Beginning around 45 B.C., based off of the Julian calendar, New Year’s Day was officiated by the Roman Dictator Julius Caesar, and from then on it was to be celebrated on January 1 of every year. While some may wonder the countries that welcome the New Year first, this reporter can inform you that those countries consist of Samoa, Tonga, and Kiritimati, according to timeanddate.com.

Countries around the world celebrate this holiday in many different ways. For instance in Spain, a New Year’s tradition is to eat grapes for good luck. In Denmark, they smash plates, and in Japan they ring bells 108 times. For some countries, New Year’s Day is one of their landmark holidays of the year, and all just because the earth has made a full rotation around the sun.

New Year’s resolutions are a very big thing in America – even if most of us don’t stick to them. There is just something about giving up a quality or action or habit for the New Year that people like to take part in, no matter how long it may last. Usually, it’s just the thought that counts. As unusual as it may seem, businessinsider.com mentions that “the Babylonians are the ones who originated this tradition, which has religious origins. Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.” And those examples are just few of the many ways that people all around the world celebrate New Year.