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| Sunday, 2 January 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Origins of New Year celebrations Yet another new year has dawned and you would hear people going around greeting each other a 'Happy New Year' at least during the first couple of weeks in the month of January. However, for most Sri Lankans, January 1 will not be the day New Year dawns because the Sinhalese and Hindus celebrate the New Year in mid April, according to astrological predictions. But, virtually the entire world celebrates New Year on January 1. Celebrating the dawn of a new year is a religious, social and cultural observance in many countries.
The Babylonian New Year celebrations lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, and the modern New Year's eve festivities pale in comparison. Unlike the Babylonian New Year, January 1 has no astronomical or agricultural significance. Then how did it become the date to celebrate the New Year, you may wonder. The ancient Romans observed the New Year in late March, but their calendar changed following the synchronisation with the sun. In order to set the calendar, in 153 BC, the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year.
But to synchronise the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days! However, in 567 AD the Council of Tours abolished January 1 in favour of the Vernal Equinox. New year celebrations lasted for several days. The first day of the New Year was moved back to January 1 with the advent of the Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. Traditions The most significant tradition of the season is the making of new year resolutions and setting goals for the New Year. It is the hope of success, spiritual as well as financial which marks this holiday.This tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Their most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to honour their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to re-evaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolise the birth of baby Jesus. Traditionally, it was thought that people could play a role in the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For this reason, it has become common for people to celebrate the first few minutes of a new year in the company of family and friends.Parties or gatherings often lasted well into the early hours of the morn. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year's day would bring either good luck or bad luck for the rest of the year. If that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man, it was supposed to bring better luck. 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 symbolises the '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. ***** When New Year is observed in different countries Rosh Hashanah, 'Feast of Trumpets' is the start of the Jewish New Year. It begins on the first day of the month of Tishri, September 6 and lasts for 48 hours. It ushers in ten days of penance. The Chinese New Year begins in late January or February and lasts one month. Parades and fireworks are part of the festivities. Japan's New Year celebrations last from January 1 till January 3. They decorate the entrance to homes with ropes made of straw to keep out evil spirits. They believe good fortune, prosperity and a long life will be their reward if they use firm bitter oranges and lobsters to decorate. In South India, New Year is celebrated on the Winter solstice in late December. Pilgrims and the boiling of new rice are traditions. |
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The celebration of the New Year is an old tradition. It was first
observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. Around 2000 BC, the
Babylon New Year began with the first new moon after the Vernal Equinox
(first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start
a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops
and of blossoming flowers.
But tampering continued until Julias Caesar, in 46 BC, established what
has come to be known today as the Julian calendar. It again established
January 1 as the New Year.
