2011

“Auld Lang Syne” was written by Robert Burns in 1741 and it literally means “old long since,” or “days gone by.” This song is traditionally sung in many countries at midnight, January 1st, signaling the beginning of the New Year. “Syne” is pronounced like the word “sign,” not “zyne.”

Some cultures believe various foods bring good luck and prosperity if eaten on New Year’s Day. Some examples are:

Donuts (Dutch Oliebollen)
Black-eyed peas and other legumes
Cabbage
Hog’s meat
Rice

Making New Year’s resolutions dates back to the Babylonians.

1907 - New York’s famous ball dropped for the first time from Times Square on New Year’s Eve. It was a five-foot ball made out of wood and iron, weighed 700 lbs and included 100 25-watt bulbs.

Today, the ball is a 6-foot globe made out of Waterford crystal and weighs 1,070 lbs. It contains 9,576 LEDs (light emitting diodes) and uses relatively little energy (as much as about 10 toasters). Its decent starts at 11:59 PM and reaches the bottom at the stroke of midnight. The ball is sometimes referred to as the “Big Apple.”

The ball has been dropped every year, except in 1942 and 1943 due to wartime lighting restrictions.

The Tournament of Roses Parade started in 1890, which celebrated blossoming California orange crops.

The first post-Rose Parade college football game was in 1902 between Stanford University and University of Michigan. Michigan won with a score of 49-0.

The Chinese New Year, a very important Chinese holiday, begins on the new moon of the first lunar month, usually between January 21 and February 21. February 3, 2011 is the first day of the upcoming Chinese New Year. Each year is symbolized by one of 12 animals. 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, known as the luckiest of the 12 animals.