Baby New Year Tradition
The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started around 600 B.C
by the ancient Greeks, who, at the start of a year
would carry a baby around in a basket. The purpose of it was to honor Dionysus,
the God of Fertility and symbolize his annual rebirth.
2) Hogmanay
The New Year in Scotland is called Hogmanay. The people in Scotland follow a
ritual that appears nutty but actually has a great
significance. One can find barrels of tar set afire and gradually rolled down
the streets in the villages of Scotland. This ritual symbolizes
that the old year is burned up and New Year is going to begin.
3) Burning "Mr. Old Year"
In Columbia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll with
things and then they dress it up in old clothes from each family
member. At the stroke of midnight, this 'Mr. Old Year' is set on fire. This is
done with the simple belief that a doll thus stuffed have bad
memories or sadness associated with them, and that the burning of these will
help one to do away with all past grief's and usher in
happiness in life with the coming year.
4) Eating Noodles
Late on the evening of December 3 1, people of Japan would eat a bowl of
buckwheat noodles called "toshikoshisoba" ("year-crossing
noodles") and listen for the sound of the Buddhist temple bells, which were rung
108 times at midnight. The sound of these bells is said to
purify the listeners of the 108 sins or evil passions that plague every human
being.
5) Eating 12 Grapes
In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each time the
clock chimes) on New Year's Eve. This peculiar ritual
originated in the twentieth century when freak weather conditions resulted in an
unseasonable bumper harvest of grapes. Not able to
decide what to do about so many grapes at Christmas time, the King of Spain and
the grape growers came up with the idea of the New
Year ritual.
6) Gifts in Shoes
In Greece children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year's Day (also the
Festival of Saint Basil in Greece) with the hope that Saint
Basil, who was famous for his kindness, will come and fill their shoes with
gifts.
7) Carrying a Suitcase
In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of traveling in
the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at
midnight. Some even carry it around the block to ensure traveling at greater
distances.
8) Burning Crackers
The people in China believe that there are evil spirits that roam the earth. So
on New Year they burn crackers to scare the evil spirits.
The doors and windows of every home in china can be seen sealed with paper. This
is to keep the evil demons out.
9) Times Square Celebrations
The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held on December
31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of
the New Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people each year. The
original New Year's Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and
was 5 feet in diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with 100
25-watt light bulbs.
10) Foods
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. It is still held in some regions that special New Year foods are the
harbingers of luck. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating
donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. The hog, and its meat, is
considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. 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. The ancient Persians gave
New Year's gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.
11) Black-eyed peas
Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas.
These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog
jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck
in many cultures.
12) Rings
Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because
it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's
cycle.
13) Wearing new slippers
In China, many people wear in the new year a new pair of slippers that is bought
before the new year, because it means to step on the
people who gossip about you.
14) Sealed doors & windows
During new year , the doors and windows of every home in china can be seen
sealed with paper. The Chinese think that this will succeed
in keep the evil demons out.
15) Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when Jews recall
the things they have done wrong in the past, and then promise to do better in
the future. Special services are held in the synagogues, children are given new
clothes and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time.
16) Japanese New Year
On New Year's Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new clothes. Homes
are decorated with pine branches and bamboo, both of which are considered to be
the symbols of long life.
17) American resolutions
40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year's resolutions each year.
And these range from debt reduction to giving up
bad habits to what not? But the ones that are the most common deal with weight
loss to exercise to giving up smoking.
We hope you have enjoyed these pretty little New Year trivia's. New year is
simply the perfect time to make resolutions and make for
a fun-filled day. Take in the coming year with open arms. Have a blast!
|
|
