The countdown is one of the most exciting parts of celebrating New Year’s Eve, and while waiting for midnight, a unique thing to do would be to share some facts about the last day of the year!
It’s a fantastic way to keep a conversation going that makes you bond more with those you haven’t seen for ages.
And who knows? Some of the facts you’ll share from this article might give them an idea for the next New Year’s Eve!
So, prepare your notebook and pen because here are the 20 facts about New Year’s Eve to discuss with your family and friends before the countdown.
The average number of births per year on New Year’s Eve is 10,394, making it one of the rarest birthdays in the United States.
Aud Lang Syne is one of the most famous New Year’s Eve songs. It’s a Scottish poem credited to Robert Burns. However, he admitted that he wasn’t the original composer. George Thomson eventually made this poem a song in 1799. It started as a traditional song played during Hogmanay or Scotland’s New Year’s Eve to reflect the past, spreading to other countries.
Japan celebrates New Year’s Eve by ringing temple bells 108 times. They do this tradition to get rid of Bonno, or the 108 defilements of Buddhism. Some examples are jealousy, pride, and anger. It’s said that by ringing the bell 108 times, 107 times on New Year’s Eve, and one last time after midnight, these 108 worldly desires are left behind.
You can celebrate New Year’s Eve twice in the same year. You can make this time-traveling trip by visiting a country that celebrates New Year’s Eve earlier than most countries. An example would be New Zealand. Then, flying to Hawaii, one of the last to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
The Times Square Ball drop for New Year’s Eve has happened since 1907. The only time it didn’t drop was in 1942 and 1943 due to the United States entering World War II. However, people still went to Times Square for New Year’s Eve. But instead of a ball drop, they celebrated the holiday with a moment of silence followed by the ringing of chimes from sound trucks.
Kissing on New Year’s Eve is popular because of Hollywood films and German folklore. It’s believed that a New Year’s Eve kiss can strengthen your relationship with your partner.
People in Denmark keep old or damaged plates to break them on New Year’s Eve to show affection to their family and friends. Some throw them on their loved one’s door, but others prefer just leaving a bunch of broken plates on their doorstep. They say the more broken plates you see outside your door, the more luck you’ll receive in the coming year.
Filipino children jump after the New Year’s Eve countdown as they believe it will make them grow taller.
Chinese started the tradition of making noise and lighting fireworks on New Year’s to prevent bad luck and remove evil spirits.
Latin Americans believe that the color of your underwear on New Year’s Eve determines what will happen the following year. For example, wearing blue underwear is good for health, while red underwear is good for love.
Columbians run around with empty suitcases on New Year’s Eve to make the coming year filled with travel and adventure.
More fireworks are sold on Independence Day than on New Year’s Eve in the United States.
You can pay less when you book a hotel last minute on New Year’s Eve. They do this to maximize their occupancy rate. If you’re wondering how to find numerous New Year’s Eve hotel deals, an ideal way would be to look at online travel agencies.
The last time a blue moon occurred on New Year’s Eve was in 1990, and the next time this happens will be in 2028.
Julius Caesar is the reason why New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the last day of December. It’s because he wanted January 1 to be the first day of a new year because of Janus – a two-faced Roman God that can see the past, present, and future.
On December 30, 1977, Ted Bundy made his second escape from prison. The next day, the police began their search for the criminal. However, he wasn’t caught until nearly two months later.
Different foods are known to bring good or bad luck on New Year’s Eve. An example of food traditionally eaten today is noodles, as it’s known to elongate your life. Meanwhile, chickens are considered unlucky due to their wings, implying your good luck could fly away.
New Year’s Eve is an excellent opportunity to look for jobs because some companies still hire on holidays, and the competition is relatively low.
Many animals, especially dogs, become anxious on New Year’s Eve due to fireworks.
Unlike Christmas and New Year’s Day, stock markets and banks aren’t closed on New Year’s Eve.
One of the most awaited days every year is New Year’s Eve.
It’s the perfect time to reminisce about the previous year and establish more good habits in the new year.
What makes this holiday even better is the fact that different countries celebrate it uniquely.
Each New Year’s Eve is worth remembering, from strange traditions to surprising events.
