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Holidays and Observances - How Long Have People Been Celebrating The New Year?

How long have people been celebrating the New Year?

Since ancient times, people have celebrated the new year, though the first day of the year has changed over time. Ancient peoples celebrated the new year sometime after the fall harvest and before the planting of spring crops. In 45 B.C., Roman emperor Julius Caesar (100–44 B.C.) changed the calendar from a lunar calendar (based on the phases of the moon) to a solar calendar (based on the 365 days it takes the Earth to revolve around the Sun). According to the new calendar, the year started on January 1. On this day the Romans prayed to the god Janus (the name January comes from the word Janus) and exchanged tokens engraved with his image. In ancient Persia (now Iran), people exchanged eggs, which symbolized new life. Today many peoples around the world eat special foods, perform special ceremonies, and hold public celebrations in honor of the new...

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