29 Interesting New Years Traditions and Facts Around the World

New Year, new you. Out with the old and in with the new.

Do you have your resolutions decided? Perhaps a better question is: do you think you will stick to your resolutions this year?

Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right :)

All traditions, old and new, are to bring luck and prosperity in the coming year.
Celebrations to welcome the New Year date back over 4000 years, when the ancient Babylonians held big parties on the day that began their year, the Vernal Equinox in late March.
The first January 1 New Year was celebrated in 46 B.C. To celebrate his newly appointed dictatorship, Julius Caesar decided the calendar needed a serious overhaul. After adding days and changing from the lunar to the solar calendar like the Egyptians, he declared January 1 the official start of the year.
The Roman God of doors and gates Janus has two faces, one looking forward and one back. Caesar felt naming this month after the god with two faces would be fitting for this first month.
New Year celebrations fell out of practice in the Middle ages when regions adopted their own dates of significance.

Every New Year's Eve the AAA in most American states will tow you and your car home for free, even if you are not a member, in an effort to reduce drunken driving.
When you're jealous of the 1 million in person revelers at Times Square watching the ball drop, take comfort in the fact that most of them are wearing diapers due to lack of toilets.
The ball has been dropping for over 100 years. The first was made of wood, iron and lightbulbs dropped on December 31, 1907. Now made of Waterford Crystals, its descent lasts one minute. The ball has been dropped every year except a couple during WWII
Waiters in the vicinity of this first ball drop were given battery-powered top hats with the numbers 1908 on them. At the stroke of midnight they "flipped their lids" and the numbers lit up in conjunction with the Times square 1908 lighting up.
1 billion people will watch the ball drop on television.
45% of Americans make resolutions, and 25% abandon them by the second week of the year.
A Space Shuttle could not fly on New Years until 2006 because the instruments couldn't handle a year rollover.

When Soviet Russia suffered religion suppression, St. Nicholas (Santa) was replaced by Grandfather Frost who placed gifts under the "New Years Tree."
In ancient Hawaii New Years celebrations lasted 4 months. People feasted and danced, stopped working and war was forbidden.
Russians celebrate New Year twice- on January 1st and 14th.
Tradition says to eat leafy greens on New Year to be granted financial prosperity.
Black eyed peas are also a tradition. Said to bring good luck because they look like coins.
In Spain, you are supposed to stuff 12 grapes in your mouth at midnight.
In the Phillipeans round represents cash, so all foods on New Year are round.
Vehicles are stolen on New Years more than any other day.
Surround yourself with people you care about! The first person you encounter on midnight sets the tone for your year according to tradition. It is said if a couple does not kiss, it could signify splitsville. But I say if a couple doesn't kiss, it's probably because they are already having problems and will be splitting anyway ;) The kissing tradition has been around since the Middle ages.

Over 1 million people in Austrailia gather on the 40 mile Sydney Harbor beach.
In South America, the color of your underwear determines the kind of year you will have. Red means love. White brings peace. And gold brings wealth.
Ring a bell 108 times while smiling and wearing red in Japan, according to a Buddhist belief this will cleanse you for the coming year and bring luck.
People in Denmark jump into good luck by jumping off chairs at midnight.
In the small village of Takanakuy Peru, everyone fist fights to settle old scores and begin the new year fresh.
Drop a scoop of ice cream on the floor in Switzerland for good luck for all but the maid.
If you are in Columbia and want to have a year filled with travel, carry your suitcase everywhere on New Years eve.
Don't stand next to a building in some parts of South Africa as old furniture is thrown out the windows to bring good fortune.