HELLO FUTURE

From roaring flames to dazzling screens, New Year's marks a worldwide pause for reflection, renewal, and joy. Here's a glimpse into the ways and reasons humanity embraces new beginnings.

A Journey Through Time

New Year's Day hasn’t always fallen on January 1st. Its origins weave a captivating tale of farming, stargazing, and political shifts that molded the calendar we know today.

c. 2000 BCE: Babylonian Akitu

The first known New Year festival, Akitu, took place in ancient Mesopotamia. Linked to the spring equinox, this 11-day celebration honored nature's renewal and reinforced the king's sacred authority.

45 BCE: Rome & The Julian Calendar

Julius Caesar implemented a solar calendar, setting January 1st as New Year’s Day. The month honors Janus, the two-faced god symbolizing reflection on the past and anticipation of the future.

1582 CE: The Gregorian Reform

Pope Gregory XIII reformed the Julian calendar, creating the Gregorian calendar, now used globally and establishing January 1st as the widely recognized New Year’s start.

A World of Traditions

Though the date is set, the festivities are far from uniform. Take a peek at the vibrant and diverse traditions cultures use to greet the new year worldwide.

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Spain: 12 Grapes

When midnight strikes, Spaniards eat a grape with each clock chime to bring 12 months of good fortune.

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Japan: Joya no Kane

Buddhist temples toll their bells 108 times to purify humanity's 108 earthly desires.

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Scotland: Hogmanay

Fire festivals and the 'first-footing' custom—entering a home first—symbolize bringing good luck.

lentils

Brazil: Lentils & White

Consuming lentils, symbolizing coins, is said to attract wealth. Dressing in white is thought to promise a peaceful year.

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Philippines: Round Things

Circles symbolize wealth, so people dress in polka dots and set out round fruits on their tables.

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Denmark: Smashing Plates

People toss plates at their friends' and neighbors' doors to show affection and bring them good fortune.

The Why Behind the What

Across diverse cultures, core ideas consistently emerge. These shared themes reflect a universal human drive to shape our future as we embrace a new year.

Purification

Clearing out the old—be it with cleaning, water rituals, or flames—to welcome a fresh new beginning.

Good Fortune

Welcoming abundance, wellness, and fortune into the year with meaningful foods, hues, and traditions.

Protection

Driving away misfortune and negative energies with vibrant lights, resonant sounds, and sacred traditions.

Anatomy of a Celebration

By analyzing global traditions, we uncover the most prevalent ritual types. Symbolic foods stand out as nearly universal, underscoring the strong link between nourishment and aspirations for abundance.