New Year came to the Egyptians in September. This coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile, a phenomenon that fertilized the Land of Egypt and was responsible for its wealth and prosperity. So it made sense to commemorate this important event as the start of all future prospects. The Egyptians turned it into a great festive occasion, in which they prayed to their God Amon and cheered a barge floating along the flooded river, carrying statues of him, his wife and son. There was a lot of singing, dancing, and feasting, and the party went on for a month. Then, after the Nile waters had subsided, the Gods were returned to their temple.
The Greeks were the first to symbolize the birth of the New Year with a baby. Their New Year celebrations were in honor of Dionysius, the God of Wine, and the baby was him reborn.
The Romans were confused March Hares, with a calendar the sun wouldn't keep up with, until Julius Caesar, in 46 B.C., decided to venture into calendar-making territory. For better or worse and with some modifications, we're still using what he came up with - the Julian Calendar. Like us, they too had a party on New Year's Eve, but, unlike us, they went around greeting each other, "Happy Calends!"
The Celts called their New Year 'Samhain', which means 'Summer's End', and celebrated it in October-end.
The Jewish people celebrate 'Rosh Hashanah'. It is celebrated with a visit to the Synagogue, the playing of the Shofar, getting new things for the family, especially the children, and preparing good food.
The Christians, initially, did not believe in celebrating the New Year. The idea of doing as the heathens did was too unpalatable. Over time, however, Christ was put into the New Year and he's stayed put even though some people seem to claim otherwise.
The Greeks were the first to symbolize the birth of the New Year with a baby. Their New Year celebrations were in honor of Dionysius, the God of Wine, and the baby was him reborn.
The Romans were confused March Hares, with a calendar the sun wouldn't keep up with, until Julius Caesar, in 46 B.C., decided to venture into calendar-making territory. For better or worse and with some modifications, we're still using what he came up with - the Julian Calendar. Like us, they too had a party on New Year's Eve, but, unlike us, they went around greeting each other, "Happy Calends!"
The Celts called their New Year 'Samhain', which means 'Summer's End', and celebrated it in October-end.
The Jewish people celebrate 'Rosh Hashanah'. It is celebrated with a visit to the Synagogue, the playing of the Shofar, getting new things for the family, especially the children, and preparing good food.
The Christians, initially, did not believe in celebrating the New Year. The idea of doing as the heathens did was too unpalatable. Over time, however, Christ was put into the New Year and he's stayed put even though some people seem to claim otherwise.
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