I am Mnkong Emmanuel Saah, a citizen of Cameroon, in Africa. And I would like to share with friends of this Community space, on what I titled:
New year day celebration
A focus on Cameroon celebration of this Significant feast:
New year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins and calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system today. New year occurs on January 1 (New Year's Day, proceeded by New Year's Eve)
The origin of New Year's Day can be traced back to the Roman calendar and Julian calendar, where January 1, was also the first day of the year. It was originally a religious feast that centered around the worship of the God Janus.
The concept of celebrating a new year was originally instituted in Mesopotamia, today's Iraq in 2000Bc around the time of vernal equinox in mid March 1st as the commencement of the new year.
The first time the new year was celebrated on 1st January was in Rome in the year 153B.C. It should be noted that January did not exist until about 700B.c. When the second King of Rome ( Numa Pontilius) added the month to the calendar.
Since 153B.C January 1, the New Year was moved from March to January because it marked the commencement of the civil year, and the month that the two newly elected consuls began one year tenure. Julius Caesar in 46B.C reformed the calendar and extended the period of a year from 355 days to 445 days that consisted of 15 months. These changes lead to the creation of Julian calendar and the beginning of the new rationalized calendar as we now know it.
The month of January is thought, by many, to have been named after the god of transitions and beginning, Janus, during the reign of second King of Rome who lived from 753 - 673B.C.
From the biblical point of view 1st January 2025, as New Year's Day 2025 was adopted officially by most nations of western Europe somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. Dates predicated on the year beginning 25 march became known as Annunciation style dates, while dates of Gregorian calendar commencing on 1 January were distinguished as circumcision style dates because this was the date of the Feast of circumcision, the observed memorial of the eight day of Jesus Christ's life after his birth, counted from the latter's observation on Christmas, 25 December.
Pope Gregory christened 1 January as the beginning of the New Year according to his reform of the Catholic Liturgical calendar, thus conforming it's existing date.
The arrival of the New Year is announced at the stroke of midnight with fireworks, music and a live celebration that is broadcast worldwide.
*January 1 marks the remembrance of the passing year and represent a new beginning and start of a new year. It is marked significantly with fireworks at midnight, new year's resolutions, new beginnings and friends and family. This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has become an occasion to celebrate the night of December 31, called New Year's Eve.
THE NEW DAY CELEBRATION; A FOCUS ON CAMEROON CELEBRATION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT FEAST
In Cameroon New Year celebration starts on the New Year's Eve, the 31st December and is celebrated with dancing, eating, drinking and watching or lighting fireworks among many. Some christians attend watchnight service, commonly known here as "Crossover night" to mark the occasion. New Year's Eve celebration generally continue into New Year's Day's 1 January, past midnight.
Here the arrival of new year like elsewhere in the world is announced at the stroke of midnight with fireworks, gun firing by the military, music and a celebration is broadcast throughout the entire nation of Cameroon. And with shouting and chanting of "Happy New Year" and "Bonne Année" from all corners considering the bicultural nature of Cameroon. Christians and non christians gather in different locations according to their intentions, some in bars while christians chose gathering to transit or cross over from the old year to the new year.
And this watchnight services unbelievers are always given the opportunity to give their lives to Christ. Thus this year's crossover night marked the transition from the old year 2024, on 31 December in to the beginning of a new year 2025 on 1 January. The crossover night in Cameroon is also characterized by prophetic declarations from the pastors or clergymen to the audience or faithfuls in order to give them hope and expectations for the new year.
In Cameroon, is a tradition to spend this celebration together with loved ones. A toast is made to the new year, with fireworks displays, kisses, watchnight services and parties among other customs. A popular tradition ( although optional ) is the making and declaration of new year resolutions.
Popular rituals include serving food that symbolizes good fortune and making resolutions concerning what one hopes to accomplish in the next year (new year). When the clock strikes 12:00AM and the new year begins, people may cheer, toast with champagne, kiss loved ones.
On the new year eve in Cameroon, and as a tradition, the head of state, the President of Republic addresses the nation where he presents the Country's achievements and drawbacks of the current year, and makes projections of hope for the forthcoming year. And he ends by wishing the fellow compatriots "a happy and prosperous new year 2025" as it was the case of this year.
New Year's Day is the time for celebration and holds deep cultural significance. It represents a fresh start and is often associated with setting resolutions for self improvement, leaving behind the past, and looking forward with hope.
It marks the beginning of a new year, a moment of reflection on the past and a chance to look forward to the future. While celebrated with diverse traditions around the world, the shared theme of hope, renewal and new opportunities make this occasion significant for millions globally.
Before I end, I wish to wish all our audience on this community space, a "Happy and prosperous New Year, 2025". May this year be your best yet, filled with love, laughter, and personal growth: Cheers to a new chapter! May 2025 take you closer to your dreams and surround you with positivity! May this New year bring you peace, prosperity, and endless joy.