This Blog Rules | Why go elsewhere?

  • Home
  • strange news
    • Celebrity Dental Disasters
    • Early Signs of a Serial Killer
    • 12 World’s weirdest stadiums
    • Facebook default pictures are more fun now
    • Man living with a Grizzly bear
    • Top 10 largest concerts in history
    • Top 30 Funniest New Year’s Resolutions
    • Powerful Symbols And Celtic, Viking and Japanese Culture
    • 10 countries you probably never heard about
    • 10 Things You Should Never, Ever Search on Google
    • The Top 5 Worst Online Universities
    • Top 10 Ancient Greek Artifacts All History Buffs Should Know About
  • creative
  • art
  • street art
  • movies
    • 8 ATT Commercial Girl Facts
  • music
  • fun
    • Top 30 Funniest New Years Resolutions
    • Top 10 Funny Christmas Songs
    • Top 10 Famous Historic MISquotes
  • animals
  • sports
    • Finding a Good Accident Avoidance Course
  • Privacy
Home » new year

5 New Year’s Eve Tidbits

December 31, 2015 By Vernon Gadson Leave a Comment

It’s New Years Eve! So you’re probably reading this as you’re waiting for the party to start in a few hours.

But, what’s with all the fuss about New Year’s Eve anyway? Why do people celebrate it so vigorously? When was the first time it was held officially? What are some of the traditions?

If you’ve got a bit of time to spare and are wondering about all these things, you might find some answers in the 5 New Year’s Eve tidbits offered in the lines below.

1. Origins

Mesopotamian Engraving on Wall

The passing to the new year was celebrated as early as 4,000 – 2,000 years BC by the Mesopotamians and other ancient cultures, though they didn’t have a fixed date and relied instead on the first moon appearing after certain events.

The month of January was introduced into the Roman calendar around 700 BC by King Numa Pompilius to honor the God of beginnings and transitions, doors and gates, Janus. He was said to have two faces one looking forward and one looking back.

2. Lights And Bangs

5 New Year's Eve tidbits - the Chinese use of fireworks for celebration (as depicted in the photo) was the first such usage in the world.

The invention of fireworks took place in China in the time of the Tang Dynasty (7th century AD). Since fire and loud sounds were considered by many ancient cultures to ward off demons, fireworks were a nifty conglomeration of both and initially served the same function.

Though nowadays they are used to denote exuberance and the arrival of the new year, it’s good to know that as a side-effect those pesky demons are still kept (perhaps unwittingly) at bay.

3. Midnight = Kissy Time

Kissing at midnight, as shown in the picture, is one of the 5 New Year's Eve tidbits.

The tradition to kiss your partner at midnight or find someone to kiss at midnight if you’re single has its roots in old German folklore.

Though it was more tame there, because the belief was simply that whomever you would meet/see first in the New Year would signal good or bad fortune. So, an enemy or someone whom you despised or were despised by would obviously be bad, while a friend or someone you liked/admired would be good.

Now this doesn’t mean that when you’re at the party with just your best mate (read same sex simply friend) drinkin’ and jokin’ tonight you should go “Whoa! It’s midnight!” and plant a kiss or just gaze intently at no other person. He or she might find it awkward if he or she doesn’t happen to be a student of old German traditions.

4. “This I vow!”

The list of 5 New Year's Eve tidbits includes resolutions, like those presented in the photo.

Yes, yes. Resolutions. We all know them. We’ve all taken them at the beginning of the year. And I’m not going to say that we all broke at least a few during the years (that much is obvious), because one still hopes that this year we’ll be able to keep them and be happier(?) as a consequence.

Just know that they’re not a new thing. In fact, ancient cultures like the Babylonian one are reported to have included New Year resolutions. And since Jesus came into the scene and Christianity became one of the biggest religions, adherents all over were encouraged to think on their past mistakes and sins on the first day of the New Year and try to, you know, not do ’em this year, ok?

So, best of luck! You can do it!

5. Happy Mistake

Champagne bottle being opened.

Is the New Year’s Eve drink of choice for most of the world on, under Western Civilization’s influence.

Who would’ve thought an accident would become so popular and last for centuries?

Because the origins of Champagne lie with some Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire. In 1531, they bottled up some wine which was not finished fermenting and the road to the fizzy drink we love nowadays was opened.

Add to that an English physician and scientist (Christopher Merret) who further developed the recipe into the “methode champenoise” (attested 1662) by adding sugar to produce a second fermentation and then a monk whose name is now known more for the eponymous famous Champagne (Dom Perignon) and you get a drink that’s just right for parties and celebrations.

Cheers to that! And Happy New Year! (sips Champagne)

Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Filed Under: fun Tagged With: new year, New Year Traditions, New Year's Eve, New Year's Eve tidbits

The World’s Strangest and Most Interesting New Year Traditions

December 7, 2014 By This Blog Rules Guest Leave a Comment

All across the planet people celebrate strange and interesting New Year traditions every year.

These range from cramming grapes into your mouth to giving people pieces of coal and believing the color of your underwear dictates your destiny. Which ones of the following have you seen or taken part in?

Eating 12 Grapes – Spain

Most Interesting New Year Traditions

One of the most exciting things about being in Spain when the clock strikes 12 is that you get to cram a dozen grapes in your mouth. They even sell little tins with exactly 12 little peeled and seedless grapes in the supermarkets. You then stuff one in your mouth with each chime of the clock. This is either easier or more difficult than you think, depending upon how big your mouth is and how hard you think it is.

Colorful Underwear – Latin America

Strangest New Year Traditions

If you take a trip to a clothes market in a Latin American country just before New Year you might be surprised at the unusual New Year tradition you see starting to take shape. You will see a sea of yellow and red underwear laid out in front of you. This is because these colors are seen as bringing you good luck in the New Year. Yellow undergarments will bring you success and money. If you slip on some red underwear then you can expect to be lucky in love the following year. Which color would you go for?

The First Footer – Scotland

Strangest New Year Traditions

As a kid growing up in Scotland I learned to be very nervous about the first person to step into our house after the bells had struck. Traditionally that person would bring a gift such as coal with them, which was great until we moved onto an electric fire in our house. You will be hoping for a tall, dark male to be your first visitor, as he will bring you the best luck.

The Lowering of the Possum –USA

Most Interesting New Year Traditions

We might as well start this one with the bad news; you are highly unlikely to see a lowering of the possum in New York City, Washington DC or even Hollywood. This is a New Years tradition that doesn’t cover the whole of the USA. Instead, it is carried out in the town of Brasstown in North Carolina. You probably already know that this is the possum capital of the world, don’t you?  To celebrate this exciting fact a possum is lowered over a crowd on New Year in a transparent box. No, I don’t know why.

A Giant Kissathon – Italy

Most Interesting New Year Traditions

If lowering a possum doesn’t light your fire then what about a giant kiss-in without any marsupials in sight at all? Every year in St Mark’s Square, Venice a big group of (presumably) couples get together at midnight for a big kiss. Apparently this place holds the record for the biggest group kiss when 70,000 smooched at the same time during this strange New Year tradition.

Throwing Dishes – Denmark

Strangest New Year Traditions

Wouldn’t you just love to start the New Year by throwing dishes at your neighbors’ front doors? You’re darned tooting you would. Well, you want to get your sorry butt over to Denmark then, don’t you? This is apparently a Danish New Year tradition and it sounds pretty interesting.   

Wearing Polka Dots – Philippines

Most Interesting New Year Traditions

If you believe that polka dots are the work of Satan (and you really should) then you don’t want to pass New Year in the Philippines. An interesting New Year tradition here is to wear a lot of polka dots. It sounds like something worth seeing if everyone takes part in it but I guess that watching a crowd of people walking down the street like this would give you a headache even before you started drinking.

Filed Under: fun Tagged With: most interesting new year traditions, most interesting new year's traditions, new year, strangest new year traditions

Spartan Race Leads The New Year’s Revolution: Look Good, Feel Good in 2013

January 10, 2013 By ThisBlogRules Leave a Comment

As we head into the New Year, we’re all looking for ways to improve our lives.  Whether we need to lose weight, get healthier, eat cleaner, get more rest, or move more during the day, we all have room to get better.  Spartan Race has always been in the business of ripping people off their couches and getting them out leading healthier lives.  So, how can you make some positive changes heading into the New Year?  Here are a few tips to get you started. [Read more…]

Filed Under: sports Tagged With: accomplishment, attainable goals, couches, motivation, new year, peer pressure, positive changes

As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. We may also earn small commissions on purchases from other retail websites.

About Us

  • Home
  • strange news
    • Celebrity Dental Disasters
    • Early Signs of a Serial Killer
    • 12 World’s weirdest stadiums
    • Facebook default pictures are more fun now
    • Man living with a Grizzly bear
    • Top 10 largest concerts in history
    • Top 30 Funniest New Year’s Resolutions
    • Powerful Symbols And Celtic, Viking and Japanese Culture
    • 10 countries you probably never heard about
    • 10 Things You Should Never, Ever Search on Google
    • The Top 5 Worst Online Universities
    • Top 10 Ancient Greek Artifacts All History Buffs Should Know About
  • creative
  • art
  • street art
  • movies
    • 8 ATT Commercial Girl Facts
  • music
  • fun
    • Top 30 Funniest New Years Resolutions
    • Top 10 Funny Christmas Songs
    • Top 10 Famous Historic MISquotes
  • animals
  • sports
    • Finding a Good Accident Avoidance Course
  • Privacy

Recent Posts

  • The Best Kpop Songs Of The Last 10 Years
  • The 10 Best Action Anime Out Now
  • Top 10 Fastest Cars Ever Created In The World
  • The 10 Best Horror Anime Out Now
  • The 15 Best Slice Of Life Anime

Categories

  • animals
  • Anti-virus
  • art
  • brews
  • creative
  • food
  • fun
  • gaming
  • infographic
  • interview
  • movies
  • music
  • sports
  • strange news
  • street art
  • tech
  • top list
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2021