HELLO FUTURE

From ancient bonfires to digital fireworks, the turn of the year is a global moment of reflection, renewal, and celebration. This is a look at how, and why, humanity celebrates a fresh start.

A Journey Through Time

The date we call "New Year's Day" wasn't always January 1st. Its history is a fascinating story of agriculture, astronomy, and politics that shaped the very calendar we use today.

c. 2000 BCE: Babylonian Akitu

The earliest recorded New Year festival, Akitu, was celebrated in Mesopotamia. Tied to the spring equinox, this 11-day festival celebrated the rebirth of the natural world and reaffirmed the king's divine mandate.

45 BCE: Rome & The Julian Calendar

Julius Caesar introduced a new solar-based calendar, establishing January 1st as the start of the year. The month was named for Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, embodying the idea of looking back at the past and forward to the future.

1582 CE: The Gregorian Reform

To correct the Julian calendar's inaccuracies, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar. This is the calendar most of the world uses today, solidifying January 1st as the near-universal start of the New Year.

A World of Traditions

While the date may be standardized, the celebrations are anything but. Here’s a glimpse into some of the unique and colorful ways cultures around the globe welcome the future.

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Spain: 12 Grapes

At the stroke of midnight, Spaniards eat one grape for each chime of the clock to secure 12 months of good luck.

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Japan: Joya no Kane

Buddhist temples ring their bells 108 times to cleanse humanity of the 108 worldly passions.

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Scotland: Hogmanay

Fire festivals and the tradition of "first-footing"—being the first to enter a home—are meant to bring good fortune.

lentils

Brazil: Lentils & White

Eating lentils, which resemble coins, is thought to bring wealth. Wearing white is believed to ensure a year of peace.

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Philippines: Round Things

Circles represent prosperity, so people wear polka dots and display round fruits on their tables.

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Denmark: Smashing Plates

People throw plates against their friends' and neighbors' doors as a sign of affection and to wish them good luck.

The Why Behind the What

Across vastly different cultures, the same core ideas appear again and again. These universal themes reveal a shared human desire to take control of our destiny as we face a new year.

Purification

Washing away the old, whether through house cleaning, water festivals, or fire, to make way for a fresh, clean start.

Good Fortune

Actively inviting prosperity, health, and luck into the new year through symbolic foods, colors, and actions.

Protection

Warding off evil spirits and bad luck from the past year using loud noises, bright lights, and protective rituals.

Anatomy of a Celebration

When we break down global traditions by type, we can see which kinds of rituals are most common. Symbolic food is a near-universal element, highlighting the deep connection between sustenance and our hopes for a prosperous future.