It’s barely struck midnight and some people are already sending out their New Year’s wishes by text message to friends all over the world. In a hurry (or otherwise) to get the new year underway, they always like to be the first to wish everyone “Happy New Year”. But how many of them know that they are already trailing behind when we consider the customs surrounding this tradition, which have differed from one country to another ever since people began offering new year’s wishes to one another.
The Romans are said to have been the first to offer small gifts, such as a handful of verbena leaves or a few coins to bring good fortune for the new year. Back then though, it began in March.
In 46 BC, Julius Caesar introduced a new solar calendar based on 365 days which, over the years, saw the start of the new year follow on from Christmas, which was much more important for the Catholics. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII replaced the Julian calendar by the Gregorian one. The Protestant countries were reluctant to adopt it. Centuries later, a handful of Orthodox churches still use the old calendar. Their new year falls on 14 January. While the Chinese new year occurs sometime between 21 January and 20 February as it varies according to the position of the moon. In 2022, it falls on 1st February.
In the Anglo-Saxon countries, the purpose of offering the season’s greetings is mainly to strengthen bonds and to offer best wishes to friends or private and professional acquaintances who may have been neglected over the recent months. They are offered from 1st December, during the three weeks preceding Christmas. They include best wishes for the coming year but these are not the main purpose of these greetings, in which people provide news of their friends and family, often photographed wearing festive attire to illustrate the letter or card. After the Christmas break, it’s still possible to send new year’s wishes in professional circles in Great Britain, the United States, Australia or New Zealand. But not after the first week of January, when life and work are considered as being back to normal.
In France, the habit of sending
greetings cards developed from the
Middle Ages onwards. People would also visit one another to strengthen old ties and to wish one another all the best for the future. At the time: postal services were virtually inexistent for private customers.
In 1849, following the creation of
postage stamps, written
greetings became increasingly popular. This was before landline and mobile telephones and later the Internet and its message services came along to drastically
transform existing customs and habits. The only tradition which hasn’t really changed despite these increasingly speedy communication services is the time allowed for the presentation of new year’s wishes, which can be sent up
to the end of January.
Texte : Frédéric Martin-Bernard
Copyright : The consulate, generator of new energy 2018