27 December 2008

NEW YEAR'S DAY


New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is
celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though other dates were also
used in Rome). In all countries using the Gregorian calendar, except for Israel, it is a
public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the
new year starts. January 1 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 14 on the
Gregorian calendar, and it is on that date that followers of some of the
Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the New Year.

Modern practices:January 1 marks the end of a period of remembrance of a particular
passing year, especially on radio, television, and in newspapers, which usually starts
right after Christmas Day. Publications often have year-end articles that review the
changes during the previous year. Common topics include politics, natural disasters,
music and the arts, and the listing of significant individuals who died during the past
year. Often there are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year,
such as the description of new laws that often take effect on January 1.

This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has become an occasion
for celebration the night of December 31, called New Year's Eve. There are often
fireworks at midnight. Depending on the country, individuals may be allowed to burn
fireworks, even if it is forbidden the rest of the year.It is also a memorable occasion
to make New Year's resolutions, which they hope to fulfill in the coming year; the most
popular ones in the western world include to stop tobacco smoking or
drinking alcohol, or to lose weight or get physically fit.


History: Originally observed on March 15 in the old Roman Calendar, New Year's Day
first came to be fixed in January 1, 153 BC. “Happy New Year!" That greeting will
be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way.
But the day celebrated as New Year's Day in modern America was not always January 1.

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in
ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian
New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent)
after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season
of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. The Babylonian new year celebration
lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration.
Modern New Year's Eve festivities are pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the New Year in late March, but their calendar
was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar
soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January
1 to be the beginning of the New Year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar,
in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again
established January 1 as the New Year. But in order to synchronize the calendar
with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.