Happy New Year!

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?

Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness for auld lang syne.

The New Year signifies the end of the 365 days of the present year and the start of a new year, yet again.  It is celebrated all over the world with the same zeal, vigor, and enthusiasm.  There are lots of preparations undertaken for the event and it can be categorized as one occasion that the whole world celebrates together.

New Year is the oldest of all holidays, as it was first observed in ancient Babylon as many as 4000 years ago.  New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ's Circumcision by some denominations.  Celebrating New Year on January 1 is purely arbitrary, as it has neither agricultural nor astronomical significance.

The Roman senate declared January 1 as the New Year in 153 BC.  Though even this date saw major tampering, it was Julius Caesar who again declared January 1, via the Julian Calendar, as the New Year in 46 BC.  January 1 was revived, yet again, as the New year in 1582, by the Gregorian Calendar, and has been celebrated as such by most countries since.

The New Year is celebrated like a festival throughout the world and everyone will be in a festive mood; partying, singing, and dancing to ring out the old year and ring in the new.  Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year's Eve are believed to have originated in ancient times, when fire and noise were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck.  It was the Romans who began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve, and the tradition of making New Year resolutions dates back to the early Babylonians.

Traditionally, it has been thought that people can alter their luck by what the did or ate on the first day of the new year.  It was once, also, believed that the first visitor on New Year's Day would bring either good luck or bad, for the rest of the year, depending on who s/he was.  It has, therefore, become important to celebrate the first day of the New Year in the company of family and friends.

In parting, as we all go forth to celebrate this New Year, may I say to one and all:

I wish you health, I wish you well, and happiness galore.

I wish you luck for you and friends; what could I wish you more?

May your joys be as deep as the oceans, your troubles as light as its foam.

And may you find, sweet peace of mind, where ever you may roam.

A very Happy New Year!