the USA
The New Year's kiss and New Year's Resolutions, even the Auld Lang Syne are also popular traditions in the USA and UK
However, the famous "ball drop" is unique to the USA. This tradition began in 1907 with a 700-pound ball was slowly lowered down at the Times Square in New York City until it reached the ground at midnight. Today, the tradition continues as millions of people gather to watch it lowered at New Year's Eve. This custom originated from an old maritime tradition: "time balls" were dropped at noon for sailors to adjust their clocks to the local time.
The Story behind the New Year's Day
Why Do We Celebrate New Year's Day?
Like the Roman god Janus, on New Year's Eve, we have a chance to look both into the past and the future.
The changing date in the calendar prompts us to look back and reflect on the previous year, assess our achievements and our place in life and resolve to do better. The New Year's Day symbolizes change, and we celebrate the hopes and prospects that the new year bears.
Origin of New Years
Many cultures celebrated the turn of cycles in nature throughout history, and all had their unique customs and traditions. The New Year celebrations date back to ancient Babylon. 4000 years ago, Babylonians celebrated the new year at the first new moon after the vernal equinox (usually around late March) with Akitu, an 11-day festival.
New Year New Me
Making New Year’s resolutions might be the most universal tradition. Even ancient Babylonians and the Romans made promises to their gods at the start of each year. We all expect positive changes in our lives in the coming year. So we make promises to change ourselves, to accomplish a goal, or improve our lives. Although we fail to achieve most of those resolutions, they motivate us to do better in the next period of our lives.
Happy New Year Fireworks
Firework displays have been a significant part of the New Year festivities since 2000. All around the world, people look up when their clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve to watch the fantastic carnival of colours and light.
The Religious Roots of Saying Happy New Year
On the Gregorian calendar of Christendom, New Year's Day marks the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. The Anglican Church and Lutheran Church still observe this tradition, and the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary on this day.
Is It Happy New Year or Years?
Talking about things related to December 31 or January 1 and the New Year, use "New Year's" (with an apostrophe), as in "New Year's Day," "New Year's resolutions," "New Year's party."
However, as there's only one "new year," always say "Happy New Year!"
The New Year Songs
In almost every English-speaking country in the world, the traditional New Year's song is the eighteenth-century Scottish ballad "Auld Lang Syne" written by Robert Burns. But there are many other classic songs that people listen during the holidays. Here's a list with great New Year songs, including modern ones.
The New Year's Day Basics
What is Open on New Year's Day?
Banks will be closed, but many grocery and convenience stores will be open on New Year's Day 2021 for your basic shopping needs. Many of London's beautiful gardens will also be open, too, and here's a list of the ones you can visit on this day. And here's one for the UK aswell.
First Country to Celebrate New Year
The Pacific island of Tonga is the first to celebrate the New Year, followed by Samoa, and Kiribati Islands and New Zealand.
Having Fun While Staying Safe
What to Do for New Year's Eve
With the COVID-19 still affecting daily life, the best thing to do is to avoid crowds and spend New Year's Eve with our family at home. Although pandemic regulations will not allow public gatherings, you can still join the online New Year's Day Parade, or enjoy the fabulous decorations around your city.
Having a house party with a nice dinner, champagne, home-made snacks, music, and board games is always a good option. This year, there’re also a lot of online events that you can enjoy.
New Year's Eve Events
2020 has been rough, and one of the rare prizes of this year is the variety of online live events for New Year's Eve. There are live concerts and shows to catch all around the world. You can watch the Times Square Ball Drop live or attend an online party. You can also watch theatre performances. This article might give you a glimpse of the options available.
