Let’s take a look at the incidents accompanying the start of New Year. There are an array of strange rituals and thoughts that herald in a New Year. Here are some of them:
Where did it all originate
About 4000 years ago, Babylonians celebrated the new year with an festival lasting 11 days. This was in March but by 46 B.C., Julius Caesar had moved the first day of the year to 1st January in honor of the Roman god of beginnings, Janus. Celebrating the new year was a pagan practice and for that reason, the early Christian church condemned it. However, in order to more easily convert pagans to Christianity, the Church accepted the celebration on January 1, but made it the Feast of Christ’s Circumcision. This was endorsed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 with the Gregorian calendar
Firework Celebrations and loud noise
As the clock strikes midnight on 31 December, The display of fireworks at the stroke of midnight accompanying by horns blowing is believed to scare the devil and his evil forces away. The Dutch also burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the street and launch fireworks. The fires are meant to purge the old and welcome the new. This is thought to be the best way to start the new year. Apparently Church bells are rung at weddings day for the same reason. Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in an effort to banish 108 types of human weaknesses.
Crying cats
They say that if you hear a cat crying, you should run in the opposite direction because it brings a bad omen.
Dutch Donuts
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.
Spanish Sweet and Sour
A dozen grapes are eaten at midnight with each grape symbolising a different month. If the grapes are sweet, then it means that specific month will also be sweet and pleasant. If a particular grape is sour, know that the month will also be sour.
Italian spring clean
Italian people welcome the New Year by throwing old things out of their windows as this brings luck and makes room for the new to enter their households and lives in the year to come.
The Italian people eat a traditional New Year dish pork sausage served over lentils. Pork sausage is a symbol of abundance because they are rich in fat; while lentils symbolize money (being both green and coin shaped).
German spring clean
German farmers say livestock will be safe from witches if the stables are cleaned between Christmas and the New Year.
Greek money cake
In Greece one of the traditional foods served is St Basil’s cake. A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake and whoever is lucky enough to find the coin in their piece of cake will be lucky during the coming year.