Being widely heralded as the establishing norm of New Year the advent of the Julian calendar being established as the global mandate heralds the beginning of the Christian New Year. Here is a look at the Celebrations and Traditions that are associated with the Christian New Year.

History of the Christian New Year

Early calendars like the roman calendars would mark the beginning of the New Year to be with spring most probably around the 15th of March, which nears the time of the equinox. The Julian calendar was then modified due to political reasons and marked 1st of January to be the start of the New Year. The calendar later modified by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and accepted globally, Henceforth the Gregorian calendar became the norm for the assessment of days and the Christian New Year is sometimes referred to as the Gregorian New Year.

Christian New Year Traditions

Traditions can be called the formative structures of any society; they bond people together and infuse in them the spirit of community and togetherness. Some of the traditions that are an inherent part of the Christian New Year are:

  • The New Year Baby: Where the image of the child is synonymous with good luck and rebirth, many Christian homes have the image of the child displayed as a good omen.

  • Singing of songs on New Year’s Eve: Popular songs like “Auld Lang Syne” which translates to the “Good Old Days” is sung in households to infuse the celebratory spirit in the members of the household.

  • New Year Resolutions: Which are a set of things that you list out, that you would want to exercise and accomplish in the year to come, the idea is to start the year with positive energy

  • New Year Feasts: Since it is believed that the year is determined by what you consume on the first day of the year, elaborate meals are prepared that symbolize abundance and plenty.

Christian New Year Celebrations

Celebrations are an intrinsic part of any occasion that is deemed to be special, the Christian New Year means a lot to the community and is an indelible part of the society. Like any other festival the occasion is celebrated with great cheer and merrymaking. Communities come together for New Year Parades etc., which is a fun filled show of grand scales, celebrating the past year and the advent of the new one. People sit together partying, wearing their best clothes, celebrating New Year’s Eve and wish each other as the clock strikes 12 ‘o’ clock, which officially ushers in the New Year.

With a visit to the church on the first day of the year the rest of the time is spent with family and friends is feasting, partying, picnics etc.

Hence the Christian New year is the time of festivities and cheer, being thankful for the good graces of the past year and a hope that the coming year would only add to the happiness that the previous year brought with it.