Ever wondered when the new year tradition began? Who threw the first new years party? Fancy a little trip down memory lane? Stick with us to unravel the mystery...
Memory Lane
This celebration is thousands of years old and forms part of many different cultural traditions. The exact origins of the new year, which have likely changed over time, are still shrouded in mystery. But many historians believe that it was ancient civilizations who started the earliest new year celebrations.
Some believe that Mesopotamia's spring festivals were also new year celebrations. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the new year which coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile river - an essential irrigation source and great symbol of fertility.
But... fun fact: it was ancient Rome who really cemented the new year as the annual event we know today. In 46 BC, the emperor Julius Caesar established 1 January as the start of the new year in the new Roman calendar. The old calendar was based on the lunar year and wasn't as accurate as the new Julian calendar, which is based on the solar year.
Many countries throughout Europe began to follow suit and adopted the 1 January new year celebration. Although the dates varied, the 'spring' and lunar new year traditions continued to be celebrated in other parts of the world.
Back to the Future
Today, the new year is celebrated on 1 January by many cultures around the world. From attending parties and enjoying fireworks displays to exchanging gifts and making resolutions. The new year is a moment for people to come together and celebrate the start of a new chapter. So, with this year's celebration fresh in your memory, take another moment to think about the rich historical and cultural significance behind this favourite annual tradition.
New Year's Resolutions!
Do you have any new year resolutions?
Have you resolved to learn a new language - like Spanish or English?
Maybe you want to improve your existing lanugage skills?
This could be for personal growth, university, school, or to improve your career performance or prospects. But whatever your resolution or reason, prioritising high-quality lanaguage classes is a perfect kick-start to a successful year!
Watching English or Spanish series alone is not enough.
Why not take a FREE TRIAL ENGLISH OR SPANISH CLASS? Without any obligation to sign up, you will experience the best of both worlds: a skillfully guided conversation class, together with personalised language content driven by big data.