New year is largely celebrated in the late evening of the 31st of December. The celebration is most commonly associated with the custom of setting off fireworks around midnight and gathering family or friends for a feast and celebration. The event is to traditionally commemorate the welcoming of a new year as well as reflecting on the year which has just passed. Many cultures have developed their own traditions around the occasion such as feasting on delights for future prosperity, singing songs or by giving others gifts.

Famously, people like to set resolutions to act as a way of personal embetterment. This could include a healthier diet, more exercise or  promise to pick up a new hobby. 

The tradition of resolutions can be traced back circa 4000 years, where it was practiced by Ancient Babylonians. In ancient Mesopotamia, the new year would have begun during the spring months when they would plant their crops. People would pledge allegiance to the king and promise to repay their debts  and fulfill other promises by the start of the following year in order to be looked on favorably by their gods.

The earliest known record of the new year is found in ancient Mesopotamia in 2000 bce

The Gregorian calendar which is primarily used today was established in 1582, this follows a structure of 365-6 days spanned across 12 months. This relates to how long it takes the earth to fully orbit around the sun. The start of a new year was fixed to the 1st of January which is now the date most commonly associated with the new year.

New year has remained an immensely popular occasion and has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is celebrated on different days of the year depending on which calendar is being followed. Some of its original traditions are not too dissimilar to those we still practice today. New year is an event celebrated in many diverse ways, within many different cultures and with many different customs.