New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve in United Kingdom, for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.
| United Kingdom | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| New Year's Eve | Monday 31st December | Tuesday 31st December | Thursday 31st December |
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is the celebration that occurs the night of the 31st December and that parts the previous year from the next one. It is, perhaps, the most important night of the year, with celebrations held all over the World. They usually go past midnight and may last for the whole night.
New Year's Eve Origins
In 46 B.C. the Roman Imperator Julius Caesar introduced a new, solar-based, calendar. According with it, the beginning of the year was established on 1st January. During the Middle Age, the new year celebration was considered a pagan one and, therefore, it was abolished by the Church, to be restored only from 1583 A.C, thanks to the Gregorian calendar.
However, the celebrations of the New Year's Eve as we know them are a fairly late phenomenon which involves, particularly, the Western countries.
What people do, to celebrate New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is celebrated at night. In many countries, it is customary to have a magnificent dinner with friends and family members, before going out on the streets. Usually, people gather in squares or along the main streets of their city to watch fireworks and concerts. The celebrations often include music show, parties and of course the well known countdown held in public areas, which is usually broadcasted through TV channels and radios. When the clock strikes midnight, fireworks are lit across the cities and countries, with people singing and drinking to celebrate the New Year's Day.
From a theological point of view, New Year's Eve is not a religious celebration, however, in Christian Countries, some people may attend a watch-night service.
New Year's Celebrations all around the World
Due to timezone, the Country of Kiribati and the Independent State of Samoa are the first to welcome the New Year. Honolulu, Hawaii is the last one.
In Scotland, neighbours pay visits to each other, shortly after midnight, giving symbolic gifts such as salt and whisky. This tradition is called "first-footing" and it's held on Hogmanay - the Scottish name for the last day of the year.
In Japan, the new year is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. It is called Omisoka and it is the second most important day of the year, after the New Year's Day itself. Omisoka starts at 7:30 pm and lasts the whole night. At midnight, people visit shrines and temples, that strike their gongs 108 times, in a effort to expel 108 types of human weakness.
In Russia, Novy God is welcomed by fireworks and drinking, while, in Spain, it is a well known habit to eat 12 grapes at midnight.