New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day

January 1 is a day of much significance-the whole world celebrates this day as New Year’s Day. It is the oldest of holidays.

History

The New Year’s Day traces its origin to ancient Babylon. Almost 4000 years back the Babylonians celebrated the New Year at the sight of the New Moon after the first day of spring (Vernal Equinox) to mark the onset of the agricultural season.

After observing the New Year in March for a while, it was the Romans who declared January 1 as the New Year. You must be wondering why Jan 1? Why the winter instead of spring? January is named after Janus-a Roman God with two heads, one looking backwards and the other forwards. So probably the Romans felt that January 1 would be the ideal New Year’s Day symbolizing the old year giving way to the New Year.

The Significance of New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day marks the onset of a new beginning. The old year is represented by a ‘Father time’-old man sporting a long beard. A baby symbolizes the New Year.

Celebrations

The streets and buildings are decorated and lit up beautifully. Revelers gather in the streets braving icy temperatures on New Year’s Eve night to take part in the festivities. You can see people drinking, dancing and having fun. There is a lot of activity and the whole atmosphere is lively and joyous. At the stroke of midnight people cheer loudly and fireworks are shot into the air. Each country has their unique way of ringing in the New Year, but one thing is certain, it is met with great jubilance.

New Year Resolutions

The New Year’s Day is associated with the making of resolutions. You can resolve to quit smoking or lose weight or improve your life in any other manner. How many people maintain their resolutions over the course of the year varies wildly by the resolutions they make.