A BRIEF HISTORY OF NEW YEARS DAY
By Tim Lambert
Until the 18th century in England New Years Day was on 25 March, which was the Feast of the Annunciation when an angel told Mary the mother of Jesus that she was pregnant and would have a son. (It was also called Lady Day).
Further back in history the Romans celebrated New Year in January. However after the fall of Rome the date of New Year was changed to March.
In Tudor England rich or well off people gave gifts on New Years Day (25 March). For the rich and powerful it was important to give an expensive gift to the king or queen to gain their favour. However it was also important for the monarch to give expensive presents back, to show their generosity. However the custom of giving presents at New Year died out in the 19th century when it became common to give presents at Christmas.
In the past many people were very superstitious and changes between periods of time were very significant. Therefore there were many superstitions about New Year as late as the 19th century. Many people believed that you should not take anything out of the house until you had brought something in, otherwise you would 'take out' the luck. Some people would not take out the rubbish or ash from the fire. Others even refused to let a neighbour light a taper from their fire to take home to light their own fire!.
It was also important that the first man to step over the threshold (called the first-footer) should have dark hair. (It must be a man it was bad luck if a woman was the first person to enter your house on New Years Day). Some people believed that the 'first-footer' should bring a lump of coal for extra luck.
Many people believed that the first water drawn from the well on New Years Day (known as the cream of the well) was special and if a woman washed in it she would become beautiful.
The British finally began to celebrate New Years Day in January in 1752 when the country changed to the Gregorian Calendar. However New Years Day was not made a bank holiday in Britain till 1974.
In Scotland after the Reformation the Church disaproved of Christmas because of its pagan origins. So New Year of Hogmanay was a much bigger celebration.
The custom of making New Years resolutions goes back to the ancient world. So, no doubt does the habit of not keeping them!