History of New Year's Traditions

Whether your popping bottles of Tobacco Road Cellars "Private Reserve", your favorite box wine or bubbly this New Year's, I found it interesting where the celebration all came from. New Year's is the oldest of all of the holidays and it started in Babylon about 4000 years ago when they recognized the beginning of spring. They considered it the season of rebirth, planting new crops and enjoying the new warm weather. The Babylonian New Year lasted for 11 days and each day had its own celebration...I think I know why they call it "Amateur Night" now.

The Romans continued to observe the holiday in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors, so the Roman Senate and Julius Caesar eventually declared January 1st the beginning of the new year.

People believed that their luck could be affected by what they did and who they were around on the first day of the new year, so it became common for people to celebrate around the middle of the night with family and friends. As far as the idea of eating black eyed peas, cabbage and ham to bring good luck...uhh I think I will pass. After doing several dozen body shots and enjoying a few cocktails then throwing back the bubbly...I'm thinking an order of hot wings, pizza and a milkshake are more in order. I hope the restaurants don't care when I show up in my pj's. (http://tinyurl.com/yfc82km)

Celebrate Life's Great Occasions!