The New Year celebration It is one of humanity’s oldest festivals, although its date has not always coincided with the current January 1st. The first civilizations used to associate the beginning of the annual cycle with astronomical or agricultural events. In ancient Mesopotamia, about 4,000 years ago, the Akitu festival It marked the beginning of the year at the spring equinox. For the Babylonians, it represented the victory of order over chaos, a concept of rebirth that still exists today. remains in the spirit of celebration contemporary in almost the entire world.
Its transition to the date we know today began in ancient Rome. The Roman calendar originally began in March, coinciding with the equinox. But in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar introduced this in the 4th century BC Julian calendar on the advice of experienced astronomers. At that time, January 1st was set as the first day of the year and dedicated to Janus, the two-faced god who looked into the past and into the future at the same time.
Throughout Middle Ages In Europe, the fixation of January 1st as the beginning of the year was partially lost due to the influence of Christianity. many nations They preferred dates with greater religious stresssuch as December 25th (Christmas) or March 25th (Annunciation). It was not until 1582 that Introduction of the Gregorian calendar on behalf of Pope Gregory XIII that the January 1st was reintroduced official in most parts of the Catholic world.
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New Year’s Eve in the world: historical origins, traditional rites and customs that mark the end of the year worldwide
Rituals, boundaries and the identity of the Argentine festival
In Argentina the commemoration of the New Year combines traditional European traditions immigration with the climatic context of the southern summer. Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, where the holiday takes place in the middle of winter, December 31st in the country is marked by Outdoor gatherings and extended family dinners.
Its transformation into modernity integrated technology and mass spectacle. From the fireworks display on Sydney Harbor to the ball drop in Times Square, the New Year has become a global event synchronized across time zones. On a local level, the festival maintains a structure of “Gala evening“, but it has evolved towards more informal and youthful celebrations after twelve bells. The gastronomic component with cold dishes and traditional sweet bread underlines the cultural identity of the date.
Rio de Janeiro wins the Guinness Prize for the largest New Year’s Eve party in the world
Beyond the festive celebration, the New Year has profound psychological and sociological effects on the population. It is considered “temporary break point“, which facilitates the creation of new purposes and goals. Historical studies show that humanity has always needed these milestones to segment the continuous flow of time. The ephemeris acts as a collective catharsis in which debts are forgiven Symbolic wishes and wishes for prosperity are projected, strengthening community and family bonds through a shared dinner and a toast to hope.
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