New Year’s Eve, the origins of the modern celebration

Just time to recover from the joys, sometimes the excesses too, of the Christmas holidays, and it is already time to think about New Year’s Eve. What are the origins of this celebration?

Last festivity of the year, New Year’s Eve does not have a religious character. Some connect it to the story of the priest Sylvester, a Roman who was elected 33^e pope and who occupied the Holy See for 22 years, during the reign of Constantine the Great. He remained known for his construction of large Roman basilicas. It is also said that he tamed a dragon… Sylvester 1^iswho became Saint Sylvester, died on December 31, 335.

On New Year’s Eve, we make noise to chase away evil spirits

However, these are more likely the Sigillaires, celebrated in ancient Rome to close the Saturnaliaand with them the festivities of the year, which are the origin of New Year’s Eve.

This celebration gave rise to great feasts which made it possible to enjoy the bridge in good company until the first day of the new year, since Julius Caesar had set the end of the year for December 31. Tradition dictated that the longer the meal and the more numerous the dishes, the happier and more prosperous the new year would be.

Hence the tradition of lining up small and large dishes and celebrating, often with friends, but sometimes also with complete strangers, in order to pass the symbolic milestone of the new year by exchanging wishes during the twelve strokes of midnight, then have fun long into the night.

Read also: unusual New Year’s Eve, December 31, discover New Year’s traditions around the world

Even if, due to time zones, the inhabitants of Auckland, New Zealand, will be the first to celebrate the New Year, music, horn blasts and other sound manifestations will gradually resound throughout the world.

Why so much noise? The answer is to be found in an ancient belief, according to which there is nothing like it to chase away and keep evil spirits at bay.

Kissing, yes, but under the mistletoe

Spending New Year’s Eve with those you love is already an excellent reason to be happy. There is, however, a moment when the eyes shine even brighter… with the twelve strokes of midnight approaching, it is not only the time to exchange wishes, but also kisses, and if possible under a branch of gui.

Another tradition whose origins are lost (almost) in the mists of time. The Druids already considered mistletoe, particularly that which grew on oak trees, as a sacred plant. They called him “ golden branch “, and only some of them had the privilege of being able to cut it, with a golden pruning hook if we believe the legend.
For the mistletoe to retain all its virtues, it had to be picked on the sixth day of the moon, which corresponded to the beginning of the Gallic month.

At that time, mistletoe, taken in the form of a drink, was believed to have all the virtues: not only did it ensure fertility, but it was a remedy against all poisons. The Druids also gave it a name which, in their language, meant “ healing everything ».

The tradition happily spanned the centuries, since it was still customary in the Middle Ages to hang mistletoe from the ceiling beams to ensure the prosperity of the house and all its occupants: culture, animals, descendants…

Kissing under the mistletoe is an ancient tradition – © Pixel-Shot

Undoubtedly a survival of the old Druidic cult, it is still advisable, even today, to hang mistletoe on doors and windows at Christmas time and especially for the New Year, in order to benefit the whole household and its guests of this true symbol of peace, health and happiness.

Why are we kissing under the mistletoe? Different legends circulate

The first tells that the Druids themselves hung mistletoe at the entrance to their house, as protection against evil spirits, and that they kissed their visitors under this same mistletoe to bring them luck and happiness.

Elsewhere it is said that, in very distant times, when enemies met under mistletoe in the forest, they renounced all combat and made peace until the next day. This is where the custom of kissing under mistletoe comes from, as a sign of friendship.

Among the Romans, still at the time of Saturnaliato kiss a young girl, it was enough to drag her without her knowledge under a ball of mistletoe: a popular belief was in fact that one could not refuse such a kiss, otherwise there was a risk of not getting married for the whole following year. We then favored ruse over consent.

Mistletoe and its legends

Legends vary by region, naturally. Thus, a Scandinavian tale features Baldut, the king of the sun, killed by a poisoned arrow by a jealous demon. The king’s mother, Preyla, goddess of love, then asked the gods to bring him back to life, in exchange for which she promised to kiss anyone who passed under a mistletoe tree. The gods heard him, and mistletoe then became the symbol of both love and forgiveness. Pretty, right?

Mistletoe has become the symbol of love and forgiveness – © Natalia Golubnycha

So, it is of good omen for lovers to kiss under the mistletoe: a long and happy life as a couple awaits them. It is also sometimes said that the same kiss under the plant once considered sacred announces a marriage within the year. It’s up to you whether you prefer to kiss your lover underneath, or right next to the mistletoe.

As for the kiss between friends, a true ritual of New Year’s Eve, it would encourage the fulfillment of everyone’s wishes, while further sealing friendly bonds. So kiss who you love, but always under the mistletoe (…and with a mask)!

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