Probably the most universally sung song for New Year in the English-speaking world is “Auld Lang Syne”. Most people know the tune, but hardly anyone can profess to know all the words too! (Should you wish to add to your resolutions learning the words to be ready for next year, please click here!) Auld lang syne is an old Scottish song which was first published by Robert Burns in 1796. Burns did not write the song himself, although he did make a few modifications when transcribing it. He heard an old man from his home in Ayrshire singing it… whence it came from before that, who knows?

‘Auld lang syne’ means ‘times gone by’, which makes it the perfect song to sing on New Year’s eve, when most people are making resolutions. New Year’s resolutions, it is believed, were first made by the Babylonians. People have been making (and breaking) them ever since!

Another tradition renowned throughout the world for announcing the end of a year and the beginning of the next is fireworks. This tradition stems from the ancient belief that fire and noise ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. The Chinese invented fireworks in the 12th century and use them each year in their New Year’s celebrations. The biggest fireworks event, however, each New Year (as listed in the Guinness World Records) is in Madeira, Portugal.

Here are a few ways in which the New Year is welcomed across the World:

• In New York, the world famous 6-foot Waterford Crystal ball in Times Square descends 77 feet over the course of the final minute of the year, coming to the bottom of its descent at precisely midnight. The tradition started in 1907 with a 700 lb ball constructed of iron and wood adorned with one hundred 25-watt bulbs.
• Two other countries have the ball drop tradition – Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on the beach in Copacabana, and in Sydney Harbor in Australia. (The fireworks display in Sydney draws more than a million people every year.)
• In Austria, The Netherlands, Denmark and several other European countries, the New Year is welcomed with private firework displays and in some countries bonfires of Christmas trees.
• In Russia, the New Year is a very large family celebration, with lavish food prepared, gifts and plenty of champagne and vodka! The president of Russia counts out the final minute of the old year. It is customary in Russia to make wishes on each chime of the stroke of midnight, rather than resolutions.
• Ecuador celebrates a unique tradition on the last day of the year. Elaborate effigies, called Anos Viejos (Old Years) are created to represent people and events from the past year- often including political leaders with whom the creator of the effigy may have disagreed. The dummies are made of straw, newspaper, and old clothes, with paper mâché ‘faces’. At midnight the effigies are ignited to symbolize burning away of the past year and welcoming of the new one. Sounds like a lot of work, but pretty satisfying!
• South Koreans celebrate New Year’s Day by travelling to Jung Dong Jin, the location on the peninsula of the country where the sun can first be seen each day to welcome the first light of the year.
• In Japan, on the stroke of midnight, the Buddhist temple bells are rung 108 times to signify the absolution of the 108 sins of humankind.

However you choose to celebrate, all of us at Headworks wish you, your family and friends the very best in 2008!