New Year’s: 4000 Years Later

Did you know that New Year’s is the most celebrated event throughout the world? History.com states, “Civilizations have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia.” New Year’s has no religious roots so everyone can celebrate it. It is celebrated in most cities and this year, December 31 was televised in Los Angeles, California and New York, New York. It’s now 2016, and New Year’s is a thing of the past and something to be reviewed.

The earliest recorded celebrations of the new year date back approximately 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. The first new moon following the vernal equinox, or the day in late March with an equal amount of day and night, light and dark, marked the start of a new year.

The ancient Babylonians celebrated the occasion with a massive religious festival called Akitu involving different rituals on each of its 11 days. Atiku celebrated the mythical victory of the Babylonian sky god Marduk over the evil sea goddess Tiamat. During this time, a new king was crowned or the current ruler’s divine right was renewed.

Civilizations around the world developed increasingly sophisticated calendars, typically coinciding the first day of the year with an agricultural or astronomical event. In Egypt, the year began with the annual flooding of the Nile River, which paralleled with the rising of the brightest star in the sky, the dog star Sirius. The first day of the Chinese new year was defined by the second new moon after the winter solstice.

Julius Caesar, as part of his Julian calendar, instituted January 1 as the first day of the year. Romans celebrated by offering sacrifices to Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. According to history.com, they also celebrated by “exchanging gifts with one another, decorating their homes with laurel branches and attending raucous parties.” In Europe, Christian leaders temporarily replaced January 1 as the first of the year with days they thought carried more religious significance, such as December 25 and March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation). In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reestablished January 1 as New Year’s Day.

In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on December 31 and continue into the early hours of January 1. In Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries, people eat a dozen grapes at each stroke of the church bells at 12:00 on January 1st. In some countries, traditional New Year’s dishes include legumes, small seeds, thought to resemble coins and indicate future financial success. Pork is a classic food on New Year’s Eve in Cuba, Austria, Hungary, Portugal and other countries. Ring-shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that the year has come full circle, are desserts in the Netherlands, Mexico, and Greece, among other places. In Sweden and Norway, rice pudding with an almond hidden inside is served on New Year’s Eve. Whoever finds the nut can expect 12 months of good fortune.

Resolution making is also thought to have started with the ancient Babylonians, who made promises in order to earn the favor of the gods and start the year off right. In the United States, the most iconic tradition is the dropping of a giant ball in Times Square at midnight. Millions of people around the world are entertained by this event, which has taken place almost every year since 1907. Various towns and cities across America have developed their own versions of the Times Square ritual, organizing public drops of items ranging from pickles to possums.

Pommin’ Up the Party At City

As the new year starts to roll in, and the second semester of school kicks into full gear, most students look forward to the annual Basketball City Tournament was held on January 21-23. This was an extremely exciting time for any student at SHG because they were able to show off their school spirit and cheer on their fellow Cyclones as they played their hearts out in hopes of  achieving the first place spot in the city. Besides the basketball games, students always look forward to the much anticipated Golden Angel Poms big halftime performance.

“I think this was one of our best dances this year and it was so much fun to perform.” Said Senior Pom Allie Moffett. The routine was performed on the last night of the city tournament, Saturday. They danced to songs such as “Hustlin’”, “DJ Turn It Up,” and “LA Love.”  The performance went down without any issues…that weren’t planned at least.

The biggest surprise of the night was when during the middle of the dance, the music started to cut out. All the Poms looked worried and devastated, as did the student section. The whole student section was beyond worried during this small amount of time. Then suddenly, the music came back on and the Poms made a great recovery.

The student section stood up and cheered, but there was still a bit of confusion as to whether the malfunction was planned or not. After the dance everyone learned that the accident was indeed planned, making this dance even more different than any other City dance.

“I was so nervous that people would know we were faking or I would start laughing in the middle of the dance and give it away,” Said Senior Pom Clara Young about the planned mess up. “I’m so glad that everyone was genuinely surprised and it went so well.” Young said.

Overall the dance was a roller coaster of emotions for anyone watching. It went from having high spirits, to being surprised and worried, then back up to the high energy that they started with. This year’s Golden Angel Poms performance was one that will never be forgotten.

Get to Know

Seniors Lindsay Finnell and Becca Heath

If you could go to lunch with any celebrity who would it be?

Lindsay: “Florence Welch.”

Becca: “Demi Lovato.”

You discover that the person you’re head-over-heels interested in loves a good homemade & handmade dessert. What will you concoct when you have this person over?

Lindsay: “Pumpkin cookies.”

Becca: “Brownies.”

What would you leave in your will for the person you care about the most?

Lindsay: “I don’t own that much but probs my dog.”

Becca: “My savings.”

What is your biggest pet peeve?

Lindsay: “When I can hear people chewing gum/chewing their fingernails in class.”

Becca: “When people make a mess when they eat.”

Would you eat a worm for $1,000?

Lindsay: “Probably.”  

Becca: “No.”

If you could choose to stay one age forever, what age would you choose and why?  

Lindsay: “Mid or late 20s because your body is still in peak health but you’re also old enough to do what you want and not be treated like a child.”

Becca: “22, because you’re an adult but you’re also at the age where it’s acceptable to enjoy life and have fun.”

Would you rather lose your sense of hearing or smell?

Lindsay: “Smell.”

Becca: “Smell.”

What do you want people to remember you by in 200 years?

Lindsay: “Doing sick kickflips on my skateboard.  Jk I don’t own a skateboard maybe saving the planet or something?”

Becca: “How nice I was to people.”  

What would you want to be voted best at?

Lindsay: “Doing sick kickflips on my skateboard.”

Becca: “Being awesome.”

Would you rather eliminate hunger and disease or be able to bring lasting world peace?

Lindsay: “World peace, which would probably make it easier to eliminate hunger and disease.”

Becca: “Hunger and disease because it would lead to more world peace.”

What’s one thing you would do if there was no repercussions or consequences from doing it?

Lindsay: “Go to whatever college I want regardless of tuition costs.”

Becca: “Choose to not go to college but still make a lot of money.”