Rituals for the arrival of the New Year
Not always the first day of January was the New Year’s Day; the New Year’s celebration itself dates from 2,000 BC, celebrated by people from Mesopotamia since around four thousand years ago. Usually, the year’s passage was determined by moon phases or seasons change by then. January 1st only became New Year’s Day in 1582, with the introduction of Gregorian calendar in the West. Before this date, New Year's Eve was celebrated on March 23rd, coinciding with the beginning of Spring in Northern Hemisphere, a period in which new harvests are sown. The idea of restarting comes from it; the word New Year's Eve means 'wake up' in French. New Year’s passage rituals vary in each country it’s celebrated: In Brazil, dressing white became standard for symbolizing light and goodness. The Danish rise in chairs to jump at midnight as a preparation for upcoming challenges. Peruvians pack their bags and take a stride around the block, to achieve the dream of traveling. Italians...