History of New Year

New Year is perhaps the oldest celebrated event in the world. An insight into the most widely celebrated event in the world is provided here. Incidentally, New Year is the oldest holiday being observed from ancient times. Celebrating the New Year on the 1st of January is a contemporary trend. Here is the history of New Year, presented in a brief form.

It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian year began with the first sighting of the crescent moon - the new moon - following the vernal (spring) equinox. In ancient cultures, spring is the herald of new beginnings for it epitomizes the cycle of birth. Farmers sow the seeds, new crops are planted and flowers bloom. January 1, on the other hand, bears no such connotation.

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. Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.

The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California. Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival.

It was Julius Caesar who introduced a new calendar based on the solar cycle. An enormous improvement took place in the ancient Roman calendar. Julius Caesar declared January 1st as the official New Year and insisted that within the Roman Empire it should be followed that way. His calendar is popularly known as the Julian calendar.

During the Dark ages, this practice was abolished in Europe as the Church found this New Year and the celebrations that accompanied, to be non-Christian and mock. However, it was not long before this practice was adopted again. This happened with the adoption of the Gregorian calendar around 1580. New Year was again restored to 1st January and is followed till date.