Tuesday Tidbits #8

Happy New Year! Here are some New Year’s facts:

1. New Year’s celebration’s dates back 4000 years ago to ancient Babylon.
2. Using a baby to symbolize the New Year dates back to 600 B.C and the ancient Greeks.
3. The ancient Persians gave eggs as gifts on New Year’s.
4. New Year’s in Scotland is called Hogmanay.
5. In Brazil, people wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve for good luck and peace in the New Year.
6. In China, people burn crackers to scare away evil spirits.
7. The Lunar Calender determines the Chinese New Year.
8. In Italy, people have the tradition of wearing red underwear, and eating lentils & sausages to encourage good luck.
9. Kwanzaa is Swahili for First Fruits.
10. Rosh Hashanah means, Head of The Year.
11. The Times Square Ball was first lowered on Dec. 31 1907.
12. Seattle is the city where the New Year’s countdown is down with an elevator.
13. The largest New Year’s celebration is held in Sydney, Australia.
14. Over 80,000 fireworks are set off from the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
15. The song Auld Lang Syne means, Old Long Ago.
16. Losing weight is the top New Year’s Resolution.
17. 1890 was the first year for The Tournament of Roses Parade.
18. The Tournament of Roses Parade is held on New Year’s Day, unless it lands on a Sunday; then it’s held the next day, on Monday.
19. The first Rose Parade Queen was named in 1905. Her name was Hallie Woods.
20. The Tournament of Roses Parade is held each year in Pasadena, California. Pasadena means, Crown of The Valley, in Chippewa.