That Auld Scottish Song

Welcome to the New Year. How do you like it so far? It’s a brand new day. You get to start fresh again. Leave the baggage in the past.

Just for you, I have gathered some New years trivia to get your brain firing once again and to get you ready for the changes that will take place this year.

Are you ready?

I know many people had champagne last night to ring in the New Year, but did you know that a raisin dropped into a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top?

The irregular surfaces on the raisins hold some of the carbon dioxide bubbles. When enough bubbles accumulate to lift the weight of the raisin, it rises to the surface. Some of the air bubbles escape into the atmosphere, and the raisin, which is denser than the champagne, sinks to the bottom to start the cycle over again.

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring.)

Because of the division of the globe into time zones, the new year moves progressively around the globe into the New Year. The first time zone to usher in the New Year is just west of the International Date Line. That's when the time zone to the east of the Date Line is 23 hours behind, still in the previous day. The residents on the central Pacific Ocean island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island), the eastern-most island in the island nation of Kiribati claim to be the first to usher in the New Year.

The Line Islands that are part of the Republic of Kiribati are in a time zone with the earliest time in the world: UTC + 14. The time of day is the same as in Hawaii, but one day ahead. It is even a full 26 hours ahead of some other islands in the Pacific.

The island nation of Tonga in the Pacific Ocean is only UTC+13, putting it one hour behind the Line Islands of Kiribati. Tonga is literally the place where time begins - as the first country west of the International Dateline in the Pacific. The country's nickname is, "The Land Where Time Begins."

The Scotch tune, Auld Lang Syne literally means "old long ago," or simply, "the good old days." It is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the New Year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700's, it was first published in 1796 after Burns' death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition.

The birthplace of Auld Lang Syne is also the home of Hogmanay (hog-mah-NAY), the rousing Scottish New Year's celebration. One of the traditions is "first-footing." Shortly after midnight on New Year's eve, neighbors pay visits to each other and impart New Year's wishes. Traditionally, First foots used to bring along a gift of coal for the fire, or shortbread. It is considered especially lucky if a tall, dark, and handsome man is the first to enter your house after the New Year is rung in. The Edinburgh Hogmanay celebration is the largest in the country and consists of an all-night street party.

In Scotland, Auld Lang Syne is often sung at the end of a céilidh or a dance. Everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a circle around the dance floor. When the last verse starts, everyone crosses their arms across their breast so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbor on the left and vice versa. During the last chorus people might start jumping up and down. When the tune ends everyone rushes to the middle while still holding hands. When the circle is reestablished, everyone turns under the arms to end up facing outwards with hands still joined.

The New Year is the most important holiday in Japan and is a symbol of renewal. In December, various Bonenkai or "forget-the-year parties" are held to bid farewell to the problems and concerns of the past year and prepare for a new beginning. Misunderstandings and grudges are forgiven and houses are scrubbed. At midnight on Dec. 31, Buddhist temples strike their gongs 108 times, in a effort to expel 108 types of human weakness. New Year's day itself is a day of joy and no work is to be done. Children receive otoshidamas, small gifts with money inside. Sending New Year's cards is a popular tradition if postmarked by a certain date, the Japanese post office guarantees delivery of all New Year's cards on Jan. 1.

The Spanish ritual on New Year's eve is to eat twelve grapes at midnight. The tradition is meant to secure twelve happy months in the coming year.

The Dutch burn bonfires of Christmas trees on the street and launch fireworks. The fires are meant to purge the old and welcome the new.

In Greece, New Year's day is also the Festival of St. Basil, one of the founders of the Greek Orthodox Church. One of the traditional foods served is Vassilopitta or St. Basil's cake. A silver or gold coin is baked inside the cake. Whoever finds the coin in their piece of cake will be especially lucky during the coming year.

The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Probably the most famous tradition in the United States is the dropping of the New Year ball in Times Square, New York City, at 11:59 P.M. Thousands gather to watch the ball make its one-minute descent, arriving exactly at midnight. The tradition first began in 1907. The original ball was made of iron and wood; the current ball is made of Waterford Crystal, weighs 1,070 pounds, and is six feet in diameter.

Another American tradition is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Tournament of Roses parade that precedes the football game on New Year's day is made up of elaborate and inventive floats. The first parade was staged in 1890.

It is believed that the Babylonians were the first to make New Year's resolutions, and people all over the world have been breaking them ever since. The early Christians believed the first day of the New Year should be spent reflecting on past mistakes and resolving to improve oneself in the New Year.

Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year's eve is believed to have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. The Chinese are credited with inventing fireworks and use them to spectacular effect in their New Year's celebrations.

The 1st of January was a highly significant day in medieval superstitions regarding prosperity, or lack of it, in the year ahead. A flat cake was put on one of the horns of a cow in every farmyard. The farmer and his workers would then sing a song and dance around the cow until the cake was thrown to the ground. If it fell in front of the cow that signified good luck; to fall behind indicated the opposite.

Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends.

Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes "coming full circle," completing a year's cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity.

Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.