May 2020

New Year Festival » New Year Special » New Year Songs

Here is a musical collection of selected New Year Songs from around the world! The collection boasts of a wide range of both traditional and popular New Year songs. Besides, you will be glad to find some nice and short New Year Songs for kids too. A good idea would be to sing these songs with your friends and dear ones on the New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day party and welcome the coming year in a jolly good spirit.

In case you know of a popular New Year Song that we have missed out or if you have written a beautiful New Year’s song yourself, please send it to us and help us better this collection. If selected, your song will be published on this along with your name!!

Auld Lang Syne

About the Song “Auld Lang Syne” Auld Lang Syne has almost the national anthem of New Year Songs! The song is sung at the stroke of midnight on 31st December in almost every English speaking country round the world. Auld Lang Syne song is said to have been at least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. It is believed that the early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scotch tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means ‘old long ago’, or ‘time remembered with fondness’ or simply, ‘the good old days.’

The Song

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of Auld Lang Syne. For Auld Lang Syne, my dear, for Auld Lang Syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne. (Repeat entire verse)

Longer Version

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot And auld lang syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang syne.

And surely, ye’ll be your pint stowp! And surely I’ll be mine! And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, For auld lang syne.

Chorus

We twa hae mn about the braes And pou’d the gowans fine; But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot Sin’ auld lang syne.

Chorus

We two hae paidled i’ the burn, Frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar’d Sin’ auld lang syne.

Chorus

And here’s a hand, my trusty fiere, And gie’s a hand o’ thine; And we’ll tak’ a right gude-willy waught, For auld lang syne.

Chorus

Chinese Version Zhengyue chu-yi guo xin nian Dajia tonglai guo xin nian Huan huan xixi guo xin ninan Da jia qu bai nian Qi ba long dong qiang dong qiang Da jia qu bai nian.

English Translation

The first of January is New Year All of us enjoy the New Year Everyone is happy when New Year comes Visiting friends, wishing everyone the best, Lighting firecrackers everywhere, We are enjoying the New Year.

(Scottish Song) Here we come a wassailing, Among the leaves so green Here we come a wondering So fair to be seen. Love and joy come to you And to your wassail too, And godd bless you and send you A Happy New Year,

And God send you a Happy New Year.

Ayios Vasilis erhete Ke den mas katadehete Apo, apo tin kesaria. Sis arhon sis arhondissa Kiria! Vastari penna ke harti Zaharokandio zimoni Harti, harti ke kalamari Des eme, des eme, to pallikari! To kalamari egrafe Ti mira toy tin elege Ke to, ke to harti omili. To hriso, to hriso mas kaiofili! Arhiminia kiarhihronia Psili mou dendrolivania, Ke arhi, ke arhi kalos mas hronos. Eklisia, eklisia, me tayio thronos! Arhi pou vgiken o Hristos Ayios ke Pnevmatikos, Sti gi, gi na perpatisi Ke na mas, ke na mas kalokardisi!

English Translation

Saint Basil comes, And does not acknowledge us From Caesarea. You are, you are the mistress of the house! He holds a pen and paper And leavened sweets Paper, paper and ink. Look at me, look at me, the brave one! The ink wrote And told fortunes, And the, and the paper spoke. Our golden, our golden clove! It is the first day of the month and the year, My tall rosemary, And from, and from the beginning a good year for us. The church, the church with the holy throne! Christ came in the beginning, Holy and Spiritual; On earth, on earth he walked To give us, to give us good cheer!

(Jewish meaning Shana Tova) Shana hal’cha shana ba’ah Ani kappai arima Shana tova lecha abba Shana tova lach ima Shana tova, shana tova.

English Translation One year has passed, A new year is coming. I will raise my hands And bid a Happy New Year

To mother and father.

(Sung to Row Row Row Your Boat) Ring ring ring the bells Ring them loud and clear Let’s tell everyone around That the New Year is here!!

(Sung to “Are You Sleeping?”) Hello New Year Hello New Year Good bye old Good bye old Hello New Year Hello New Year We’re glad you’re here

We’re glad you’re here

(A classic song written by Frank Loesser and sung by Ella Fitzgerald in 1960.) When the bells all ring and the horns all blow And the couples we know are fondly kissing. Will I be with you or will I be among the missing? Maybe it’s much too early in the game Ooh, but I thought I’d ask you just the same What are you doing New Year’s New Year’s eve? Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night Welcoming in the New Year New Year’s eve Maybe I’m crazy to suppose I’d ever be the one you chose Out of a thousand invitations You received Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance Here comes the jackpot question in advance: What are you doing New Year’s New Year’s Eve?

(This song was written by Marty Panzer and performed by Barry Manilow) Don’t look so sad, It’s not so bad you know. It’s just another night, That’s all it is. It’s not the first, It’s not the worst you know, We’ve come through all the rest, We’ll get through this. We’ve made mistakes, But we’ve made good friends too. Remember all the nights we spent with them? And all our plans, Who says they can’t come true? Tonight’s another chance to start again. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, Another night like all the rest. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, Let’s make it the best. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, It’s just another Auld Lang Syne, But when we’re through this New Year You’ll see, will be Just fine. We’re not alone, we’ve got the world you know. And it won’t let us down, just wait and see. And we’ll grow old, but think how wise we’ll grow. There’s more you know, it’s only New Year’s Eve. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, Another night like all the rest. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, Let’s make it the best. It’s just another New Year’s Eve, It’s just another Auld Lang Syne, But when we’re through this New Year, you’ll see, will be

Just fine.

New Year Festival » New Year Resolutions

New Year is the perfect time to look back into the past and make plans for the future. In an effort to make our lives better in the coming year many of us make lofty plans and lot many New Year Resolutions. A few promises are kept, many though usually fail. Here is an effort to understand the meaning, origin and benefits of New Year Resolution. The section also includes ideas on healthy New Year’s Resolution, Popular New Year Resolution and how to keep New Year’s Resolution. It is hoped that better understand and helpful tips on New Year’s Resolution will help you make focused, determined and successful resolution this year.

What is a New Year’s Resolution?

New Year Resolutions are basically commitment or promises that people make to themselves. These could be promises to complete a project or to alter a habit for their own betterment. Since these resolutions are usually made in the beginning of the year, these are popularly known as New Year’s Resolution. Ideally New Year’s resolution should remain into effect until the goal is achieved. However, it has been noticed that most New Year Resolution are broken fairly shortly after they are made.

It is said that the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions was started by early Babylonians. Their most resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment and begin the new year with a clean slate. Some people believe that New Years Resolutions were once promises made to the Gods, in the hope that the Gods would grant them some favor in return, such as a good harvest. It was also believed that breaking of New Year’s resolution brought bad luck on the individual hence one was advised to be careful while making New Year’s Resolution.

Popular New Year’s Resolution

In modern times, most popular New Year’s Resolution pertain to good health or good look. With obesity on the rise most people resolve to reduce weight by taking up exercises or by eating right. Other very popular and mostly broken resolution is to to quit smoking and drinking. Students usually make a resolution to complete their assignments on time and staying regular with studies. Resolution of waking up early and sleeping early are also quite common.

Fun-Facts About New Year Resolutions

Here are some fun facts related to New Year as observed in America:

• About 40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year’s resolutions each year.
• Most popular resolutions include promises of weight loss, exercise and quitting smoking.
• Also common are resolutions dealing with better money management / debt reduction.
• The following statistics reveal how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:
  • Past the first week: 75%
  • Past 2 weeks: 71%
  • After one month: 64%
  • After 6 months: 46%
  • About 67% of people make three or more resolutions.

Expert’s Advice on New Year’s Resolution

Though many people make New Year’s Resolution with enthusiasm and zeal, yet it has been noticed that most of these resolution fail shortly after. Experts feel that the reason for the failure of these resolution is that most people do not back their resolution with proper planning. It is recommended that one should plan how to effectively deal with the temptation of giving up the resolution in the mid-way. Besides, it is recommended that one should take help of friends and dear ones to keep their motivation level high.
Click here for more information on How to Keep New Year’s Resolution.

Also Read

New Year Festival » New Year Special » New Year Parades

New Year’s Parade is observed in several countries across the world. However, nothing beats the gaiety and enthusiasm of New Year’s Day Parade as seen in London and San Francisco. Given here is a glimpse of the vibrant colors of New Year’s Parade of London and New Year Parade in Chinatown. Enjoy!!

New Year’s Day Parade of London

The New Year’s Day Parade of London is an immensely popular and highly participated colorful event. The annual parade is being held since 1987 and has grown in popularity over the years. More than 10,000 performers participate in the parade and it takes more than 2 hours for the full parade to pass by. The event is internationally popular and people from US, Japan, South Africa and the Caribbean come to be a part of gala London New Year Parade. Some of the most attractive feature of New Year’s Day parade have been mentioned below.

• The Parade is made lively by the active participation of marching bands and cheerleaders from countries across the globe.
• The giant balloons and inflatables ranging from Noddy to Buddy and other cartoon characters are the most attractive feature of the parade for the kids.
• Many different cultures are represented in the London New Year Parade. From Indian, to Red Indian, to West Indian, Chinese dragons and dancers etc.
• Various means of transport including horses, elephants, are also displayed in the parade.
• The music band wishes Happy New Year to the crowd which line up the entire route of the Parade.
• Collectors along the route accept voluntary donations from the onlookers and help raise money for various charities.
• Corporate sector utilizes the popularity of the extravagant parade by running a rigorous advertising campaign along the parade route.

Scintillating Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is ranked one of the top ten parades in the world.

Brief History of the Chinese New Year Parade
In 1849, with the discovery of gold and the ensuing California Gold Rush, along with others many Chinese came to San Francisco to seek a better way of life. By the 1860’s, the Chinese were eager to share their culture with those who were unfamiliar with it. They chose favorite American tradition – the Parade to showcase their culture. Nothing like it had ever been done in their native China. They invited a variety of other groups from the city to participate, and they marched down carrying colorful flags, banners, lanterns, and drums and firecrackers to drive away evil spirits.

Attractions of Chinese New Year Parade
Over the years, the Parade has grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. High points of Chinese New Year Parade include:

• The Parade is made colorful through gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, firecrackers, Chinese acrobatics and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.
• A crowd favorite is the spectacular 201 Golden Dragon (Gum Lung). It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group, to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.
• The parade also features the current year’s Chinese zodiac sign.
• Thousands of onlookers come to participate in the electrifying parade which is widely covered by the media.

New Year Festival » New Year Trivia » New Year In Different Languages

New Year is celebrated in countries across the world. Find out how “Happy New Year” is said in different countries around the world. Use these information to greet and impress your friends who speak a different language other than your mother tongue.

New Year Festival » New Year Trivia » Baby New Year

The Baby New Year personifies the start of the New Year and is one of the most popular symbol of New Year Eve celebrations. The Baby New Year is a cute and chubby baby who wears nothing more than a diaper and a sash across his torso that shows the year he is representing. This Baby New Year quickly grows up into a elderly bearded man or Father Time (represents the year which is coming to an end) at the end of his year. At this time, he hands over his duties to the next Baby New Year.

The image of Baby New Year is very much popular in China. Besides, depicting the beginning of the New Year, here Baby New Year represents happiness, strength, good luck and prosperity.

It is said that the custom of using a baby to depict the beginning of New Year began in Greece around 600 BC. At that time, the Greeks honored their God of Wine – Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket. This ritual represent the annual rebirth of Dionysus as the spirit of fertility.Besides, early Egyptians are also said to have used the baby as a symbol of rebirth.Early Christians denounced the practice of using a baby as they felt that the custom was Pagan in nature. But the significance of baby as a personification of rebirth later forced the Church to reevaluate its position. Eventually, it was decreed that Church members would be permitted to celebrate the New Year using a symbolic baby, provided it illustrated the birth of the baby Jesus.

The use of a baby’s image as a banner for New Year celebrations was brought to America by the Germans, who had used the effigy since the 14th Century.

Commercial Use of Baby New Year

In recent times, Baby New Year is being widely used for commercial purpose.One can find the colourful image of Baby New Year being used in various types of banners, posters and New Year Cards. Banners and posters with Baby New Year image has become an important part of New Year decorations.

Losoong is the New Year for the people of Sikkim. It generally, falls in the month of December and marks the end of harvesting season. The highlights of the festival are Chaam dances and archery contests.

The Famous Chaam Dance

Sikkim New Year festivities are marked by the most popular Chaam Dance or Lama Dance. These religious dances creates a drama in which men become gods in attires of mystical symbols. Chaam dance indicates the victory of good over evil and are performed at the most famous Tsug Lakhang, Phodong and Rumtek monasteries.

Losoong festival is also famous as Sonam Losoong (Farmers’ New Year). It falls on the 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and dots the agricultural New Year when rice and grains are in plenty. People of Sikkim celebrate this day by performing a very famous Chaam dance. They also make offerings to the gods, both in gompas and in their domestic shrines. Sonam Losoong is more of a private affair. People get up before dawn to take bath and wear new clothes. Later, all the family members sit together to perform poojas for peace and prosperity. This festival lasts for 15 days. Another important day called Nyempo Guzom falls amidst the festivities of Losoong. It is considered inauspicious to venture into new projects on this day.

A traditional stage fight symbolizing victory of good over evil and passing through the crowds with fire torches are practiced. Amidst all this, archery contest also takes place. Kagyed dances (monastic dances) also the famous dances which precede the Losoong festival

New Year Festival » New Year Special » New Year Symbols

Over the years New Year celebrations has come to be represented through several images and symbols. These New Year symbols conjures up the lively spirit of New Year in our minds and help us to get into the New Year spirit. Given here is a brief description of some of the most popular and widely used New Year images. Many of these New Year symbols are used in New Year decorations and greeting cards.

Father Time

Father Time if one of the most significant symbol used in New Year Eve celebrations in several countries around the world and US in particular. The common image of Father Time is that of an old bearded man dressed in a robe wearing a sash across his chest with the previous year printed on it. A personification of time, Father Time carries an hourglass or other timekeeping device and a scythe. This particular image of Father Time is said to have been derived from several sources, including the Holly King – the Celtic God of the dying year, and Chronos – the Greek God of time.

The Father Time hands over his duties to the Baby New Year, which is the symbol of “New Year” and is depicted as an infant wearing a sash with the new year printed on it. Father Time and Baby New Year thus serve as metaphors for death of one calendar year and the birth of a new one.

Baby New Year

The Baby New Year is yet another popular New Year Symbol and is used to personify the start of New Year. Baby New Year is represented as a chubby baby wearing nothing more than a diaper and a sash across his torso that shows the year he is representing.

This Baby New Year grows up into the old bearded Father Time at the end of the year. At this point, he hands over his duties to the next Baby New Year.

Fire Works

Bursting crackers and noise making fire-works are a popular image of New Year celebrations. It is said that use of noisy fire works on New Year’s eve emerged from a popular belief of olden times that said noise and fire helped to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck.

Candles

Candles are used as a traditional symbol of New Year. Glowing taper candles are often seen on New Year Greeting cards and are widely used for New Year decorations. It is said that the use of candle as an auspicious symbol emerged from a belief popular in early times which suggested that smoke from the candles would rise and reach the heavens above. This would ensure that God will answer their secret prayers said over flames of the candle. In modern times people believe that candles spread light, cheer and warmth around.

Bonfires

Lighting of Bonfire is a popular tradition of New Year Eve celebrations. Bonfires immediately pulls people around it because of the warmth as New Year falls at the peak of winters in most countries. Hence many of the celebration activities like dancing and singing are centred around bonfires.

Christmas Symbols

Many of the traditional Christmas Symbols are also used as New Year symbols. This is because New Year falls just a week after Christmas and the festivities of Christmas continue till New Year’s day. Some of the popular Christmas symbols also used in New Year include Christmas Tree, Evergreen, and Holly and the Yule Log. Tradition of burning decorated Yule Log in fireplace is particularly relevant as it symbolizes the light coming back to conquer darkness.

Janus

Janus – the Roman God with two faces, one head looking forward to the New Year and the other looking back at the old is yet another image associated with New Year.

Grapes, Lentils, Nuts, Pomegranates and Mistletoes

In several countries, grapes, lentils, nuts, pomegranates and mistletoes are used as auspicious New Year symbols. Use of grapes and lentils is said to ensure prosperity. The tradition of consuming grapes on New Year is particularly rampant in Italy. Here a popular saying goes, “eat grapes on New Year’s Day and you’ll be counting money the rest of the year”. Pomegranate fruit is also served to guests as the fruit is associated with fertility and abundance. Mistletoes are considered a good luck charm. Hence in several places New Year table is often decorated with a sprig of mistletoe.