New Year's Eve: 3...2...1...2013

Micol AzcarateStaff WriterAlthough by the time it’s Dec. 31 (at least according to the ancient Mayan calendar) we might all be tiny particles in space, let’s just say for this article’s sake that the Mayans were wrong and that Judgement Day is far, far away.Ironically, for many people, New Year’s is actually kind of the end of the world. Just like Valentine’s Day is an oh-so-friendly reminder to all of Beyoncé’s single ladies and boys that they are in fact s-i-n-g-l-e, New Year’s Eve kindly jogs our memory of all our failed resolutions from the last New Year.  While this can be encouraging, normally it brings about mixed feelings of hopelessness and excitement for another chance to finally improve.For the rare few who did actually make the changes they promised themselves they would (I will stop going on Reddit, I will stop watching Breaking Bad, I will fit into these jeans and so on) it’s a special night to celebrate their accomplishments, but might also cause them to experience nostalgic feelings while reminiscing about the past.Overall, let’s just say it’s a special night where we have an excuse to don glittery, glamorous, glitzy outfits, eat too much, and drink way too much (except not you, my dear readers, because you’re underage).So, you may ask, when was it that the trend to celebrate the start of the New Year began? Well, over 4,000 years ago Ancient Babylonians were the first to party on New Year’s Eve, making it the oldest of all celebrations. Instead of drinking champagne and counting down together while watching the ball drop in Times Square, ancient Babylonians were far more hard core.They celebrated for 11 days straight, and each day they did different activities ranging from worshipping their Gods, to singing, dancing and drinking beer. Similarly, nowadays most people will celebrate by going out to some sort of event with friends and family and going a little wild.What the Babylonians didn’t have, or at least not officially, was the infamous midnight kiss that couples or inebriated people all over the world share at the stroke of midnight. According to German and English folklore, your first interaction of the year establishes the tone of the upcoming year, so a kiss with a lover will strengthen a relationship you hope to maintain, and perhaps a kiss with a stranger will signify a year full of surprises and new encounters.“It can also be the perfect excuse to make out with someone,” Jennifer Gsell (’14) said. “The midnight kiss spices things up and makes New Year’s even more fun.”Due to its secularity, all types of people are free to celebrate New Year’s however they wish to. Whether you’re color-coding your underwear depending on your hopes for the new year (red if you want love, yellow if you want money) like they do in South America, or you’re chugging down twelve grapes at the speed of lightning before the clock stops chiming like they do in Spain, New Year’s Eve is an official opportunity to start fresh and blossom into a newly improved version of yourself.“No matter what your resolutions, culture, background or beliefs, Dec. 31 is that special night to reflect on the past and strategize for the future,” Grace Waring (’14) said.mazcarate@thesamohi.com