The city of Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia was where the first New Year's celebrations were recorded about 4,000 years ago. The Persians and Phoenicians started their new year at the spring equinox (this is around 20 March when the Sun shines more or less directly on the equator and the length of the night and the day are almost the same). For example, in Egypt the beginning of the year coincided with when the River Nile flooded, and this normally happened when the star Sirius rose. Sometimes these were simply an opportunity for people to eat, drink and have fun, but in some places the festivities were connected to the land or astronomical events. There have been celebrations to mark the beginning of a new year for thousands of years. 'For last year's words belong to last year's languageĪnd next year's words await another voice.Īnd to make an end is to make a beginning.' – TS Eliot New year, old celebrations
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