The History of New Year's Eve

By History.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 12.14.16

Word Count 390
Level 450L

TOP: Fireworks light the sky over the Bolshoy Kamenny bridge with Red Square and the Kremlin Palace in the background during New
Year's celebrations on January 1, 2016, in Moscow, Russia. BOTTOM: New Year's Eve in Times Square, New York City. Photo: Anthony
Quintano for NBC Social Media.

Around the world, people celebrate the beginning of each new year. They have been doing this for
a long time. Today, most people start celebrating on December 31. This is known as New Year's
Eve. Parties usually last past midnight. They go into the early hours of January 1. This is known as
New Year's Day.

Early New Year's celebrations

The first New Year's parties happened a long time ago. They took place in an ancient kingdom. It
was called Babylon. Today it is Iraq. The people of Babylon celebrated the new year in the spring.
They waited for a new moon. Then they had a giant party called Akitu. It lasted 11 days.

Over time, people made new calendars. They set the first day of the year at different times. Usually
they made it the same day as an important event. In Egypt, the year began when the Nile River
flooded. This was when the water rose up and watered the land. It happened around the same time
every year.

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January 1 becomes New Year's Day

One of the first calendars was made in ancient Rome. It only had 10 months and 304 days. Later, a
king added two more months. Over time, other changes were made. Eventually it became the
calendar most people use today.

One of the Roman leaders was named Julius Caesar. He made January 1 the first day of the year.
Romans celebrated it by worshiping Janus. He was the god of beginnings. The Romans gave each
other gifts. They decorated their homes. They also had huge parties.

New Year's traditions

In many countries, people celebrate the new year on

December 31. Many people eat special foods. They are
supposed to bring good luck.

In some places, people watch fireworks. They sing

songs together.

Another custom is to make resolutions. These are

promises for the new year. They are plans to do or not
do something in the future. This custom started in
ancient Babylon. The people there made promises to
make the gods happy.

In the United States, the most famous New Year's Eve event is the dropping of a giant ball. This
happens in New York City's Times Square at midnight. Millions of people around the world watch
the event. It has taken place almost every year since 1907.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.