Christmas - A Brief History Of The World’s Favourite Party

“5…4…3…2….1…”

It’s pretty amazing how in five seconds a new year can begin but you still feel the same. Sure your surroundings may drastically change (especially if you’re at Times Square in New York) but you don’t feel different. That’s the magic of New Years Eve.

Probably the biggest worldwide party of the year, New Year’s Eve can soley be defined as a celebration. People celebrate the memories they’ve had in the past year.

They rejoice about the experiences they’re going to create in the new year. They also make resolutions which they may or may not keep. But were the New Year celebrations always a big event?

The celebration of the new year is actually one of the oldest holidays there is. It first began in the years around 2000 BC, where the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular way of celebrating, and it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities were nothing like those days.

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 make the calendar right, the Roman Senate soon declared January 1st as the beginning of a new year. After many centuries came and went, New Years Day was recognized as a religious feast.

But once the 1900’s came about, December 31st, or New Years Eve, as its normally known as, has become an occasion for celebration.

The most popular tradition on the night of New Years Eve is setting off fireworks at midnight. Depending on the country, individuals may be allowed to burn fireworks, even if it is forbidden the rest of the year.

When you look at the world as a whole, you can see that New Years Eve has become a popular tradition. In Brazil, the world’s biggest and most famous fireworks display is held on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. The annual display attracts 1.5-2.5 million people to the beach!