Happy New Year!

Did you know that the New Years Party is the most celebrated festival around the world? 

Julius Caesar officially declared January 1 to be a New Year in 46 B.C. Romans worshiped God Janus who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward.  The month of January was named after this Roman God and it gave an idea to the emperor to establish January as a gate to the New Year. 

About 500 years later, Pope Gregory XIII abolished the old Julian calendar and introduced Gregorian calendar which comprised of a leap year after every four years to maintain balance between seasons and calendar. Finally, in 1582, Gregorian calendar was set to celebrate New Year on the first day of January.



Different celebrations happen around the world.  There are parties, carnivals, parades, dinners, fire works, First Nights, and in most countries people open champagne bottles to celebrate.   Some even sing the song Auld Lang Syne (meaning 'the good old days').  This has become the National Anthem of New Year's eve celebration. The song is traditionally sung at the midnight on the New Year's Eve in almost all English speaking countries of the world. The lyrics to the song Auld Lang Syne were written by the poet Robert Burns and published after his death in 1796.
 
Did you know that the most popular New Year's Eve celebrations are in Sydney, London and New York City? 
 
In Sydney, an estimated 80,000 firecrackers are shot from Sydney Harbour Bridge on the New Year's Eve, offering a truly stunning view (at least that's what they say - I think I'll put this on my bucket list). The other major attraction is The Harbour of Lights Paradewhere you can watch cruise boats covered in fairy lights cruise the centre of the harbour all night.
 
In London, thousands of revelers throng the Square to welcome the New Year to the sound of Big Ben's famous chimes.




As you know, in New York City the celebration is in Times Square.  The celebration is famous for the crystal ball drop atop One Times Square and partying with Dick Clark on television.


So whether you're in Sydney, London, NYC or your hometown USA, celebrate the fact that 2009 is done and overwith and 2010 is a new year with so much potential for you and your loved ones - you just need to turn the page in the chapter or open the door and walk through it. 


Happy New Year - see you in 2010.