Welcome 2012 and Happy New Year to all people of goodwill!
January 1st, being the first day of the year to most countries/people of the world, is considered a holiday and/or holy day. New Year is the time to start a new beginning, they say. That's why many people make their resolution on New Year. They promise to themselves to do good and to be better in life than the previous or past year/s. Many families and friends observe this Christian tradition by going to church, attend Mass. It is also the time to visit friends and relatives, and exchange gifts like in England where they practice it instead of during Christmas.
Celebrating New Year's Day is not a modern tradition. Actually, it has long been observed/celebrated during Babylonian era 2000 B.C. In Old Babylon, the celebration of New Year starts on springtime or the first day of summer. New Year's resolution is observed or continues to be done if the New Year's resolution is the return of whatever farming tools or gadgets/equipments borrowed from the neighbors. The Romans also celebrate New Year the same way we do celebrate it. Thus, January 1st is declared New Year in Roman Society.
In the United States, the current celebration of New Year's Day is marked by many popular and famous activities/occasions that have become a tradition each time New Year arrives. One of these annual activities is the celebration of Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California in which they celebrate their produce or harvest of oranges. The celebration starts with parade of colorful floats, artistically and beautifully designed for competition. Most of the materials used in the floats are roses and other flowers. Likewise, award-winning marching bands from different states and countries participate in the parade. The first Tournament of Roses Parade was held in 1886. Since 1902, this tradition included Rose Bowl (the football game championship competition of the chosen winning football teams). Rose Bowl continues to be popular as part of the New Year's day celebration in the United States.
There are also parades and football games like Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas; Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, and that Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, people gather together to watch Mummer's Parade. "Mummer" is a person wearing a mask and fancy costume, and pretend or act like a comic or fool. Every year, thousands of people in strange/weird costume or outfit participate in the said parade.
The ever popular and well-known countdown/slow drop of Waterford Crystal Ball in Time Square in New York is a yearly nationwide televised event and seen worldwide on New Year's Eve. Another annual popular event on New Year's Day celebration is the so-called Peach Drop in Atlanta, Georgia.
The central feature of the traditional New Year celebration is the food. Aside from the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" and the opening or popping up bottles of champagne or sparkling grape juice cocktail to drink, there's that black eye peas (for southwestern part of the U.S., and other foods that are believed to be lucky or give/bring us "luck" on New Year's Day. Other cultures believe that newly-cooked rice, like in northern India, or cabbage gives us good luck or good fortune for the whole year.
Meanwhile, in Sweden, people attend church services the morning of New Year. Then they gather together for a feast on the table where they also drink this hot and spicy alcoholic drink called gogg (gluhg). Likewise, in Netherlands, it has been customary for the people there to eat donuts on New Year's Day.
In Russia, children residing in the city of Moscow visit Kremlin Palace of Congress. There they see a large fig tree called New Year Tree. This tree is decorated with colorful lights. Children also watch fairy-tale play and then they go ask for their gift to Grandfather Frost and his helpers, the snow maidens.
In other parts of the world, there are special food believed to bring good luck on New Year. In Japan, for example, there is this kind of fish called red snapper which has a pink color, considered to be lucky. On the other hand, Japanese houses are decorated with rice cakes and sprayed/incensed with the smell of pine trees. The Japanese have this belief or notion that they welcome New Year not owing anything or no debt to anyone.
In Greece, families share this cake baked from New York called "peta." And, there are loose change or coins inside the cake. According to their belief, whoever has the coins is considered lucky for the whole year.
In other parts of Europe, there's this roasted pig ("lechon," in Filipino) served on New Year's Day. Most importantly, there's an apple or orange place on the mouth of this roasted pig. But in Hungary, there is this kind of leaf or "four-leaf clover" that shows to be lucky.
There are countries that don't celebrate New Year on January 1st. Like ancient Greece, New Year is celebrated on the first day of winter---either December 21 or 22. Others celebrate the New Year in the month of March, or September. In Iran, New Year starts on March 21. They call this "No Ruz" meaning "New Day." Even to this day, New Year begins on a different date or day, like the ones mentioned above, for other people in other parts of the world.
The Jewish people celebrate the New Year, "Rosh Ha-Shanah" on either September or October. The Chinese people celebrate the New Year in January or February. For those of Islam religion, their New Year begins on the first day of their first month, called "Muharram." (Note: Above information culled from "Happy New Year" of CHILDCRAFT's Holidays and Birthdays and from an article in "A to Z Kids News.) -chris a. quilpa, 30 Dec2011
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