History and Traditions of a New Year



Let me first start out this article by wishing everyone a Happy New Year! As you are all aware we are early in January of the year 2026. It is typically a time for doing reflections on the previous year, what we did right, what we did wrong, things that worked as well as things that may not have gone according to plan and reflecting upon all the good times that we had with loved ones, friends, brothers and companions.

The start of the New Year is when the majority of individuals look forward to turning the page and creating new ideas, plans or resolutions to improve their lives or achieve specific goals. The tradition of observing and celebrating the New Year goes back well over four thousand years originating with the Babylonians. Their new year (Akitu) began with the new moon after the vernal equinox (1) . Other cultures celebrated the New Year at various times throughout the solar cycle. For Egyptians and the Phoenicians, the New Year began with the autumnal equinox (September 21) (1) . For the Persians the New Year began with the vernal equinox (Nowruz). For the ancient Greeks, the New Year began at the winter solstice. In the Jewish calendar, the year begins on Rosh Hashanah, between September 6 th and October 5 th the first day of the month of Tishri, as those of you in Scottish Rite are aware. The Chinese typically celebrate their New Year for a month beginning in late January or early February.

In ancient Rome, the New Year began at the vernal equinox. Their calendar, created by Romulus consisted of 10 months and 304 days (2) . Since this calendar fell out of sync with the solar cycle, Julius Caesar decided to solve the problem by consulting with the most prominent astronomers and mathematicians of his day (2) . He did this by introducing the Julian calendar which added January and February. Caesar decided to make January 1, the beginning of the New Year to honor the month’s namesake, Janus, the Roman God of new beginnings (2) . The Romans celebrated the New Year by  offering sacrifices to Janus, exchanging gifts with one another, decorating their homes with laurel branches and attending raucous parties.

In medieval Europe, Christian leaders replaced January 1 as the first of the year with days carrying more religious significance, like December 25 th or March 25 th (the Feast of the Annunciation) (2). Pope Gregory XIII reestablished January 1 as New Year’s Day in 1582.

Throughout the world, New Year’s celebrations begin on the 31 st of December and continue into January 1, with a feast occurring on either or both days to bestow good luck for the New Year. In Spain, celebrants bolt down a dozen grapes symbolizing their hopes for the months ahead, just before midnight (2). Pork is used as a meat for the feasts in several countries due to them representing progress and prosperity. Ring shaped cakes and pastries, a sign that that the year has come full circle, round out celebrations in several other countries (2). Fireworks are often used to bring in the New Year throughout the world. In Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, they drop a pickle at midnight to ring in the New Year (3) (useless trivia you can use to impress your friends next year).

The thing we most associate with the beginning of a New Year are resolutions for the coming New Year. The tradition of New Year’s resolutions is as old as the celebrating of New Year’s itself. The ancient Babylonians would make promises at the beginning of the New Year to make the incoming year better than the outgoing one, and also to make promises and earn the favor of the Gods. The Babylonians also vowed to pay off outstanding debts and return borrowed equipment at the beginning of the New Year (2).

In the Middle Ages, Knights would make an annual “Peacock Vow” at the beginning of the New Year. They would renew their resolution to maintain true to their vows of knighthood by putting their hands on a live or roasted peacock (4) . Throughout history, it has been common for Christians to observe mass on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day.

Today approximately 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, but it is thought that only 8 percent actually keep them (4). Common resolutions include exercising more, managing money better, improving personal relationships, learning a new skill and self improvement.

Masons are also known to make resolutions at this time of year with regards to their Masonic life and position in the Lodge.

There are also a few ways in which we as Masons can make resolutions to improve ourselves Masonically and our respective lodges. It can be anywhere from learning a new role in our degrees to deciding to join the progressive line and take a role in leadership. Other Masonic resolutions we can make can be as simple as helping out a Companion in the Lodge or to just being on the sidelines and supporting our Companions and Brothers on the sidelines.

Whatever resolutions that you make or plans that you have for the New Year, I hope you have a happy, healthy and successful 2026 both inside and outside of Masonry.

(1). Brittanica.com

(2). History.com

(3). AmericanTowns.com

(4). InsightVacations.com


By Eric Thiem

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