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New years is one of the oldest holidays that are still celebrated. In which New years was originated thousand years ago in ancient Babylon, In twentieth century New year's became a popular celebration but is split up from religion. Till this day many people still follow older traditions

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First time New Year's was celebrated was on January 1st in Rome 153 B.C. Due to the beginning   of the civil war, New Year's day was moved from march to January. Once Juilan's calendar takes effect, it's changes to 365 days then after Caesr adds 67 days to 45 B.C

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A move from March to January

by Borgna Brunner

The celebration of the new year on January 1st is a relatively new phenomenon. The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed to have been in Mesopotamia, c. 2000 B.C. and was celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, in mid-March. A variety of other dates tied to the seasons were also used by various ancient cultures. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians began their new year with the fall equinox, and the Greeks celebrated it on the winter solstice.

Early Roman Calendar: March 1st Rings in the New Year

The early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the new year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March. That the new year once began with the month of March is still reflected in some of the names of the months. September through December, our ninth through twelfth months, were originally positioned as the seventh through tenth months (septem is Latin for "seven," octo is "eight," novem is "nine," and decem is "ten."

January Joins the Calendar

The first time the new year was celebrated on January 1st was in Rome in 153 B.C. (In fact, the month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the months of January and February.) The new year was moved from March to January because that was the beginning of the civil year, the month that the two newly elected Roman consuls -the highest officials in the Roman republic-began their one-year tenure. But this new year date was not always strictly and widely observed, and the new year was still sometimes celebrated on March 1.

Julian Calendar: January 1st Officially Instituted as the New Year

In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar introduced a new, solar-based calendar that was a vast improvement on the ancient Roman calendar, which was a lunar system that had become wildly inaccurate over the years. The Julian calendar decreed that the new year would occur with January 1, and within the Roman world, January 1 became the consistently observed start of the new year.

Middle Ages: January 1st Abolished

In medieval Europe, however, the celebrations accompanying the new year were considered pagan and unchristian like, and in 567 the Council of Tours abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year. At various times and in various places throughout medieval Christian Europe, the new year was celebrated on Dec. 25, the birth of Jesus; March 1; March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation; and Easter.

Gregorian Calendar: January 1st Restored

In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year's day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was only gradually adopted among Protestant countries. The British, for example, did not adopt the reformed calendar until 1752. Until then, the British Empire -and their American colonies- still celebrated the new year in March.

For more New Year's features see New Year's Traditions and Saying "Happy New Year!" Around the World.

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by Borgna Brunner The celebration of the new year on January 1st is a relatively new phenomenon. The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed to have been in Mesopotamia, c. 2000 B.C. and was celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, in mid-March.

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One of the traditions around the world, In Venezuela called "roller skating to mass" where in everybody goes rollerskating around many neighborhoods and close the roads just to roller skate until 8am and after skating everyone savors a cup of coffee

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Of all the holidays, Christmas, as far as I'm concerned, is the most fun.

There's cake, party games and you eat a three-course meal while telling jokes and wearing kooky hats - what could beat that?

Well, for one thing, roller-skates.

That's right, just when you thought Christmas could not get any merrier, the lovely people of Venezuela have gone and upped the ante with a tradition that makes building snowmen look positively dull.

For locals in the capital of Caracas, it is customary to strap on your roller skates and glide to Christmas mass.

As legend has it, children go to bed with a piece of string tied round their toe and the other end dangling out of the window.

As skaters roll past, they give the string a tug and children know that it's time to, well, get their skates on.

Venezuelans are known for their love of fireworks and Christmas is no exception - residents awake to the sound of firecrackers exploding in the street, adding to the peel of church bells.

Skating to mass became so popular that the government took to closing streets until 8am so that families could skate together in safety.

In some areas, food stalls sell traditional Christmas fare (more on that later) but this has declined in recent years due to safety concerns.

When mass is finished, families convene in the street and each others' houses to share food, play music and dance.

It's not quite roasting chestnuts round an open fire but has all the trappings of the Christmas we know and love: family, togetherness, food and fun.

So where do the roller skates come in?

It isn't clear precisely how or why this unusual tradition started but sources suggest it is an alternative to sledding - December temperatures in the southern hemisphere can reach into the high thirties.

The contrast between the carefree fun of roller-skating and the solemnity of mass is reflected in Venezuela's unique demographic that is liberal in name but not always in practice.

Like much of South America, Venezuela is largely religious; the most recent figures suggest around 70 per cent of the population is Catholic.

Yet freedom of worship is entrenched within the constitution and Venezuela is a country with a rich and varied culture.

Initially, the influence of Amerindian and Spanish settlers was combined with African customs, which were brought to the country as a result of the slave trade.

Later, the arrival of Italian, Portuguese and German migrants had an impact on everything from language and culture to food and music.

Geographically, Venezuela also benefits from its neighbours: it is bordered by Colombia, Brazil and Guyana, as well as the Caribbean Sea, which brings associated Caribbean influences to its shores.

It is this diverse blend that gives Venezuela its distinctive identity - never is this more evidence than at Christmas.

Somewhere in this melting pot are the roots of festive skating.

It is a custom that pervades today, in spite of a volatile political climate.

Modern day Venezuela is a nation beset by political in-fighting due to its somewhat controversial socialist government.

It's also struggling with economic woes caused by high levels of inflation that make life tough for much of Venezuela's population.

While clearly not curative, Christmas roller skating is a way for people in the capital to keep traditions alive, for families to come together and for communities to unite.

Holy rollers

In the response to a report on the custom published on Caracas Chronicles, one commenter shares his memories of childhood skating and taking his shoes for 'the ride':

'Every year, Father Casanova (yes, his real name and no, he didn't look the part) would get on his high holy horse and make us out to be the worst of the worst for doing so [roller skating to Mass].

'We would take shoes along for the "ride", and take them off once inside, but we always made certain to skate down the aisle first, just to rile up the priest.

'In my neighborhood, we would block off the street one night, and everyone would go roller skating, young and not so young. Many would open their homes and have coffee and hot chocolate.'

Mass, pies and Nativity scenes

Christmas officially begins on 16 December with the first of nine special early morning Christmas masses called misa de aguinaldo that run until 24 December.

Celebrations begin with families displaying pesebres: specially crafted, large-scale and elaborate depictions of the Nativity story.

North American influences have led to a growing trend for Christmas lights and artificial trees - real trees have to be imported, which makes them costly.

Venezuelans will often repaint their houses well ahead of the festivities to represent the new year and a fresh start.

Venezuelans don't have a Santa Clause figure. Instead, tradition states that the baby Jesus delivers two special presents while children are asleep.

Christmas Eve is more significant than Christmas Day in Venezuela.

After a special church service, families head home to enjoy a special festive dinner where the star attraction are hallacas: traditional meat pies with a cornmeal crust, filled with a mixture containing (among other things) meat, nuts, olives, peppers and onions.

They are so labour intensive to make that the whole family chips in and they are only reserved for Christmas.

Come Christmas Day, families return to church for misa de gallo ('mass of the rooster') - so-called for its eye-wateringly early 5am start.

Christmas officially comes to an end on 6 January with the celebration of the reyes magos (the three wise men who visit Mary and the baby Jesus) when children are given another round of presents and sweets - and roller skates are hung up for another year.

It is hard to imagine us Brits strapping on the skates and braving the icy, December roads, but in a country where Christmas falls in 30C heat, nothing sounds like more fun.

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Christmas around the world: Why Venezuelans roller skate to mass on Christmas Eve

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Of all the holidays, Christmas, as far as I'm concerned, is the most fun. There's cake, party games and you eat a three-course meal while telling jokes and wearing kooky hats - what could beat that? Well, for one thing, roller-skates.

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A tradition in Puerto Rico is to clean everything such as cars, gardens, and streets even. In Puerto Rico they throw out a bucket of water out the window as in throwing away the negativity from the last year, in a addition as the Japanese also follow this traditions

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A tradition in Spain is where people eat twelve whole grapes each time the chime rings and has to be eaten before next chime peals which symbolize 12 lucky months as well as start of the year with adrenaline rush

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Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve is both a tradition and a superstition in Spain. Rare is the Spaniard who will risk poisoning their fate for the coming year by skipping the grapes, one for each stroke of midnight.

Americans may giddily greet the New Year downing a glass of champagne and grabbing a kiss at the drop of the ball. But the first 12 seconds of the Spaniards' New Year are somewhat quieter and more intense, as everyone focuses on eating all 12 of the "miraculous grapes" that symbolize 12 lucky months ahead.

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Eating the grapes pretty much guarantees starting off the year with a little adrenaline rush, and most likely some laughs. While the goal of getting the 12 grapes down in time can spark a contest of who is más macho around the table, the biggest challenge is more likely to be not gagging as you cram them in your mouth and try to swallow while laughing hysterically.

As Spanish cuisine has achieved a higher international profile in recent years, and tapas bars and Spanish restaurants have flourished, it's probable that more non-Hispanics will be eating 12 grapes this New Year's.

To add a continental flair to your New Year's celebration, buy seedless green grapes (look for smaller ones) and separate them into portions of 12, one set for each guest. In Spain, the chimes are broadcast on TV. Otherwise, if you don't happen to live near a church tower, or have a clock with chimes, you can download an iPhone app called G-Clock that chimes on the hour with a classic "bong." (Chime apps for other mobile devices are also available.) Or just call out the 12 seconds starting with midnight.

Through years of observation, we have discovered six common profiles of those who've been (mostly) successful achieving this feat, which we offer as a guide for your New Year's grape eating:

1. Zen Master - Neatly lines up the grapes and methodically eats them one by one, while meditating on the sound of the 12 chimes. Starts the New Year fully in the moment.

2. Full Frontal - Embraces the New Year with gusto by shoving all of the grapes in their mouth at once. Worries about swallowing them later.

3. False Starter - Anxious about getting all 12 grapes down, starts eating the first one before midnight strikes, which doesn't count and is said to bring bad luck.

4. Reina Isabel - Prepares grapes in advance by cutting them in half. Eats them with a fork from a plate. Eating the grapes by halves may be less authentic, but it is the best method for small children, and for anyone worried about looking like a slob.

5. Exhibitionist - Also known as "el chulo." Sees grape eating as another extreme sport, or just a chance to show off. Starts the New Year with an ego boost, by throwing the grapes in the air and catching them in their mouth. Requires secret pre-New Years' Eve practice.

6. Drunken Style - Makes an effort to eat the grapes but cracks up, starts talking, drinking, hugging or otherwise gets distracted midway through the 12 grapes. This is, needless to say, what happens most often. Happy New Year!

Read more about Spain on Food Republic:

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Judy Cantor-Navas/Illustrations by David Navas

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12 Grapes At Midnight: Spain's Great New Year's Eve Tradition, And Superstition - Food Republic

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Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve is both a tradition and a superstition in Spain. Rare is the Spaniard who will risk poisoning their fate for the coming year by skipping the grapes, one for each stroke of midnight. Here's an explanation of the process.

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In The American South, there is a dish that is traditional that's called Hoppin' John which is a pork flavored peas and rice, most of the time made with cooked greens to symbolize to color of money and cornbread which symbolize the color of gold to start of the luck in the New Year

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In Japan, there is a dish called "soba noodles" that welcomes everyone to the New Year which Soba Noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity due to the 17th century

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Here is a little video from New Year's being celebrated all around the world

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2019 New Year's celebrations across the globe

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This year i have learned that you have to live life to it's fullest and have to focus on yourself and on the positive because only yourself can make you a better person and feel self love.

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This year i hope to be more engaged in school work and learn more along the way even when i get stressed out, this year i want to be more positive and more relaxed because i'm always so tense so hopefully i can learn how to control myself when things go bad or so.
I want to make my mom proud because she's been through so much already so i was to be her peace and re pay everything she has done for me.

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One of the tradition in the U.S is the Midnight Countdown and they celebrate it by meeting before 12AM to count down the last 10 seconds and then after get their significant other and make it a New Year's kiss to start of the year with love and happiness