We celebrate New Year’s Eve here in the United States on January 1st with a lot of alcohol, fireworks, sparkly clothes, and by dropping a huge lighted ball at Times Square in New York City. New Year’s is one of the oldest and most enduring celebrations.
New Year’s celebrations first started in ancient Babylon. Later, the ancient Romans added the traditions of lots of alcohol and kissing. The kiss is meant to set the tone for the New Year.
Just about every culture celebrates the New Year. The tradition of when the New Year begins and how it is celebrated varies around the world.
In much of India, Nava Varsha is celebrated in March or April. Sikhs celebrate Hola Mohalla in March. Persian Nowruz is also celebrated in the month of March.
In China and Southeast Asia, Lunar New Year is the first day of the first lunar month.
The Chinese New Year is marked with a large multi-course meal.
The Babylonians celebrated with a feast. All borrowed farm equipment was returned, as it would soon be needed to work the fields.
The most ancient New Year tradition in Canada is to feast on lucky foods.
In Norse tradition, the month-long Yule celebration ended around the New Year with a huge feast.
In Scotland, Hogmanay lasts about four days. Guests are expected to bring whisky or fruitcake to every person they visit.
The ancient Egyptians and Greeks paraded a baby around to symbolize the New Year at the end of winter when crops sprouted.
So, however you celebrate the New Year, make it a safe and happy celebration. And if you observe the tradition of a kiss at midnight, be careful who you are standing next to when the clock strikes midnight. 
Two mortals are caught in the midst of the battle between the Titans and Olympian gods.
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Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly
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