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Holiday:
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year
on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. In
present day, with most countries now using the Gregorian calendar as
their de facto calendar, New Year's Day is probably the most
celebrated public holiday, often observed with fireworks at the
stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone.
Mesopotamia (Iraq) created the concept of new year celebration 2000
BC. The Romans dedicated New Year's Day to Janus, the god of gates,
doors, and beginnings for whom the first month of the year (January)
is also named. After Julius Caesar reformed the calendar in 46 BC
and was subsequently murdered, the Roman Senate voted to deify him
on the 1st January 42 BC in honor of his life and his institution of
the new rationalized calendar. The month originally owes its name to
the deity Janus, who had two faces, one looking forward and the
other looking backward. This suggests that New Year's celebrations
are founded on pagan traditions.
In the United States, it is traditional to spend this occasion
together with loved ones. A toast is made to the new year, with
kisses, fireworks and parties among the customs. It is popular to
make a New Year's resolution, although that is optional. In the
country's most famous New Year celebration in New York City, the
11,875-pound (5,386-kg), 12-foot-diameter (3.7-m) Times Square Ball
located high above One Times Square is lowered starting at 11:59 pm,
with a countdown from sixty seconds until one second, when it
reaches the bottom of its tower. The arrival of the new year is
announced at the stroke of midnight with fireworks, music and a live
celebration that is broadcast worldwide.
