Revelers often enjoy meals and snacks thought to bestow good luck for the coming year. In many countries, New Year’s celebrations begin on the evening of December 31-New Year’s Eve-and continue into the early hours of January 1. In addition to the new year, Atiku celebrated the mythical victory of the Babylonian sky god Marduk over the evil sea goddess Tiamat and served an important political purpose: It was during this time that a new king was crowned or that the current ruler’s divine mandate was symbolically renewed. They marked the occasion with a massive religious festival called Akitu (derived from the Sumerian word for barley, which was cut in the spring) that involved a different ritual on each of its 11 days. For the Babylonians, the first new moon following the vernal equinox-the day in late March with an equal amount of sunlight and darkness-heralded the start of a new year. The earliest recorded festivities in honor of a new year’s arrival date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day).
Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia.
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