New Year’s Eve, like any other “holiday,” has a centuries-old tradition. Fireworks, loud partying are for many people the main associations related to the so-called New Year’s Eve. But why do so many people celebrate this day in such a boisterous way? For whose reason is there so much fuss? To find out the answer to this question, let’s take a trip back in history and try to provide ourselves with an answer.
Such a state of affairs that make up the so-called New Year’s Eve can be attributed to three figures: the fortune teller Sybil (and her prophecy), one of the popes and a mythical dragon. In the ancient world (mainly Greece), women involved in predicting the future, or soothsayers, were called “sybillas.” They were the ones who predicted future events, (often under the influence of intoxicants). The content they spoke of in their revelations was almost always tragic.
In the modern image, the Sibyl, is a kind of spirit medium, contacting spiritual beings, which Yahuah Elohim in the Bible calls demons. However, in ancient times, their voice and views were reckoned with. The soothsayers were often asked for proper advice, on issues of concern to the local community and even the state. Nowadays, in the age of technology and science, people’s belief in the power of divination has not diminished at all, but rather continues to develop, also with the mediation and simultaneous support of modern technologies. An example of this is the electronic mass-media or the Internet, where one can find fortune-telling and horoscopes drawn up even on individual order.
The myth of the Lateran dragon
At a certain period of history, one of the Sibylline prophecies came to light, according to which, in the year 1000, the end of the world was to occur. And the cause of its occurrence, was to turn out to be precisely the dragon Leviathan. According to this (pagan) story, in 317 Pope Sylvester I, fought with a cruel dragon, named Leviathan. As a result of this struggle, he defeated the monster, restrained it and threw it into the dungeons under the Lateran Hill in Rome. The dragon, shackled in chains joined by a papal seal, was to awaken from its slumber on the very night of 999/1000 and bring destruction by killing people and burning the existing world with fire, and was to put an end to civilization. It is easy to guess that to many, Leviathan was identified with the figure of Satan. Of course, in reality, it was just a fairy tale, given by a Sibylline fortune teller. However, people’s belief in its veracity at that time grew all the more as that day drew nearer. Thus, with the arrival of the year 999, the belief in the Sibylline prophecy came to life so strongly across Europe that many people began to prepare for the coming of the great day of terror, marking the end of humanity’s existence. This seemed to be confirmed by the mood surrounding the expectation of the arrival of this moment, both in Rome and throughout Europe. They were even described as the crisis of the millennium. At the time, Sylvester II (Gerbert of Aurillac) was pope. In the minds of many people lay the usual connotation that if Sylvester I imprisoned the dragon, then Sylvester II would surely be the one to free it. And the monster’s exit would then mean only one thing – total annihilation! What may seem quite funny in today’s perspective 1,000 years into the future, was not funny at all to the Europeans of that time. As the crucial date approached, so did the tension and uncertainty of European society. At the time, people often turned to descriptions from the Apocalypse of St. John, describing the terrible ancient dragon-Satan, to reassure themselves that they had lived to see the terrible moment of the fulfillment of this prophecy.
Year 1000 – “the hour of death”
Probably no one will be surprised by the fact that on that day no one looked forward to the arrival of midnight with eagerness and a cup of wine in hand. Fear and uncertainty of what was going to happen accompanied most of the Roman population, especially those who gave credence to the words of the Sibylline fortune teller. On that memorable night, the streets of the cities emptied by the hour, and people, hiding in their homes, carried out penance for their lives. After all, in just a few hours everything was about to come to a tragic end. Many in tears and trepidation, awaited the advent of their last minute of life. The date of death of old Europe and its people, was to be marked by the millennium midnight of 999 to 1000. It turns out that at the time, faith in the Sibylline prophecy was so strong that hardly anyone considered that it could be different from what the soothsayer had announced.
From the fear of death to the euphoria of wild partying
On that last day of 999, bells rang in all the churches of Rome, as if to underscore the coming final hour of humanity. Finally, the unwanted midnight came. But what is this? No demonic beast crawled out of the Vatican dungeons? It did not appear, neither in Rome nor in any other part of Europe. Nor had anyone seen or heard of it appearing anywhere else. There was consternation and disbelief. After all, it was so certain that they were all going to die. So had there been a mistake in the dates, had the dragon changed its mind, or had liberation come by some heroic hand? Until recently, the people of Rome, terrified with fear, crowded into the street to celebrate the salvation in this unexpected moment of freedom. Thus, human fear and despair in the hour of expected death, transformed into euphoria of joy. Everyone in unbridled joy congratulated themselves on their victorious survival of the terrible end of the world. Wine, joyful dancing and singing flowed. Fervent wishes for the best for those who were saved from the death of hellfire flowed.
Pope Sylvester “savior of the world”
Pope Sylvester II that night, for the first time, gave a blessing “urbi et orbi” – (Catholic prayers, intercessory, offered through intermediaries i.e. the so-called “saints” and Mary). First Sylvester II gave his blessing to the people of Rome and then to the whole world. After this whole event, it was to him that the victory over Leviathan was attributed. Here is a fact showing the reality that the fable of the dragon Leviathan became the foundation on which it began its career, a lavish annual party bearing the name of its “savior” Sylvester II. Thus ended the old millennium. Its end was filled with the fear of hell and death. Here began the new millennium, in the champagne mood of the people of Europe at the time. Every year since then, the celebration of victory over Leviathan began at a similar time. With the passing of the century (though not immediately), the event gained momentum and color, staggering wider and wider in Europe and then beyond its borders.
New Year’s divinations and witchcraft, or New Year’s Eve (i.e Sylvester) in Poland
New Year’s Eve parties arrived in Poland in the 19th century. They did not take place very often. And if they did take place, they usually took place in palaces and rich city houses. In centuries past, New Year’s Eve parties took place mainly among the wealthy aristocracy. For many, it was also an occasion for pouring out wax, a custom similar to that of the so-called “St. Andrews Day” uttering various spells and wishes for lovers. Accompanying this event, there were also numerous folk traditions, most often associated with attempts to divine what is to come in the coming year.
“Little New Year” – Dionysus or Messiah?
And here’s another of the pagan traditions overlapping with New Year’s Eve celebrations. Greek inspiration: “Our new year is coming, the old one is fading into the shadows.” – this was often said as the end of the old year approached. In ancient times, the year was personified as a small child symbolizing the new beginning of the year. The tradition of using a child as a symbol of the new year began in Greece around 600 BC. It was connected with the celebration of the festival of Dionysus – the god of the vine. During the holiday procession, a child was paraded in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of Dionysus and his fertility spirit. The Egyptians, too, regarded the child as a likeness of rebirth. Despite the fact that the early Christians rejected the above practices as pagan, the popularity of the child as a symbol of rebirth grew stronger. Over time, in view of the growing popularity of the cult, the situation prompted the Roman Catholic Church to change its position on this fact. So, it was permitted to celebrate the new year under the mantle of Christianity and at the same time to use the child as a symbol. It was meant to be a reference to the birth of the Messiah, pictured as a small child. There is probably nothing more wrong than when pagan traditions take precedence over the truths of Yahuah’s Word. Unfortunately, the person of the real Yahusha the Messiah, has little to do with the celebrations and imagery of pagan New Year traditions.
Greek New Year’s Eve inspiration.
Similarities as to the forms of celebration of modern New Year’s Eve can be found with the ancient Greeks in one of the holidays, the so-called Dionysia. This is a holiday in ancient Greece, in honor of Dionysus – the word means “freedom” in Greek. The Dionysia began with a great sacrificial procession. It was a gathering of many people, which always had its beginning in the late evening. In addition to reverence for Dionysus, the processions were varied with dancing and singing. The route of this entertainment-religious journey, found its finale in the temple of Dionysus. Afterwards, a religious service with a great feast in honor of Dionysus was held for the numerous attendees. Full freedom of morality prevailed, lavishly spiked with alcohol. It’s easy to think what was behind the feasting. The revelry lasted for days, intoxicating a large part of the Greek community. Doesn’t today’s so-called “New Year’s Eve” look somewhat similar in its customs? Many people associate it mainly with champagne, fun and ambience. Who among us, at least once, hasn’t heard of a lavish New Year’s Eve party starting late in the evening in a central part of the town or one of the halls or restaurants? Who among us hasn’t met or seen crowds “making a pilgrimage” with a bottle of sparkling liquor to the city center on New Year’s Eve? Who has not dodged the roar of firecrackers and fireworks and “flying” bottles and broken glass? Many people say that after all, we have “freedom” (or maybe dionysia?). Such a day especially features many such attitudes in people looking to defend their celebration! It may also happen that some of us, also had a part in such a New Year’s Eve “festival for Dionysus”. But did this celebration really work out good for any of these free people? How does each of them feel when the dawn and morning comes? I guess we all realize where will this “festival of freedom” lead many of them? There is nothing left but a prayer to Yahuah to open the eyes of many of those who so eagerly await their “dionysia” every year.
And what does Yahuah Elohim say about this in the Bible?
Can it be so said that New Year’s Eve celebrations have to do with fortune telling? Wasn’t their celebration initiated by an unfulfilled Sibylline divination? We know that the Bible warns against the consequences of indulging in fortune-telling. Witchcraft and divination, whether taken seriously or just for fun, are a source of deception that can have very unpleasant consequences for those who touch them. In the old covenant, for practices related to divination, those who indulged in them faced death by stoning, e.g. Leviticus 20:27:
‘You shall therefore be holy to Me, for I, Yahuah, am holy, and I have set you apart from among the nations to be Mine. If, therefore, a man or woman invokes spirits or divination, they will have to die. They will be stoned – they themselves will bear the guilt of shedding their own blood.” Leviticus 20:26-27
There are many examples in the Bible that confirm the fact that anyone who touches these things is under a curse. Yahuah has not changed His position towards them for thousands of years. In His eyes they were, and still are, abominations, as we read about elsewhere in the Bible,
“Let there not be found in you one who leads his son or his daughter through the fire, nor an diviner, nor a soothsayer, nor a fortune-teller, nor a diviner, nor a sorcerer, nor an enchanter, nor a conjurer of spirits, nor a witch doctor, nor a summoner of the dead; For an abomination to Yahuah is anyone who does these things, and because of these abominations Yahuah your Elohim drives them out before you. Be without blemish before Yahuah your Elohim” Deuteronomy 18:10-14
At the same time, it should be asked whether celebrating New Year’s Eve as it was on the day of the Pope’s “defeat of Leviathan” is not also related to some form of belief in divination? Why? Because all those who celebrated the first New Year’s Eve, a few moments earlier, expected to die because of the Sibylline divination about to be fulfilled. We can conclude that everything that followed year after year as a New Year’s Eve tradition is only a derivative of this landmark event of 999-1000….
2 Corinthians 6:14-18:
Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?
And what agreement has Messiah with Beliya‛al? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?
And what union has the Dwelling Place of Elohim with idols? For you are a Dwelling Place of the living Elohim, as Elohim has said,
“I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.“
Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate, says Yahuah, and do not touch what is unclean, and I shall receive you.
“And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me, says Yahuah the Almighty.”
History of New Year’s Eve celebrations and New Year’s Eve customs in the world even before Yahusha Messiah.
Of course, mankind has celebrated the beginning of a new year since ancient times. A calendar based on the solar year, the period in which the Earth revolves around the Sun, was known as early as ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Akitu festival, photo by getty images
The Babylonians celebrated Akitu – one of the oldest known Mesopotamian holidays, celebrated almost continuously in various forms from Presargonid times (before about 2350 BC) until the first centuries AD. Over time it evolved to become the most important religious holiday in Babylonia and Assyria. It was celebrated at the beginning of the month of nisann (March-April), when, according to the Babylonian lunar calendar, the arrival of the New Year was celebrated.
The tradition of celebrating the beginning of the year originated in Sumerian times, when the new calendar year began with the festival of zagmu, during which the guardian and supreme deity of the local pantheon symbolically asserted his right to rule.
In its oldest phase, akitu was a festival of farmers. Religious rituals during its celebration were supposed to ensure a rich harvest for the coming year. In different Sumerian centers, the rituals probably differed little. In the Babylonian state, for farmers the festival still held its original meaning, with rituals to ensure a good harvest for the coming year.
It began in the spring during the rainy season, when nature was awakening to life, also people were reborn. The celebration lasted as long as 10 days. The king of Babylonia underwent a ritual of humiliation. The priest would beat the ruler in the face, which was supposed to redeem his guilt, power was taken away from him for three days, after which time he was absolved and a lavish party was held for the subordinates.
Photo from getty images.
The Egyptians considered the beginning of the year to be September 21, when their revered star Sirius appeared in the sky. This was also when the Nile was supposed to pour out. The festival was called Wepet Renpet. People sang, played trumpets, tambourines and drums, and in a procession approached before Pharaoh. The celebration lasted as long as a month.
Samhain festival, source: olaczblgospot.com
The Celtic New Year’s Eve was Samhain – celebrated from October 31 to November 1, during which the end of summer was celebrated. The celebration lasted nine days. During Samhain no one was allowed to be alone – it was believed that if someone did not have company that day, his soul would be damned. The eve of Samhain was a celebration of the dead ancestors. It was believed that on this day the souls of the dead resided with the living.
In other cultures, the beginning of the year was usually considered the spring equinox of day and night, when nature awakens to life. In this sense, customs such as the drowning of the Madder can be considered New Year’s Day. Many pagan customs with such meaning are associated with Easter.
In ancient Rome, the first month of the year was dedicated to the god Mars and began on March 1. The months alternated between 30 and 31 days. Some confusion was introduced by Emperor Octavian Augustus. He named the sixth month following the month dedicated to Julius Caesar after himself (the original Latin-derived names of the months remained in the Romance and Germanic languages). He didn’t want to be inferior, so he lengthened “his” month to 31 days. This took its toll on the length of the last month – February, which until then had 30 days only in leap years anyway. Now it had 28-29 days left in it.
Julius Caesar set the date for the start of the next year as January 1 in 46 BC. The date of January 1 was associated with an important event. On that day then the consuls, the most important officials of the republic, took power. And although time was generally reckoned from the year of Rome’s founding, official documents were usually dated with the terms of office of individual consuls. January 1 as the beginning of the term of office was therefore of considerable practical importance.
Coin with an image of Janus in the form of two heads, photo: getty images
At the same time, the Romans worshipped the day of Janus, the god of gates, doors and beginnings. The rituals of the night were linked to the rhythms of nature, and celebrations usually lasted longer than one night. Anyway, the Latin name for January, “Ianuaris,” derives from the name of the Roman god Janus, depicted as a figure with two heads, one pointing backward, looking into the past, the other into the future.
In Christian tradition, there was great confusion with the establishment of the new year. The Catholic Church set the date of the New Year the day of the Feast of Christmas-that is, the date set by them for the birth of the Messiah. Although in fact the exact date of his birth was not known and a lot of controversy arose around it, such a date was officially adopted at the Council of Nicea in 325. Some places began to treat this day as the beginning of the year.
However, many theologians argued that the beginning of the year should be moved to the moment of the Annunciation, nine months earlier, i.e. March 25. This, for example, was suggested by Dionysius the Little, a monk who calculated the exact date of the Messiah’s birth in the 6th century. It also became widespread – also religiously justified – to count the New Year from Easter (even though it was a movable holiday).
Thus, in the Middle Ages there was a big mess in this regard. In the country of Charlemagne (784-814), Christmas Day was taken as the beginning of the year, while at the same time Easter was considered to be the beginning of the year in England.
Later, with the feudal division of Europe into smaller states – the confusion grew. In France, for example, the year began in Beauvais on December 25, in Reims on March 25, and in Paris on Easter Sunday. Without going into details, let’s say that Christmas (western and southern regions), the Annunciation (Normandy, Poitou, parts of central and eastern France), and Easter (Flanders, Artois, the royal domain) were most often considered the beginning of the year. A similar patchwork prevailed in the Italian and German states.
Even more confusion arose over the celebration of New Year’s Eve night associated in Christian tradition with the date of the death of Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31, 335. New Year’s Eve night was first celebrated in 999. People feared the end of the world associated with entering the new millennium. When midnight struck and the predicted apocalypse did not happen, celebrations began. People took to the streets, singing and dancing. On January 1, 1000, Pope Sylvester II gave the faithful a blessing “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”), which became a tradition and still functions today. As a side note, Saint Sylvester is also the patron saint of pets.
In England, until 1066, the year began on Easter, and then, from 1155, on March 25. In Poland and Spain, the New Year was celebrated on Christmas Day.
Perhaps the greatest confusion prevailed in France. There, the current custom of starting the year on January 1 was introduced earliest. King Charles IX of France (brother of Polish King Henry of Valois) issued an edict on the matter in 1563. He chose a compromise date that did not favor any of the country’s districts.
The idea was rather reluctantly accepted in Europe. Russia has been celebrating New Year’s Day on January 1 since 1700 (later according to the Julian calendar on January 14), and England only since 1752. Everywhere, moreover, the date was treated as an administrative one, but it was not celebrated.
It was not until the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries that the custom of holding New Year’s Eve parties was born. First in large cities, among rich people, then, in the 20th century, gradually also in the poorer strata of society. In the early 20th century, local New Year’s Eve customs emerged. For example, in Spain, one grape is eaten at midnight with each strike of the clock. This custom appeared in 1909 and became so popular that almost everyone follows it.
According to the Word of Yahuah in the Bible and books of scripture, the new year begins in the month of ABIB in the spring.
