New Years Eve 2023 comes but once a year on December 31, the last day of the last month of what usually feels like the longest year ever but somehow passed too quickly.
Most of us give little thought as to why we ceremoniously say goodbye to one year and hello to a new one on December 31. Even those who don’t make special plans to greet the arrival of a new year at the stroke of midnight on December 31 pay homage to the rite with thoughts of the year gone by and hopes for the year to come.
The fact that most people have never given much thought about what this holiday is all about is pretty amazing. We do seem to know how it begins, but then we just kind of lose track of what happens next!
Whether you are an avid reader or not, there are some things that you can do this New Year’s Eve that will help you make this a very memorable night.
Why do we end each year on December 31 and begin a new one on January 1 anyway?
WHEN IS NEW YEAR’S EVE 2022
It’s time to start the New Year with a bang!
New Year’s Eve is on December 31, the last day of the year. There are a lot of mixed feelings on this day — it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the past year with all its highs and lows, but we also get ready to party our way into the New Year. Here’s to a new day, new year, and new beginnings!
HISTORY OF NEW YEAR’S EVE
New Year’s Eve on December 31 marks the final day of what is known as a Gregorian calendar year. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar as the global standard, most of the ancient world ran on many different and diverse calendaring systems to track the passage of time. Some ancient cultures used the traditional date for new year’s day, whereas others celebrated new year’s day on other days of their respective calendars.
In fact, it wasn’t until after World War II that people around the globe agreed to celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31st. This change was made in order to align with our modern calendar system which was adopted in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. This new system put an end to centuries of confusion regarding which day was considered “New Year’s Day” and why it mattered.
The Gregorian calendar we use today was introduced by the Vatican in Rome under Pope Gregory XIII in October 1582. The Gregorian calendar is based on the solar year and replaced an ancient Roman calendar that was based on the lunar cycle of the earth’s moon. The Gregorian calendar is a modified version of the Julian calendar that was introduced by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar during his reign around 44 B.C., at the suggestion of Greek astronomer and mathematician Sosigenes of Alexandria.
The Gregorian calendar, which was adopted by most Christian countries, has slowly supplanted the Julian calendar in use prior to 1582. It is now used worldwide except for some countries in Africa, which still use the older Coptic calendar, and a few other places such as Japan, China, and India.
October 15, 1582, was a date of great significance for the Spanish Inquisition. It was on that day that Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull declaring that October 4 had been abolished and that October 15 would henceforth be the first of the year.
The transition from a lunar cycle calendar to a solar year calendar on October 4, 1582, necessitated that a few days be eliminated. The day after October 4, 1582, was therefore declared by Pope Gregory to be October 15, 1582. Don’t ask us what happened to all the poor souls whose birthdays were on October 5 to 14.
The Gregorian calendar was created by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The Gregorian calendar became the official calendar of the Roman Catholic Church and most Christian denominations in Europe, though it was not adopted by Protestant churches until the 19th century.
Along with the implementation of a new calendar on October 4, 1582, the pope also decreed that each year would officially begin on January 1 instead of April 1 as had been the custom under the old lunar calendar system. This decision had no actual astronomical basis and was influenced by the ancient feast celebrating the Roman god Janus, the god of doorways and beginnings. The first of January seemed like a good starting-over point on a new calendar.
The Gregorian calendar was created by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The Gregorian calendar became the official calendar of the Roman Catholic Church and most Christian denominations in Europe, though it was not adopted by Protestant churches until the 19th century.
Along with the implementation of a new calendar on October 4, 1582, the pope also decreed that each year would officially begin on January 1 instead of April 1 as had been the custom under the old lunar calendar system. This decision had no actual astronomical basis and was influenced by the ancient feast celebrating the Roman god Janus, the god of doorways and beginnings. The first of January seemed like a good starting-over point on a new calendar
NEW YEAR’S EVE TRADITIONS
New Year’s Eve is a special day. It’s one of the few times when we get to celebrate with our friends and family, and it’s also a time when we can reflect on our year past and look forward to what is to come in the new year.
If you’re like most people, there’s one thing that you’re looking forward to: New Year’s Eve celebrations. In some parts of the world, this annual event is so popular that it has its own name: New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Eve celebrations. The celebrations range from simple dinner parties for friends and family to elaborate balls and parties for hundreds of people.
But what do all these parties have in common? They are all about letting go of old traditions and embracing new ones! As we enter into a new year, we want to make sure that we continue with our good habits from last year as well as create some new ones for this new year ahead! Here are some tips on how you can make your New Year’s Eve party an unforgettable night:
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NEW YEAR’S EVE FAQS
| 1-Head out to a First Night celebration New Year’s Eve is a great time to celebrate, but it can also be an expensive event. Local First Night celebrations are family-friendly alternative New Year’s Eve community events that are alcohol and drug-free. Local bands, entertainers, artists, food vendors, schools, churches, and community groups participate or sponsor First Nights, which are open to the public. Local First Night events bring people together from different communities in our neighborhoods and across our city to celebrate the arrival of a new year while making this a safe space for everyone who wants to participate. The goal of Local First Night is to build connections between individuals and organizations in order to create a more welcoming and inclusive community. |
| 2-Attend Watch Night Mass Many Christian churches hold a New Year’s Eve service for reflection on the year that has passed while preparing for the new year ahead. New Year’s Eve services are called Watch Night Mass in some denominations |
| 3- Be the parents who stay home Ocal First Nights are family-friendly alternative New Year’s Eve community events that are alcohol and drug-free. Local bands, entertainers, artists, food vendors, schools, churches, and community groups participate or sponsor First Nights. First Nights are a great way to celebrate the new year and spend time with friends and family in your neighborhood. The event takes place at the same time of day as New Year’s Eve but is a little less hectic with fewer crowds in the area. |