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On the night of December 31, millions of people around the world celebrate the New Year. The New Year holiday is one of the most common social, cultural and religious holidays in the world. To this day, this holiday is especially dedicated to welcoming a new cycle with family and friends and is celebrated in different ways in each part of the world. Generally, ancient traditions and rituals are followed, which are mixed with new modern practices that are becoming popular. Fireworks, gifts, family lunches and dinners, typical food, and toasts with wine or champagne are the most common.
I will tell you more about this holiday, how it is celebrated in other parts of the world, and its history and origin. It is understood that January 1st is the first day of the New Year. For this reason, January 1st is an appropriate date for the New Year, because it welcomes the New Year and is considered to be the beginning of a new cycle. To this day, the New Year is a date to reflect on the good and bad of the past year, make resolutions and pray for a good year ahead.
Many traditions around the world consist of bringing good luck and prosperity to the New Year. The origin of the celebration of the New Year dates back to ancient times. The first known record of a New Year’s party dates back to around 2000 BC. In Babylon, the New Year began with the new moon after the vernal equinox, that is, in March. For the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians, the year began at the autumnal equinox in September, and for the early Greeks at the winter solstice in December. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII created the Gregorian calendar, and since then the year has started on January 1st. Thus, we can confirm that celebrating the New Year on January 1st is a relatively modern practice. The New Year marks the closing of a cycle and the beginning of a new one and with it the beginning of new opportunities and good wishes for our loved ones.
Although the Gregorian calendar is accepted in most parts of the world and the New Year begins on January 1 as something universal, in cultures and religions based on the lunar calendar, the beginning of the year occurs on different dates, so not everyone celebrates the New Year on the same day. Thus, for Jews, the year begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the month of Tishri, which falls from September to October. For Muslims, the New Year begins in the month of Muharram. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in January and February, for Tibetans in February and in Thailand in March or April.
Author: Revaz Akhvlediani
