Different New Years across the world

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Danyel Carrrillo, Featured writer

 

 The world is a very diverse place with many cultures and different types of people inhabiting it, most of these people celebrate New Year, but not all at the same time or in the same way as us in the United States. Many of these celebrations remind us of the wider world and even ancient cultures from long ago.

The most famous New Year that is celebrated is the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year runs based on the ancient Chinese calendar. The major difference is that their  New Year’s day does not land on a specific day like January 1st. This is due to the lunar calendar. The New Year lasts around 15 or 16 days because it begins with the new moon that falls sometime between the end of February and the end of January and ends on the following full moon.

Another new year that is celebrated is the Islamic New Year. Just like the Chinese calendar, Islam follows a lunar calendar, not the Gregorian usage of a solar calendar. A day in the calendar is defined by sunset, and many Islamic communities adhere to astronomical examination before stating many holidays. Islamic New Year is a day of prayer and connection with family and community.

Now, let’s take a look at Africa, specifically Ethiopia where their New Year is in similarity to ours but still very different. The Ethiopian New Year begins September 12th, along with this the Ethiopian calendar is eight years behind ours. That is because they follow the word of a monk from the 5th century called Annius, who placed the annunciation of Christ 8 years behind the date Dionysius gave. Dionysus is a monk from the 6th century and many nations follow his statement of the time of the annunciation of Christ. 

These three New Year’s show how vastly different the world is, even before modernity and globalization. However, one thing is for sure, we are all supposed to appreciate the new year and celebrate with family and friends. If you can’t celebrate with others, we can reminisce and work to do better than ever in the next year.