A Little History Of Celebrating The New Year

Did you know celebrating the New Year was observed in Babylon approximately 4000 years ago?  It is the oldest of all holidays.  The Babylonians New Year Festival coincided with the spring equinox, which is when day and night are the same length.  Their celebration ran for days with some very unhealthy activities.  For more information visit this link:  Ancient Babylon

Later civilizations continued the tradition, but the early Roman Catholic Church banned all celebration of the day due to its pagan history.

It was not until the 17th Century that the western world once more began to celebrate on January 1at.

Do you know what country celebrates the 2011 New Year first?  

Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands and part of the Republic of Kiribati, which is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. It is composed of 32 tolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 1,351,000 square miles, straddling the equator,  and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point.

Here is a good You Tube video of Auld Lang Syne and some beautiful fireworks.

Robert Burns sent a copy of the original song to the Scots Musical Museum with the remark, “The following song, an old sond, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man".  Some of the lyrics were indeed "collected" rather than composed by the poet.  

There is some doubt as to whether the melody used today is the same one Burns originally intended, but it is widely used in Scotland and in the rest of the world.

Here is the Lyrics to Burn's version:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS: 

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, 

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !
and surely I’ll be mine !
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,
and pu’d the gowans fine ;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,
frae morning sun till dine ;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !
and gie's a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,
for auld lang syne. 

       CHORUS

English Translation:

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

CHORUS:

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

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Happy New Year to everyone!  Have a safe evening and a relaxing tomorrow!  May God Bless all of this New Year with health and prosperity!