Reflections on New year Traditions

None of the major civilizations of the world ever celebrated New Year at a time that even closely coincided with the first January of Gregorian calendar. The Mesopotamians, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the Persians, none of these older civilizations ushered in the new year on January the first. And it was certainly never an Indian tradition. For most of the old world the new year was marked by harvest cycles, lunar calendars, and astrological transitions. In most,  it coincided with the spring or vernal equinox, aligning with nature’s rhythm.
And yet the first January across the world is regarded as the beginning of a new year. But for Julius Caesar, most of the world would be celebrating the new Year around Vernal Equinox- the time around March every year. The early Roman calendar too, like many others, aligned the New Year with the vernal equinox. However, over centuries of adjustments, Caesar’s Julian calendar designated January 1st as the beginning of the year, in honour of Janus, the Roman god of transitions and dualities. With two faces—one looking back to the past and the other forward to the future—Janus perfectly symbolized the turning of a page. The Gregorian calendar, established in 1582 under Pope Gregory XIII, refined this system further, cementing January 1st as a global marker of renewal.
Despite this standardization, New Year’s celebrations around the world remain incredibly diverse, reflecting local histories, beliefs, and hopes for the future. For instance, in Spain, revellers eat twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight, each grape symbolizing a wish for good fortune in the coming months. In Denmark, the peculiar tradition of smashing plates on friends’ doorsteps signifies affection and good luck. In Japan, the serene tolling of temple bells 108 times—a ritual called Joya no Kane—represents the cleansing of earthly desires and sins, preparing participants for a fresh start.
Scotland’s Hogmanay celebrations are equally distinctive, featuring “First-Footing,” where the first person to enter a home after midnight—often bearing symbolic gifts like coal or whiskey—is thought to bring luck. In Brazil, white attire dominates New Year’s Eve as a symbol of peace, with many celebrating by jumping over seven ocean waves, making a wish with each leap. In the Philippines, the focus on round shapes—coins, fruits, and even polka-dotted clothing—symbolizes prosperity and abundance.
Some traditions delve deeply into cultural symbolism and catharsis. In Ecuador, effigies representing the old year—often resembling political figures or celebrities—are burned at midnight in a dramatic gesture of letting go of past grievances. South Africa’s Johannesburg has seen communities literally discard the old year by tossing out unwanted furniture, a physical and symbolic cleansing.
Historical beliefs also underpin many customs. The Babylonian Akitu Festival, celebrated around the spring equinox over 4,000 years ago, is one of the earliest recorded New Year’s celebrations. It featured rituals to reaffirm the divine mandate of the king and honour the gods. Similarly, India’s Diwali often doubles as a New Year celebration in certain communities, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of life’s cycles. Even the modern midnight kiss has roots in ancient superstitions, believed to ward off loneliness and misfortune.
Legends further enrich these practices. The Chinese Lunar New Year’s vibrant celebrations stem from the tale of Nian, a mythical beast repelled by loud noises and the red colour, giving rise to firecrackers and red decorations. In Scotland, fiery balls of tar swung during Hogmanay symbolize purification and the sun’s life-giving power, possibly tracing back to Viking traditions. Meanwhile, Siberian divers planting New Year’s trees beneath frozen lakes highlight the human connection to resilience and nature.
New Year’s resolutions, too, have ancient origins. The Babylonians made vows to repay debts and return borrowed goods, seeking favour from their gods. Romans adopted similar practices, pledging to Janus for moral betterment. By the 18th century, resolutions evolved into commitments to personal growth, emphasizing self-improvement and new beginnings.
Across the world, themes of renewal, abundance, and reflection resonate universally. Foods like lentils, grapes, or pomegranates symbolize prosperity, while customs from burning effigies to underwater tree planting underscore the human desire for cleansing and hope. At their core, these traditions—whether smashing plates in Denmark, eating grapes in Spain, or lighting fireballs in Scotland—reflect a shared yearning for fresh starts, brighter futures, and enduring connections to cultural heritage and community.
In India, where New Year’s celebrations are often tied to regional and seasonal cycles, the adoption of January 1st as a festive occasion exemplifies the country’s dynamic embrace of global and local traditions. While deeply rooted in its ancient customs, India’s exuberant celebration of the Gregorian New Year—from midnight parties to cultural gatherings—reflects its openness and the universal joy of renewal. It reinforces a fundamental tenet of India’s catholic culture- to treat the world as a family- ‘वसुधा एव  कुटुम्बकम्’.  
Whether celebrated on the first of January or during the vernal equinox, the essence of New Year’s festivities lies in hope, gratitude, and the promise of new beginnings.

(Uday Kumar Varma is an IAS officer. Retired as Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting)