HELLO FUTURE

From roaring bonfires to dazzling digital displays, New Year’s traditions unite the world in reflection, renewal, and joy. Here’s a glimpse into how and why we mark new beginnings.

A Journey Through Time

New Year's Day hasn't always been January 1st. Its history weaves together agriculture, astronomy, and politics, shaping the calendar we know today.

c. 2000 BCE: Babylonian Akitu

The first known New Year festival, Akitu, took place in Mesopotamia. Linked to the spring equinox, this 11-day event 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 honored Janus, the two-faced god symbolizing reflection on the past and anticipation of the future.

1582 CE: The Gregorian Reform

Pope Gregory XIII fixed the Julian calendar's flaws by creating the Gregorian calendar, now used worldwide and establishing January 1st as the common New Year’s Day.

A World of Traditions

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

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Spain: 12 Grapes

As the clock strikes midnight, Spaniards eat a grape per chime to ensure a year of good fortune.

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Japan: Joya no Kane

Bells in Buddhist temples toll 108 times to purge the 108 human desires.

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Scotland: Hogmanay

Flame festivals and 'first-footing' customs—entering a home first—symbolize inviting luck.

lentils

Brazil: Lentils & White

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

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Philippines: Round Things

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

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Denmark: Smashing Plates

Folks toss plates at the doors of friends and neighbors to show care and wish them fortune.

The Why Behind the What

Across diverse cultures, core ideas emerge repeatedly. These universal themes reflect our shared urge to shape our future with each new year.

Purification

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

Good Fortune

Welcoming fortune, wellness, and luck for the new year with meaningful foods, hues, and traditions.

Protection

Driving away negativity and misfortune from the year gone by with vibrant lights, loud sounds, and sacred traditions.

Anatomy of a Celebration

Analyzing global traditions by type reveals the most prevalent rituals. Shared symbolic foods stand out, reflecting the strong bond between nourishment and aspirations for abundance.