Figure 1.--This French card say "Happy New Year" in Dutch. Greeting card like this were made in many languages and often used children in dressy clothes as subjects. |
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New Years is the most widely celebrate holiday on earth. New Years is unique among holiday celebrations. It is the only holiday that is celebrated in a great many countries around the world. There are some fifferences. The Chinese, Islamic, and Jewish new year is different. But most countries celebrate New Years on the same day. Customs and attire vary, but much of the worls celebrate the arrival of the new year. Many celebrate it together others on a different day. Even so, people in all countries around the world celebrate News Year.
Man has probably celebrated the New Year from the dawn of pre-history. The earliest celebrations known of history date to Babelonia in 2500 BC. All civilizations have made astronomical observations and rekated them to the season. Many cultures developed calendars. Calendars from 10 to 16 months were developed. The year might start in either Spring or Fall. It was the Roman who began the New Year in January. Julious Ceasar invited an Egyptian astromer to help recalculate the calendat, introducing what became the Julian calendar. After centurirs, however, the seasons were becoming badly coordinaed. Pope Gregory in the 16th century eliminated 10 days, giving us our modern calendar--the Gregorian calendar.
Unlike many of the holiday discussed here, New Years isnot a major one for children. Many enjoy the fire crackers that used to be associated with New Years. The holiday is, however, prinarily an adult holiday, a chance to party. Some families make it family event more than a party event. But for many, New Years is a time to put the children to bed early and step out to dance and sip champaign.
New Years is celebrated around the world, although the date varies from country to country. Celebrations in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Americas, and Europe share some similarities. There is more variation in Europe. Customs vary substantially. Generally festivities are focused on the night before the New Year and revelers celebrate the turn of the clock to 12:00 midnight. New Years in America is seen as an adult holiday, following Christmas, which has evolved into a family extranvaganza. Children are more involved in other countries. We do not yet have much information on the various national New Years celebrations. The Chinese of course are especially noted for celebrating New Years. We do have a Dutch New Years page. Germans say, "Ich wünsche Dir einen Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!"
This means: I wish you a good slide into the new year!
On December 31 in Germany everybody wishes their neigbors "einen Guten Rutsch". The next day they say "Frohes Neues Jahr" meaning happy new year.
The Chinese of course are especially noted for celebrating New Years. It comes at a different time than the European celebration. Parades and fire crackers are staples of the Chinese New Year celebration. Lion and dragon costumes are particularly popular. Often children dress up in the costumes that relate to the animal that symbolizes the particular year. There are 12 of these animal symbols. Many Chinese celebrate their birtdays on New Years rather than their birthdate. The San Francisco Chinnese New Year parade is especially important in America a heritage of the Chinese who came to America diring the 1848 Gold Rush.
Germans say, "Ich wünsche Dir einen Guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr!" This means: I wish you a good slide into the new year! On December 31 in Germany everybody wishes their neigbors "einen Guten Rutsch". The next day they say "Frohes Neues Jahr" meaning happy new year. A German reader tells us about a modern German New Year tradition. "Here is something important about it. Well, it is not only German, but also well-loved in some other European countries. Interestingly not in the UK. It is a tv sketch about 18 minutes long performed by an English actor and an English actress. For about 40 years now this TV piece has been an absolute popular event every New Year's Eve. Lots of TV channels here broadcast the piece every year over the evening at different times. This piece has a world record as the most repeated tv show ever. And this show is very funny. It is called "Dinner for One". As it is in English you can enjoy it as well. You can even watch it in the internet. I can highly recommend it!!! This online version is cut in two parts: Part one and Part two. As long as I can remember, I have seen it every New Year's Eve. Also children are fond of it..
Religion can also be a factor in New Year celebrations. The Jewish New Year is Rosh Hashanah. This is celebrated in the Fall. Before Rosh Hashanah, Jews attempt to repair relations with friends and neigbors and to forgive those who wronged them. Beginning Rosh Hashanah, Jew then try to make peace with God. Observant Jews (adults and teenagers 13 and okder) attend the syunagogue on Rosh Hashanah. It is the beginning of a 10 day period of reflection. The idea is to consider one's life and how to iimprove themselves. After the period is Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), the most important day in the Jewish calendar. Adults fast on Yom Kippur. Children may be asked to give up snaks. After 25 hours have passed, Jewish families enjoy a big meal.
A Dutch reader tells us about a tradition shared by Belgium and Holland. "The HBC description of German Sternsingen vividly reminds me of what our children do either at New Year’s Eve (Nieuwjaarzingen = New Year Singing) or just before Epiphany (Driekoningenzingen, Driekoningen = Three Kings). When and what they do and sing varies somewhat according to local tradition. Essentially they roam from house to house, sing one or more songs, whish people a happy New Year and are given an orange or some sweets or a little money in return. There are a number of traditional songs that are known all over both countries and others that are limited to a certain region or even village. Also, some of the brighter kids will paraphrase well-knowm texts or adapt them to local circumstances, sometimes even touching on topics that have recently occupied the local community. In some places it involves making a primitive musical instrument called foekepot or rommelpot, called rumbling pot in English I think
The Scottish New Years tradition dates back to about the 8th century. It was brought to Scotland by the Vikings at that time. It is called Hogmanay. Until the Victorian era, Hogmany was considered to be a more important holiday than Christmas, especially in the Highlands. The tradition in Scoland is to thoroughly clean the house and pay your debts on the day before New Years. Then there are bnfires, torch-lit processions, and fireworks. One important tradition in England and America is singing "Auld Lang Syne" (Old Long Ago), a traditional Scottish song. After the stroke of New Years the Scotts begin awaiting the first dark-haired man to knock on their door. This is called "first footing". The origins of the tradition are unclear, but may relate to the fact that the appearance of blonf Vikings could be a very unpleasant experience in the 8th century. Not only id January 1 a holiday in Scotland, but also January 2.
The Thai and Cambodian New Year comes in the Spring.
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New Years cards and decorations commonly pictured the old year as an old man with sythe and the new year as a young boy (never a girl) with the New Year emblazoned on a ribbon he is wearing. I'm not sure of the origins of this imagery. French companies used to make cards for holidays and special occasions. These cards had salutations in many different languages for sale throughout Europe. Often children in dressy clothes were used as subjects on these cards. Photograph cards appeared in number after the turn of the cerntury as photography and printing became less expensive. These cards were particularly popular in the 1910s and inter-war years. The outfits used for the New Years cards were almost always very dressy, sailor suits, tunics, and Fauntleroy suits were common choices.
Many boys' choirs participate in New Year celebrations. As New Years is a secular holiday, often it is the secular, non church choirs that participate in these celebrations. It was of course the year 2000 milennial celebrations that were had especially elaborate festivities.
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