December is the most festive month filled with celebrations and soon it will be the time to say goodbye to 2018. Besides big feasts and parties, planning a joyful countdown activity is perhaps also on your to-do-list. We would like to share some fun and hidden facts about New Year’s Eve to prepare you with the upcoming 2019!

The origin of New Year’s celebration
Have you ever imagined that there were traditions of New Year’s celebration 4000 years before? From the earliest literature record, we know that the Mesopotamians have started to celebrate the arrival of New Year in B.C 2000. They have embraced their agricultural activities together with a series of parties and events.

Which place has New Year first?
Australia may be the first place that popped in your mind when someone is asking about the place that has New Year first. However, the pacific island Tonga is actually the one who rang their bell first every year and it is three hours ahead of Australia’s countdown.

New Year’s Eve in March?
Hongkongers are used to celebrating two New Year’s Eve, the western one in January and the lunar one in February. What you may not know is that the ancient Babylon were actually doing Akitu, their form of New Year celebration festival in March. They will throw parties and various religious ceremony twelve days in a row to welcome the arrival of spring time.

What does “January” represents?
There are many sayings about the naming behind the word “January”. A well-known one is that it is actually originated by a Latin word “ianua”, meaning doors and exits. Therefore January has a deep symbolic meaning of a grand gate towards the future and also a bright new beginning for all.

In this warming season with your loved ones, New World CLUB would like to send the greatest blessing to you all. Happy 2019!