Anupama Nair
www.mediaeyenews.com
It is finally and thankfully the end of a year again. This year like the rocking twenty-twenty was in the grasp of a ‘mere virus’. This virus destroyed everything. In my entire life I have never experienced such a time. For the first time, my democratic rights were curtailed by frequent lockdowns. I am writing about the history of New Year from the beginning of time. Read on…
New Year Festival in any social, cultural, and religious observances over the world, celebrate the beginning of the new year. The earliest known record of a New Year was 2000 BC in Mesopotamia, the new year Akitu began with the new moon after the spring equinox (mid-March) and in Assyria with the new moon nearest the autumn equinox (mid-September). For the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians the year began with the autumn equinox, and for the early Greeks it began with the winter solstice (December 21). The Roman republican calendar, the year began on March 1, but after 153 BC the official date was January 1, which was continued in the Julian calendar in 46 BC.
In early medieval times most of Europe regarded March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, as the beginning of the new year, although New Year’s Day was observed on December 25 in England, that was ruled by the Anglo Saxons. William the Conqueror made a decree that the year will henceforth begin from January 1, but England later joined the rest of Christendom and adopted March 25. The Gregorian calendar, adopted in 1582 by the Roman Catholic Church, restored January 1 as New Year’s Day, and most European countries gradually followed — Scotland in 1660; Germany and Denmark 1700, England in 1752, and Russia, in 1918.
In 1788, Robert Burns wrote the poem 'Auld Lang Syne' and presented it to the Scots Musical Museum, indicating that it was an ancient song and that he'd been the first to record it on paper. The phrase 'auld lang syne' means 'for old times' sake', and the song is all about preserving old friendships and looking back over the events of the year. It is sung all over the world, evoking a sense of belonging and fellowship, tinged with nostalgia.
It has always been a much-loved Scottish tradition to sing the song just before midnight on 31st December. Everyone stands in a circle holding hands, then at the beginning of the final verse ('and there's a hand my trusty friend') they cross their arms across their bodies so that their left hand is holding the hand of the person on their right, and their right hand holds that of the person on their left. When the song ends, everyone rushes to the middle, still holding hands, and probably laughing.
This is the lyrics of the song ‘auld lang syne’. May it bring the memories of the year and the coming year 2022.
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 jo,
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 run about the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn,
Frae mornin' sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.
Chorus
And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
Chorus
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago.
Chorus
And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
And surely youll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I'll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we've wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
Chorus
And there's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we'll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
Wish you all a Happy New Year!
