The ancient story behind New Year’s Day celebrations
From fireworks to countdowns and even quiet family gatherings here on the West Rand, New Year’s Day is a time to let go of the past, look ahead and celebrate new beginnings. But where did this tradition actually begin?
Every January 1, people around the world welcome a brand-new year with fireworks, resolutions and celebrations. But few know where the tradition began …
According to fact-checked online encyclopedia Britannica, the idea of celebrating the new year goes back over 4 000 years to ancient Babylon. Back then, people celebrated the first new moon after the spring equinox with a festival called Akitu, marking renewal, loyalty and new beginnings.
Centuries later, the Romans created their own version. Their calendar once started in March, but in 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar and set January 1 as the beginning of the year. The month was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, who had two faces, one looking to the past and the other to the future.
As calendars changed over time, January 1 remained the start of a new year across the world. What began as a ritual of reflection and renewal became a global moment of celebration and hope.
• Source: Britannica.com
