New Year’s Traditions - A History
There are several traditions that we see each New Year’s Day. There are the making of resolutions and the Rose Bowl to name a couple. Did you know that making New Year’s resolutions is a popular tradition that dates back to the early Babylonians? And the Tournament of Roses Parade got its start 1886.
The Rose Bowl football game was introduced into the New Year’s festivities in 1902 but was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. It did not return as a New Year’s staple until 1916.
Using a baby to signify the start of the new year started back in 600 BC with the Greeks. It was how celebrated the annual rebirth of their god of wine, Dionysus. This, too, was seen as pagan by the church until they realized they could make the baby represent baby Jesus.
The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought by Germans, who had used the effigy since the 14th century, to early America.
FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR
Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. That is why people celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year.
Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. A lot of cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck as it symbolizes “coming full circle.” For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.
Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day.
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