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Feb 16, 2010 · Learn how different cultures and civilizations have marked the start of a new year for thousands of years. Discover the origins of New Year’s Eve, the ball drop, resolutions and more.
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New Year's Day. In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day, is the evening or the entire day of the last day of the year, 31 December. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinking, and watching or lighting fireworks.
Learn about the history, traditions and celebrations of New Year's Eve in the US. Find out which states observe it as a public holiday and how to join the ball drop in Times Square.
- Host a Party. This is probably the most popular tradition for New Year's Eve. Who doesn't like to celebrate with friends and family in the comfort of home?
- Watch Fireworks. Fireworks are a bright and mesmerizing part of New Year's. Getting together with friends to watch them is a fun tradition for all!
- Listen to "Auld Lang Syne" Bid farewell to the passing year by playing this traditional song for everyone to sing along to!
- Make a Toast. What better way is there to start a new year than to toast to all the good times from the previous year? Doing so may even allow some of that prosperity to spill over!
Jun 7, 2024 · The New Year’s Eve Ball descends from a pole above Times Square in New York City at 11:59 PM on New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve Ball was first used to mark the new year in Times Square in 1907, though the practice of “dropping” balls to signal the passage of time is an older one.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- New Year festivals include all of the many observances worldwide that celebrate the beginning of a new year. They do not take place simultaneously,...
- The Roman republican calendar and the Julian calendar both recognized January 1 as the beginning of the New Year. The date was chosen partly in hon...
- According to the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve is celebrated on December 31. January 1 marks the beginning of the next calendar year.
- New Year’s Eve is celebrated by gathering with friends and family. Popular rituals include serving food that symbolizes good fortune and making res...
Dec 11, 2023 · Learn how other countries celebrate the new year with different customs and rituals, from eating grapes and doughnuts to burning scarecrows and throwing flowers. Discover the origins and meanings behind these traditions and how they vary across cultures and regions.
Dec 28, 2011 · Learn about the origins and traditions of New Year's Eve and New Year's Day around the world and through history. Discover the meanings of "Auld Lang Syne," the ball drop, resolutions, foods and more.