As 2022 came to an end and the new year approached, festivities and other celebrations took place. These celebrations happen in different countries and places all over the world. For some parts of the world, the earliest New Year’s festivities began around 4000 years ago in ancient Babylon. However, New Year’s did not come to how we all know it today until 46 B.C, when Julius Caesar declared that the new year starts on January 1st. This made New Year’s eve December 31st.
People across the world celebrate in many various ways. The first is eating meals and snacks, which was to bestow good luck in the upcoming year. In some dishes, legumes are incorporated, representing coins. These coins supposedly herald future financial success.
Besides food-related celebrations, there are a few others such as the ball drop, fireworks, and in general, a lot of parties. The ball drop takes place in New York City, where the ball drops when the clock strikes midnight. This is the main way it is celebrated in the U.S..
“I attend a party with family and friends and jump up in excitement as the ball drops”says Nolan Baker ‘26. The fireworks and parties are just a few ways for people to get together and celebrate the occasion. For the most part, all of the celebrations to ring in the new year take place on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Eve, people come together to spread good luck and fortune for the upcoming year.
Chinese New Year, however, is much different. Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, celebrates the New Year for the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is a time to honor ancestors, loved ones, deities, and a time to visit and eat with family members. Each and every Chinese New Year is associated with an animal based on the Chinese zodiac cycle. The year of 2023 is going to be the year of the water rabbit. The sign of the rabbit represents peace, longevity, and prosperity.
The celebrations last a grand total of sixteen days (usually starts in January and ends in February). These festivities consist of putting up decorations, offering sacrifices to ancestors, sharing a reunion dinner with family on New Year’s Eve, giving red envelopes and other gifts, firecrackers and fireworks, and watching traditional lion and dragon dances. They also clean their homes in order to sweep away bad luck for the new year.
The majority of celebrations are based on light. These lights are a way for the Chinese to scare away evil and ultimately welcome the new year. Chinese New Year came into effect around 3,500 years ago, when people in ancient China wanted to worship their Gods. People held ceremonies to honor these Gods at the beginning and end of every year. All of these early celebrations led into the modern ones.
In general, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve are two days that are great because people can visit family and friends, celebrate, and just have a good time. This is also a great time for people to make changes to better themselves. People make their own resolutions and believe that the new year is the best time to start. All in all, New Year’s, whenever or wherever it may take place, is a great time to celebrate life and improve yourself.
