The New Year holiday is one of the most important events in the calendar and its arrival is celebrated all over the world. This is the moment when we wish each other well and have fun at New Year's Eve parties. However, in Polish tradition, for many years, the New Year was not particularly celebrated, and its celebration was linked to the Christmas period. Over time, specific New Year rituals and customs developed, combining elements of folk and Christian culture, and then more modern forms of entertainment were added to them. In our article, we look at the old and current traditions that accompany the celebration of the New Year.

Why is New Year's Day on January 1?

The establishment of the New Year on January 1st has its roots in antiquity and refers to the Roman calendar of religious holidays. At its very beginning, there was the feast of the god Janus, celebrated on the first day of the month of January, i.e. January 1st. The Roman calendar, called the Julian calendar, was introduced as universally binding in 46 BC. According to this calendar, followers of the Eastern churches, i.e. Orthodox and Greek Catholics, celebrate their holidays to this day. Then, in 1583, Pope Gregory XII introduced a new calendar, called the Gregorian calendar after his name, which we use to this day. In Poland, it came into force three years after the reform, but New Year as a separate holiday did not appear in it until the first half of the 17th century.

Old New Year's customs

As we mentioned earlier, the beginning of a new calendar year was not a special reason for a long time to celebrate. Instead, it was part of the Christmas period and the celebration of holiday customs. The original New Year's rituals were connected with the winter solstice, so they were also characteristic of Christmas Eve. In the evening, people sat down to a feast at a lavishly laid table, which this time was dominated by fatty and meat dishes, as well as =>cakes and stronger alcohol. At midnight in some regions of Poland, farmers would knock on the door of their hives to wake up the bees and get them to work. In the yards, a sheaf of straw was burned, which symbolized saying goodbye to last year's troubles and worries. In addition, on New Year's Day, people got up very early in the morning to wash themselves in cold water, according to custom - in a bowl, on the bottom of which a silver coin was placed to ensure health and beauty. There was also a belief that if a man was the first guest in the house on that day, the entire coming year would be successful, but if a woman appeared, the household would be beset by failures and troubles. In addition, efforts were made to ensure that there was no shortage of food on New Year's Day - a large unopened loaf of bread was placed on the table, which was to ensure abundance and protect against hunger. On this day, as throughout the Christmas period, carol singers went from house to house, entertaining the hosts with performances, songs, and extending wishes for health, prosperity, and abundant harvests. In gratitude, they were offered donations and refreshments.

Modern New Year's customs

Currently, the most popular way to welcome the New Year is to spend time at a New Year's Eve ball, a dance party or with friends at a so-called house party. At midnight, we raise toasts with champagne, give each other best wishes and admire fireworks. Interestingly, however, this style of partying has a relatively short history in Poland and became popular only at the end of the 19th century, initially only in large cities and wealthier homes. On New Year's Eve, people went out into the streets, there was a buzz, lights were turned on, firecrackers were shot - similar to what happens now.

It is also worth adding that these days, the start of a new year is a good motivation for many people to formulate New Year's resolutions - most often they concern health, work, hobbies and family relationships. Although not all of them are later implemented by us, the very act of creating such resolutions gives us a sense of a new beginning and puts us in a positive mood for the next year.

New Year's wishes

An inseparable ritual associated with the New Year holiday, present in both old tradition and today, is the custom of making wishes. Very often on this occasion, we use the phrase "do siego roku", which originates from old Polish times. At that time, it was said at the Christmas Eve table and meant a wish that all those gathered could live to see the coming year in the same company. Over time, this custom evolved and we currently use the phrase "do siego roku" on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

And we wish ourselves, above all, health, happiness, prosperity, fulfillment of dreams and for this next year to be better than the last one – which is what the team of Jacek Placek Confectionery wishes to all our dear Customers.

Happy New Year!