insideKENT Magazine Issue 22 - January 2014 | Page 43

SPECIALFEATURE

CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR

around the world
A time rich with history and traditions, civilisations have been partaking in New Year's
celebrations for over 4,000 years — and the move into 2014 was certainly no
exception. From firework displays and spectacular concerts to drunken renditions
of Auld Lang Syne and grape-related rituals, this ever-popular holiday justly remains
an around-the-world affair. BY GEMMA DUNN

EARLY NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS

AROUND THE WORLD

The earliest recorded festivities in honour of New
Year's celebrations dates back some 4,000 years
to ancient Babylon. For the Babylonians, the first
new moon following the vernal equinox — the
day in late March with an equal amount of sunlight
and darkness — heralded the start of a new
year. They marked the occasion with a huge
religious festival called Akitu, showcasing a
different ritual on each of its 11 days.

Today the merriment isn't too dissimilar, with
common traditions revolving around social
gatherings. However, whilst New Year is
commemorated worldwide, each country has
preserved its own fascinating rituals. Aside from
our own very English festivities, here are a couple
of our favourites.

Thereafter, civilisations around the world
developed increasingly complex calendars,
typically pinning the first day of the year to a
specific event.
NEW YEAR'S DAY
The early Roman calendar consisted of 10 months
and 304 days, with each new year beginning at
the vernal equinox, much like the Babylonians.
It wasn't until the calendar fell out of sync with
the sun in 46 B.C. that emperor Julius Caesar
introduced the Julian calendar, the closest
resemblance to those we use around the world
today.
As part of his reform, Caesar inaugurated 1st
January as the first day of the year in honour of
the month's namesake, Janus, the Roman god
of all beginnings, whose two faces allowed him
to look back into the past and forward into the
future. The Romans celebrated by exchanging
gifts, decorating their homes and attending wild
parties.

Thailand
In Thailand, the three–day water festival
‘Songkran’ marks the Buddhists' celebration of
the New Year. Between 13th–15th April 2014,
the natives give alms to monks and pay a visit
to Buddhist temples in their place. In addition,
they build sand pyramids and take part in an
annual water fight. Armed with water guns,
travellers and natives throw water upon others,
which symbolises cleansing and rejuvenating of
their bodies.
Spain
In Spain and many other Spanish-speaking
countries, tradition has it that the natives consume
12 grapes in time with each midnight bell strike
of the Puerta del Sol clock tower in Madrid on
New Year's Eve. This ritual is said to secure 12
happy months in the coming year.
Greece
In Greek homes, all of the lights are turned off
as the strike of midnight approaches. This practice
symbolises entering the year with a new light,
once turned on again. New Year's Day is also
the Festival of St. Basil. Traditional foods such
as Vassilopitta or St. Basil's cake are served,

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and a silver or gold coin is baked inside. It is said
whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will
be especially lucky during the coming year.
Japan
In December, various ‘Bonenkai’ or 'forget-theyear parties' are held in Japan to bid farewell to
the problems of the past year, and to prepare
for a new beginning. At midnight on New Year's
Eve, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108
times in an effort to expel 108 types of human
weakness. New Year's Day is believed to have
supernatural powers and therefore praying to
the first sunrise of the year is popular practice.
US
The most iconic New Year's tradition in the US
is the dropping of a giant ball in New York City's
Times Square. Millions of people around the
world watch the event at the stroke of midnight;
a ritual that has taken place almost every year
since 1907. Various states celebrate by
conducting their own unique public 'drops' too.
Scotland
Hogmanay – the last day of the year – has
become one of the world's most recognised
New Year's celebrations. As well as renowned
street parties, Scots clean their houses before
the bells strike to symbolise the beginning of a
new slate, a process known as 'redding'. Another
tradition is the Loony Dook, for which Scots take
the plunge into Edinburgh's icy cold River Forth
on New Year’s Day for a refreshing start to the
year.