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New Year's History, Traditions and Superstitions

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New Year's Eve

New Year’s Eve: History and Celebration

"Auld Lang Syne," perhaps the most famous New Year’s Eve song in the English-speaking world, is also considered "the song that nobody knows.” It might be apt that few people know the words to this song, because the meaning of New Year’s Eve in the Western world has always been somewhat nebulous. Use this New Year’s Eve Web Guide to learn what New Year’s is all about, and where to find celebrations, helpful hints on fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions and New Year’s customs from around the world. 

New Year's Eve Party Tips

New Year’s is renowned for celebrations. You don’t want to procrastinate, be without ... read more »

New Year's Day Events

Not all the fun takes place on the eve of the New Year. In the United States, football fans settle ... read more »

Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

The day after New Year’s Day usually marks the date when we break our New Year’s ... read more »

New Year's History, Traditions and Superstitions

You’re sitting in front of the TV next to your significant other, champagne in hand, counting down the minutes until the ball drops. But why are you here? You’re witnessing the end of a year and celebrating fresh beginnings, but is that really all that New Year’s is about? The links in this section uncover New Year's history, superstitions and traditions.

Insights for New Year's History, Superstitions and Traditions

  • Not every source on the Internet agrees on the history of New Year’s; that's because the origins are unclear and/or debatable. In other words, don’t rely on one source for your information. 
  • For information about New Year’s celebrations in countries other than the United States, take a look at the “New Year's Traditions Around the World” section.

Top Sites for New Year's History, Superstitions and Traditions

Infoplease offers a concise history of New Year’s, focusing on the progression of the calendar. The site begins with Mesopotamia in 2000 BCE, and traces the evolution of dates from the Roman calendar and the Julian calendar through the Gregorian calendar that we use today.
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Snopes.com presents a list of “New Year’s Superstitions.” You’ll find some of the more common superstitions and customs here (like kissing at midnight), as well as some more obscure ones.
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The Quote Garden has a compilation of New Year’s quotes for those who need some humor, inspiration or a reality check for the New Year. For example, Oscar Wilde once said, “Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.”
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New Year's Traditions Around the World

Some type of New Year’s tradition, either jubilant or solemn, exists for every culture, even ... read more »

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