IT'S NEW YEAR AGAIN!
Come December and people all over the globe
are gearing up to celebrate the arrival of yet another New
Year. Do you know the history of the celebration of the
New Year?
The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays.
It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000
years ago. Around 2000 BC, Babylonians celebrated
the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23, although
they themselves had no written calendar.
Late March actually is a logical choice for the beginning of
a new year. It is the time of year that spring begins and new
crops are planted. January 1, on the other hand, has
no astronomical or agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.
The Babylonian New Year celebration lasts for eleven
days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration,
so modern New Year's Eve festivities are rather pale in comparison.
Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year's
resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians.
Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose
weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular
resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck
they would have throughout the coming year by what they did
or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has
become common for people to celebrate the first few minutes
of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties
often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in
of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on
New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the
rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor
happened to be a tall dark-haired man.
Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many
cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good
luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing
a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating
doughnuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.
And in India the New Year is not celebrated on just the first
of January. There are others days that usher in the Hindu new
year, and it falls on different days in different states. Anyway,
most Indians follow the worldwide tradition of celebrating the
New Year on the first of January, but with an 'Indian touch',
of course! Making New Year resolutions is fun and
most of us tend to break them!
So, it is once again time for rejoicing and partying around,
end of another year and the beginning of the new millennium!
For all you party animals, there is a lot to do and plenty of
places to have fun. Bangalore is all geared up for the
New Year with a bang! And yes, do not forget to make some more
New Year resolutions…..
Have a prosperous and joyful New Year!
| Aditi Kumar |
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