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A Babylonian-style New Year Familiar holiday with 4,000-year-old roots has undergone changes — from Roman revampings to post-exam relief Caroline DeSanctis FOR THE GAMECOCK The wind is picking up, finals review sheets are being passed out and a look of utter stress has crept over the student population — all dire indications that the calendar year is coming to an end. Beyond the oft commercialized palooza that is Christmas, one other celebratory occasion tends to be enjoyed by many when day No. 365 passes: New Year’s. But, despite its official date of Jan. 1, festivities surrounding a new year have not always taken place smack dab in the middle of winter. According to wilstar.com, there is a story to be told of this year-end celebration, starting with the ancient Babylonians, the first to observe this holiday more than 4,000 years ago. A new year was indicated by the first moon after the vernal equinox (first day of spring) — appropriate, considering spring is the season of rebirth and planting. The Babylonian celebration of the New Year consisted of an 11 day party with a different theme assigned to each day. The Romans later adapted this tradition but moved it into March, only to eventually change the date again because of orders of various emperors. The Roman calendar became so out of sync that in 153 B.C. a declaration by the Roman senate officially deemed Jan. 1 as the start of the new year to get the calendar back on track. (The date has no significance in terms of astronomy or agriculture.) Not to be outdone, Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar during his reign. His calendar also started on Jan. 1, but because of the time he deemed as the start of the year, the previous year had to be extended to 445 days. With Jan. 1 set in stone as the official New Years Day, other traditions of the season soon followed. The making of resolutions, a practice also started by the Babylonians, became popular as people looked to a fresh start with the coming of a fresh year. Among the people of Babylon, resolutions included such things as returning borrowed farm equipment. These days, common resolutions include losing weight, kicking the = habit or becoming vegan. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Rose Parade, another staple of New Year’s celebrations, dates back to 1886 when members of the Valley Hunt Club covered their carriages in flowers, signifying the ripening of the orange crop in California. In 1916, the Rose Bowl was added as the center of the festivities. In addition to football and floats, certain foods have become associated with bringing good luck for the coming year. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of ring brings good., luck in that it symbolizes “coming full circle” and completing the years cycle. Given this idea, the Dutch began eating doughnuts on New Years to ensure good fortune in the future. But forget the Babylonians and the Dutch: For college students, New Year’s is a sure sign of relief. “After enduring class registration and all my finals, when New Year’s comes around, you realize how far you have come,” said Alexis Murphy, a third-year graphic design student. “The end of the semester is really stressful, so the whole prospect of New Year’s is kind of refreshing.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures @gwm. sc. edu cusToms • commuEO FRom 8 “very commercial,” even more so than it is in the U.S. Thomas said Christmas is a day to shop for gifts and go on “Christmas dates.” Oshougatsu, the three-day long Japanese New Year’s celebration, has a little more religious significance, and families often visit shrines or temples. Even with its religious aspects, Japanese New Year’s is still quite commercial, Thomas said, and people will go on three-day vacations, shop and go out to bars. An English Christmas is in many ways similar to ours, but in other ways uniquely . English. Aaron Brazier, a third-year philosophy student from England, said that on Christmas morning people open their stockings, and the typical dinner involves turkey, but also that they usually drink a lot. “We drink wine, beer” he said. “Occasionally we like sweeter liquors too.” He said the Queen traditionally makes a speech every Christmas afternoon. “Some old-fashioned families wait until after the Queen’s speech at 3 p.m. to open their presents; some do it after breakfast,” he said. Brazier said Christmas in England is not as commercial as it is in America, but the commercialism is still rather heavy. “Most families buy cards,” he said. “My mother ends up with hundreds and sending hundreds.” New Year’s in England is “nearly always a night to dress up and party,” he said. Brazier usually celebrates the New Year in Dartmouth. He said Dartmouth has one of the biggest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the country because “it has the most pubs per person in the UK.” As far as dressing up is concerned, anything goes, whether it be dressy clothing or costumes. “I’ve been a Jedi, a bouncer and a few other things,” he said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu Photo courtesy of HTTP://WEST2fi,BUKi.S,(XjH In Japan, visiting attractions such as Tokyo Disneyland is a popular activity during the three-day New Year celebration. photo courtesy e/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS While the Babylonians didn’t have fireworks, they did begin the custom of New Year’s resolutions. Which country has the biggest airport in the wOrfa? , ... «*nr Piqojy 1pnr>s :j»MSuy More men and women on the front tines are surviving life-threatening injuries than ever before for one reason: We have the most elite nurses in the world. 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