History is often rewritten by conquerors. It is your duty to do your due diligence. Let’s look briefly at the history of New Years observance.
Babylonians celebrated a festival called Akitu. It derives from the Sumerian word for “barley.” The festival lasted 11 days and a different ritual was conducted on each day. Statues of the gods were paraded throughout the streets as rites were conducted to symbolize their victory over the forces of chaos.
The principal god celebrated during this festival was Marduk (Babylonian sky god). Marduk was celebrated for his mythical victory over the evil sea goddess, Tiamat.
January 1 as the start of the New Year was established by Julius Caesar who facilitated the creation of the “
Julian Calendar” which was first used on January 1 46 BCE. Julius Caesar was a pagan and Janus was one of his gods.
The month of January is named after Janus, who was the Roman god of doorways, beginnings, endings, time, and transitions. Janus bifrons is his full name, “the god who looked both ways.”
Worship of Janus traditionally dates back to Romulus and even before the founding of Rome. January 7 was the day of his festival called “Agonium.”
Romans celebrated January 1st by offering sacrifices to Janus in hopes of gaining good fortune in the new year.
They decorated homes with laurel branches. Exchanged well wishes, figs and honey as they believed the beginning of anything was an omen.
Cakes made of spelt salt were offered to Janus and burnt at the altar.
Kissing at the moment of transition into the next year is rooted in pagan sexual practice and superstition.
“Watch Night” services were conducted to watch out for evil spirits who were believed to roam the earth during those times. Hence comes the tradition of staying up to ring in the New Year.
Eating pork and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day originates from homage to Janus. His mythological wife, Carna (goddess of human organs) was honored during her festival with a dish of fava beans and pork bacon. The peas/beans symbolize rebirth and pork/swine was the preferred sacrificial meat to the gods.
In Egypt, the year began with the annual flooding of the Nile, which coincided with the rising of the star Sirius after a 70-day absence. This typically occurred in mid-July and was celebrated with a festival known as Wepet Renpet , which means “opening of the year.”
The Phoenicians and Persians on the other hand began a new year with the spring equinox in March. The Persian New Year is called Nowruz (or Norooz) and is a 13-day spring festival which is believed to have originated as part of the Zoroastrian religion. Nowruz traditions, such as bonfires and colored eggs, are still celebrated in Iran and other parts of the Middle East and Asia.
Jewish people celebrate the beginning of a new year in September/October. The earliest reference to Rosh Hashanah in a rabbinic text comes from the Mishnah, a legal text from 200 AD, however the holiday is believed to be much older, perhaps originating in the sixth century BC, relating back to Babylonian captivity and Akitu. More on Rosh Hashanah.
In Chinese culture, the first day of the Lunar New Year occurs with the second new moon after the winter solstice to a bloodthirsty god called Nian
Did you know the Bible gives us a New Year? In the Springtime, Abib. [you’ll see it referred to as Nisan in some Bible translations. Jewish Talmud states it was changed to Nisan after Babylonian gods. Definitely stay away from that!]
We are living in a real life time clock on this biblical earth. [Berĕshith-Genesis 1:14-18] Elohai placed the sun, moon, and stars in the firmament for signs + seasons [moedim/feasts]
“And 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon in the land of Mitsrayim, saying, This new moon is the beginning of new moons for you, it is the first new moon of the year for you.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 12:1-2
“And Mosheh said to the people, “Remember this day in which you went out of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery. For by strength of hand 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 brought you out of this place, and whatever is leavened shall not be eaten. Today you are going out, in the new moon Aḇiḇ.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 13:3-4
Let’s quickly look at what Abib means, H24 in Strong’s Condordance. Strong’s Definitions: אָבִיב ʼâbîyb, aw-beeb’; from an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan:—Abib, ear, green ears of corn (not maize).
It sets up when the Biblical feasts are to occur.
“Three times in the year you are to celebrate a festival to Me: Guard the Festival of Matzot. Seven days you eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the new moon of Aḇiḇ – for in it you came out of Mitsrayim – and do not appear before Me empty-handed; and the Festival of the Harvest, the first-fruits of your labours which you have sown in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering at the outgoing of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field.”
Shemoth (Exodus) 23:14-16
“Guard the new moon of Aḇiḇ, and perform the Pĕsaḥ to 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohai, for in the new moon of Aḇiḇ 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohai brought you out of Mitsrayim by night.”
Deḇarim (Deuteronomy) 16:1
We also see the shofar being blown on the new moons. Father has given us such amazing observances to keep as His qodesh/set-apart/holy people unto Him. We don’t need man’s holidays when we get to keep His feasts.
And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed times, and at the beginning of your new moons, you shall blow the trumpets over your ascending offerings and over your slaughterings of peace offerings. And they shall be a remembrance for you before your Elohai. I am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohai.” Bemiḏbar-Numbers 10:10
And in the day of your gladness, and in your appointed times, and at the beginning of your new moons, you shall blow the trumpets over your ascending offerings and over your slaughterings of peace offerings. And they shall be a remembrance for you before your Elohai. I am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 your Elohai.” Tehillim- Psalm 81:3-4
