New year: a brief history of the holiday

Every year we prepare for it - for a favorite holiday New year, present it, looking forward to this pleasant and cheerful period. And so for over five thousand years - indeed, in different parts of the world to see the previous year and meet the following was taken from time immemorial.

Surprisingly, the first to celebrate the New year began, the inhabitants of ancient Mesopotamia. There the celebration was timed to the beginning of the new season of agricultural work, which started after a 12-day period, when he descended the largest rivers (Tigris and Euphrates). Now during those days the inhabitants of Mesopotamia strongly enjoyed life and indulged in the festivities. While the main "hero" of the Mesopotamian New year was bright God Marduk was considered that the spill rivers marks his victory over the forces of death, evil and destruction.

New year was celebrated in Ancient Egypt. Also during the pouring of the main river - the Nile. Their celebration lasted a month, during which the river was allowed to float a boat, in which was placed the statue of the main deity Amon and his family. The Egyptians also strongly had fun, danced and enjoyed life in this period, it was believed that the spill river symbolizes the glorious deeds of the gods. In General, the situation with the Mesopotamian very similar.

The main contribution to the celebration of the New year has brought Ancient Rome. Initially there this holiday was celebrated in early March, but Julius Caesar in 46 BC brought him on January 1st! That was the first time in the history of the beginning of the year was counted from January 1. The Romans, too, was the "chief hero" of the holiday - God Janus was the God of doors, all beginnings and selection). It is in honor of this God got its name for the month of January. Interestingly, it was represented with two faces: one looking back and the other forward. During the Christmas festivities, the Romans brought the Janus victims, but also organized a major holiday events.

Thus began the history of the New year as a holiday, a long time ago during the last era. And, as in many phenomena, the main contribution from one of the greatest powers of the ancient times - Ancient Rome.