Tis that time once again… on the eleventh night of Yule, the calendars New Year’s Eve, or how I have come to celebrate it anyway. I think what I like most about this holiday is the chance to start anew, not setting resolutions per se, but in its stead a chance to right our wrongs, better ourselves as humans… and a chance to honor and mourn those we have lost in the passing years. I have to confess though… the devil inside me digs the bubbles and sparkles of this holiday. But what I most cherish is the folklore of this night, that is the customs and rituals of days gone by that are associated with it. To me, this is what brings the magick to my celebrations, and New Year’s Eve is no exception.
One of the very first New Year’s Eve celebrations was from the Babylonians over 4,000 years ago.
This festival called Akitu was a New Year festival where one would make promises to the gods to pay off their debts, etc. Not like today’s blow-off modern resolutions, these folks made promises to the gods… and were slightly more inclined to keep them. The ancient Romans had a similar practice of making New Year’s promises to Janus, a two-faced deity of doors, beginnings, and passages…who lent us his name to January. Folklore told of these partyers wearing clothes of red, making merry, and feasting, to bring about good luck, good health, and a bountiful new year.
“Auld Lang Syne” was first performed on the radio December 31st, 1929, by Guy Lombardo, and has become a tradition for New Year’s Eve ever since.
Originally a Scottish song with lyrics composed by Scottish poet Robert Burns, auld lang syne means “old long since” in Scottish, embracing the idea of both the joy and sorrow of this holiday. In Irish folklore all the doors in the house must be swung open at the stroke of midnight, to usher out the staleness of the old year, and to rid any negativity, thus welcoming in the new one. There are those who open all the windows in their homes as well… but I take that as a need-to-do basis, as it gets wicked cold here in my woods. In some Irish abodes, a lemon would be placed right in front of the inside door, believing the sour citrus would be a deterrent for evil spirits.
Hoot and Holler! Make quite the ruckus…
making as much noise as possible as the clock strikes twelve, helps to ward off any evil spirits that may be lingering, as according to folklore the devil and his demons hated loud noises. In some Irish homes, a lemon would be placed just inside the open door. The sour citrus fruit was also believed to be some form of deterrent for evil spirits. The folklore in China also gave way to making noise, as it was thought that the evil spirits chose New Year’s Eve to search for victims at the dawn of the new year.
Break open the Bubbly…
Many moons ago champagne was extremely expensive and a luxury only for the very rich. But by the 1800’s champagne became more affordable to the middle class, and has been the drink of New Year’s Eve ever since.
And finally the Kiss…
A Germanic and ancient English folklore that believed if one was to kiss their lover at the stroke of midnight, it would bring upon the couple an enchanting year of love and romance. To kiss a stranger would ensure love in the coming new year.
Wishing you all a happy, wild, and wicked New Year… Cheers!
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