New Year Traditions
New Year Traditions
Ever wonder why New Year's is such a magical night? It got me curious about where New Year's traditions originated from. A quick google search led me to history.com and they say "The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—a place no one wanted to be."
"A similar practice occurred in ancient Rome, after the reform-minded emperor Julius Caesar tinkered with the calendar and established January 1 as the beginning of the new year circa 46 B.C. Named for Janus, the two-faced god whose spirit inhabited doorways and arches, January had special significance for the Romans. Believing that Janus symbolically looked backwards into the previous year and ahead into the future, the Romans offered sacrifices to the deity and made promises of good conduct for the coming year.”
Return of sacred foods
For Native Americans this is a celebration of the return of sacred foods. As the sunlight hours lengthens these sacred foods are honored. Tribes share a meal together, sing, dance, and play music.
Latin rituals
For Hispanics grapes are a big tradition all over Latin America. It's traditional to eat 12 grapes that represent 12 wishes for the 12 months of the year.
Looking to improve your love life?
Mexicans believe that wearing red underwear will bring good fortune in love. A passionate year for those who are married and a new love for those who are single. Wearing yellow underwear will bring happiness, good luck with money, and possibly a promotion at work!
Interested in traveling more?
Grab your suitcase and take a walk around the block! If that's not possible, place your suitcase in the middle of the room and walk around it several times. This ritual is said to bring you travel opportunities.
Fireworks!
Watching or lighting fireworks scares away evil spirits.
Family dinner & celebration
The most popular tradition I remember from when I was younger was having a big dinner & party at my family's restaurant to ring in the new year which is very common in Mexico.
“Sweeping out the door”
A personal tradition I have initiated as an adult is the cleaning of my home. After Christmas all the decorations come down, I tidy up and take it a step further and sage my home for the new year. What I just learned is this is an actual tradition in Mexico called the "sweeping out the door". I know this doesn't sound like a fun New Year’s tradition but it is a great way to start anew & bring in good fortune for the new year. In Mexico it is common for people to sweep towards the outside of a home, through a door or a gate, to drive away the negative energy and experiences of the previous year. Some people also throw coins on the ground outside and sweep them into the house to ensure financial success!
What are some of your New Year's Traditions?
📷: Myriam Zilles