{"id":524,"date":"2021-12-31T10:49:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T10:49:05","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-01-10T13:04:19","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T13:04:19","slug":"6-new-years-traditions-and-what-they-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/6-new-years-traditions-and-what-they-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"6 New Year\u2019s Traditions and What They Mean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Traditions are a common part of our culture. They provide a sense of belonging and bring meaning to our lives. New Year\u2019s traditions are especially important, as few holidays are as meaningful as the start of a new year.<\/p>\n

Setting off fireworks for the 4th of July isn\u2019t nearly as important as the New Year\u2019s Eve countdown, for example.<\/p>\n

According to psychologists<\/a>, traditions are a fundamental part of being human. These traditional habits formed the basis of civilized societies and helped to create rules for how we live today.<\/p>\n

An event frequently linked to a number of traditions is New Year\u2019s Eve. On this last day of the year, people gather with their loved ones to drink champagne, sing \u201cAuld Lang Syne,\u201d count down the final seconds of the year and kiss at the stroke of midnight<\/a>. While some people perform the same routines for New Year\u2019s every year out of tradition, others believe in New Year\u2019s superstitions that can improve their chances of a better year ahead.<\/p>\n

Below, we\u2019ll be exploring the origins of some of the most popular New Year\u2019s traditions, what they mean, and why they\u2019re so important to us.<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #1: The List of New Year\u2019s Resolutions<\/h2>\n

Resolutions are perhaps the most universal tradition associated with the New Year. The desire to set goals, wipe the slate clean for a fresh start, and look to the future is so inherent; it has inspired studies into concepts such as the \u201cFresh Start Effect\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The idea of New Year\u2019s Resolutions dates back to Ancient Babylonia, where citizens announced spoken promises or resolutions during a 12-day-long end-of-year festival<\/a> (Akitu). These resolutions weren\u2019t just about self-improvement, they involved making an oath to the king, and individuals were expected to take their promises very seriously.<\/p>\n

Today, the end of the year represents an opportunity for self-reflection and goal planning for many cultures. We see the end of a calendar as a chance to either wipe the slate clean and start fresh or make additional progress towards our goals. New Year\u2019s traditions such as the list of New Year\u2019s Resolutions inspire newfound surges of motivation, and excitement about the \u201cpossibilities\u201d of what next year brings.<\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-new-years-tradition\"<\/figure>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #2: The Countdown (and Dropping the Ball)<\/h2>\n

The official \u201ccountdown\u201d to the start of the new year is something we see all over the world. Counting down those final seconds of the year is a New Year\u2019s tradition people love. It\u2019s very exciting and meaningful. At the stroke of midnight, people in Times Square watch a literal giant ball drop to ring in the new year. Around the world, news reporters and entertainment groups often do their own version of the countdown, with a clock in place so watchers can count along.<\/p>\n

The concept of \u201cdropping the ball\u201d comes from the use of \u201ctime balls\u201d by sailors who needed to set their timepieces at sea. Sailors would set these chronometers using a spyglass to scan the harbour and find balls dropped into the water at specific times<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The first New Year\u2019s ball drop in Times Square appeared in 1907, made from iron and wood, and adorned with 100 lightbulbs. Since the first ball drop, there have been a number of replacements. The current ball is 12 feet in diameter, weighing 11,875 pounds<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need an official ball to enjoy the countdown to the New Year, of course. Many people simply enjoy the count from 10 to 0 at home, using the moment to generate even more hype for the new year.<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #3: The Midnight Kiss<\/h2>\n

When the countdown begins on New Year\u2019s Eve for most party-goers, they\u2019re not just preparing for the new year, but simultaneously looking for someone to kiss when the \u201cball drops\u201d. The exact origins of the custom of kissing your loved one on the New Year aren\u2019t clear. However, some cultures believe it has something to do with the transition of time.<\/p>\n

The move from warm to cold seasons, for instance, is considered to be a vulnerable time in some cultures, when dangerous spirits could run around. Kissing offered a blessing or protection, bringing good luck to people as they entered a new \u201ctransitional\u201d period of the year.<\/p>\n

Superstitions and beliefs about the importance of the New Year\u2019s kiss have evolved over the years. Some people say the German immigrants brought the folklore of the kiss to the United States in the 1890s, saying that kissing on New Year\u2019s would prevent a year of loneliness<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today, many of us simply see the act of kissing someone at the stroke of midnight as an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of a new year with love. However, many people feel that this tradition is especially important since people believe how you ring in the new year sets the tone for the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #4: The Polar Bear Plunge<\/h2>\n

Jumping into ice-cold water hasn\u2019t always been a tradition just for New Years\u2019. Scandinavian countries including Denmark and Finland have enjoyed ice swimming for many years, thanks to the benefits of cold water for elevating endorphins.<\/p>\n

The official \u201cpolar bear plunge\u201d for January 1st<\/sup> was introduced by a swim club in 1904. The L Street Brownies (a swim club from South Boston), jumped into the icy water of Dorchester Bay together for New Years\u2019 day, and they\u2019ve been doing so ever since.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s plunges are usually held to raise money for charitable organizations throughout the US and Canada, but they\u2019re also a way to celebrate the new year. Some people believe diving into cold water is a good opportunity to detox from the year before, and \u201crefresh\u201d for the year ahead.<\/p>\n

The Polar Bear Plunge is also common in other parts of the year. 10,000+ people collectively dive into the sea on New Years\u2019 Day in Scheveningen in the Netherlands<\/a>. In the UK, the plunge usually happens on Boxing Day<\/a> (the day after Christmas).<\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-new-years-tradition\"<\/figure>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #5: Popping Champagne<\/h2>\n

Popping Champagne corks at the stroke of midnight is another mainstay of most people\u2019s New Year\u2019s traditions. While many people celebrate with bubbly wines and similar drinks, Champagne is the classic beverage of choice on New Year\u2019s Eve. It\u2019s rare to ever be at a New Year\u2019s Eve party that doesn\u2019t have champagne.<\/p>\n

The use of Champagne for celebrations has roots in the Christian ritual of drinking wine as the \u201cblood of Christ\u201d. Wine from Champagne in France was used in 496 AD in the baptism of Frankish<\/a> warrior Clovis, and since then, wines from the region were regularly used in religious events, coronations, and consecrations.<\/p>\n

Following the French revolution, popping and drinking champagne became one of the secular rituals replacing formerly religious rituals in the region. You could even \u201cchristen a ship\u201d without having to reach out to a priest by using Champagne. Over the decades, the use of Champagne for celebrations and important events has evolved across the world.<\/p>\n

By the 19th<\/sup> century, popping champagne<\/a> had emerged as a global tradition, associated with joyous occasions. In secular societies, we use champagne as a symbolic way to mark the joy of the occasion. Making sure the champagne fizzes over is important too, as the bottle is intended to \u201coverflow\u201d with happiness and opportunity for the new year.<\/p>\n

New Year\u2019s Traditions #6: Fireworks<\/h2>\n

Fireworks are an aspect of many traditions linked to meaningful moments in time. It\u2019s common to have fireworks at a wedding, or on the 4th<\/sup> of July. Regions in England also have special days for setting off fireworks, such as Guy Fawkes night.<\/p>\n

Fireworks are also a common presence on New Year\u2019s eve. According to some tradi<\/a>tions, fireworks were actually created in China as a tool for scaring away evil spirits. In China, legends told of a monster named Nian who would come out to destroy villages and eat people on New Year\u2019s Eve. The villagers learned burning dry bamboo would produce a sound that scared the monster away.<\/p>\n

To continue scaring away evil spirits every New Year\u2019s Eve, the Chinese invented fireworks. Today, these fireworks are beautiful, artistic creations intended to make us feel joy and awe, rather than allowing us to focus on the worries of evil spirits invading our homes.<\/p>\n

In the Western world, fireworks are similar to champagne for their ability to symbolize overflowing or \u201cbursting\u201d joy and excitement. Many parts of the world broadcast fireworks displays for New Years\u2019 Eve.<\/p>\n

Local Traditions from Around the World<\/h2>\n

While the 6 New Year\u2019s traditions above are common all over the globe, there are some traditions that seem to be linked to specific parts of the world. For instance:<\/p>\n