Ancient Origins of New Year's Celebrations

[wkmac]

On the 1st January of every year, many countries around the world celebrate the beginning of a new year. But there is nothing new about New Year’s. In fact, festivals and celebrations marking the beginning of the calendar have been around for thousands of years. While some festivities were simply a chance to drink and be merry, many other New Year celebrations were linked to agricultural or astronomical events. In Egypt, for instance, the year began with the annual flooding of the Nile, which coincided with the rising of the star Sirius. The Phoenicians and Persians began their new year with the spring equinox, and the Greeks celebrated it on the winter solstice. The first day of the Chinese New Year, meanwhile, occurred with the second new moon after the winter solstice.

The Ancient Origins of New Year’s Celebrations

 

[upschuck]

"On the 1st January of every year"

How many Januarys are there in a year?

 

[wkmac]

Speaking of January......or Januarys if you like which might be more to the truth of the origin of the name.

Who Is Janus?
Janus is an ancient Roman, composite, obscure god who is associated with doorways, beginnings, and transitions. A usually two-faced god he looks to the future and the past. The concepts of January and janitor are both based on aspects of Janus.

Janus in Art:

Janus is usually shown with two faces, one looking forward and the other backward as through a gateway. Sometimes one face is clean-shaven and the other bearded. Sometimes Janus is depicted with four faces overlooking four forums.

Roman god Janus