New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the night of December 31st. January 1st is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated by fireworks, parades, and looking ahead to the future’s opportunities. People celebrate in the company of loved ones.
History:
In ancient Babylon, it is originated thousands of years ago and celebrated on the first day of spring. People used the sun and moon cycle to decide the first day of the year. After introducing the Julian calendar, January 1st became the typical day to celebrate New Year’s Day.
For many people, New Year is their possibility to learn from the previous year and make positive amendments in their life. It is the beginning of newly found happiness and a clean start.
Traditions:
People celebrate by following traditions:
- Resolutions: People make New Year resolutions to make their life better. Common resolutions include diet, exercise, good habits, and other things for self-care.
- Gathering of loved ones: Celebrations include champagne, feasting, fireworks, and parades.
- Parades: New Year’s Day Parade and the Rose Parade are famous in California.
- Superstitions: Superstitions for specific foods on this day would bring luck.
Celebrations:
Circle-shaped foods are included on this day because they represent the cycle. The first visitor to enter the house on New Year Day is the First Footer or Lucky Bird. Toasting is done to show concern for the past year’s blessings, wishing each other good luck for the future and thanking them for accompanying them on New Year.
In America, celebrations start at midnight with fireworks, toasting, and drinking. The crowd gathers and starts counting to final seconds before entering January 1st. Couples would kiss at midnight. Some foods considered to bring luck if added on New Year:
- Circular shaped-foods
- Black-eyed peas
- Cabbage
- Pork
