Information concerning New Years Day

New Year's Day is the oldest and most universal holiday. The Romans were the first to observe January 1st as New Year's Day in 153 B.C. Rather than tie the day to some significant astronomical or agricultural event, the Romans selected it for civil reasons. It was the day after elections in which the newly elected assumed their positions. Years later Julius Caesar actually wanted to change the date, but that year, January 1st was the date of a new moon. The change would have been seen as bad luck.

Up unto 1582, Christian Europe continued to celebrate New Year's Day on March 25. In that year Pope Gregory XIII instituted additional calendar reforms creating the Georgian calendar, still in use today. This new calendar system placed January 1st as New Year's Day. In fact the origin of April Fool's Day can be traced to this change. From primitive man to today, New Years Day has been recognized as a day in which rites were done to abolish the past so there could be a rejuvenation for the new year. Rituals included purgation, purification, exorcisms, extinguishing and rekindling fires, and other similar activities. Today many of the New Year celebrations actually begin with a countdown to the New Year on the evening prior. At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, it is customary to kiss your sweetheart, followed by people cheering and singing "Auld Lang Syne." written by Robert Burns in 1788. For the words visit:

http://www.robertburns.org/works/236.html

The Times Square Celebration in New York City has been going strong since 1904, and for those of you interested, Dick Clark started the "Rockin' New Years Eve" show in 1972. New Year Resolutions are simply another way to wish away the past in exchange for hopes of the future. It is where the phrase "turning over a new leaf" originated.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year!!!!