New Year on the Net - Did You Know? (New Year's Eve / New Year's Day)

Did You Know?
Facts & Figures About New Year's Eve / New Year's Day

Did you know that celebrating the New Year is a tradition that dates back to ancient Babylon, nearly 4000 years ago? The Babylonians originally celebrated New Year's during the time of the first New Moon, which is in the spring.

Did you know that the Babylonians' celebrations of New Year's lasted for eleven days? Their parties would undoubtedly have put modern day New Year's Eve parties to shame.

Did you know that the tradition of setting New Year's resolutions also dates back to the ancient Babylonians? Their most common resolution was to return used farm equipment.

Did you know that today, "losing weight" is the most common New Year's resolution? More than sixty percent of adult Americans are overweight and the number of overweight children has more than tripled since 1980.

Did you know that Julius Caesar was the first to set January 1st as the New Year? Caesar did so when he established the Julian calendar.

Did you know that Western nations have only celebrated the New Year for the last four centuries? Before that time, the Church adamantly opposed New Year's festivities, citing their pagan roots.

Did you know that the symbol of Baby New Year's dates back to ancient Greece? The Greeks marked the rebirth of their god of fertility by parading a baby around in a basket. In ancient Egypt, the baby was also a symbol of fertility. When the Church began to allow celebrations of New Year's, the baby was seen as a symbol of the baby Jesus.

Did you know that in Holland, the Dutch traditionally eat donuts on New Year's? This sugary round treat is believed to symbolize the sweetness of life coming full circle. In the U.S., many communities see legumes and black beans as a sign of good luck, making them a traditional New Year's dish.

Did you know that "Auld Lang Syne" was written in the 1700's by Robert Burns? The traditional New Year's song, played on New Year's Eve at the strike of midnight, was published in 1796 after Burns' death. "Auld Lang Syne" is Scottish for "old long ago".

Did you know that the U.S. annually manufactures more than $475 worth of effervescent wines, including sparkling wines and champagne? Champagne sales spike in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, when the bubbly drink is the most popular one at the bar.

Did you know that when Americans ring in the New Year on January 1st, 2009, more than 303 million people are projected to be living in the United States?

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Did You Know? Facts & Figures About New Year's Eve / New Year's Day

Did You Know?
Facts & Figures About New Year's Eve / New Year's Day