So then, we have had 2008 whiz by us in a flash and now we are onto a new year, the year of 2009.  What can we expect of the year? How long will people be keeping the new years resolutions? It’s all arriving this year!

New Years Resolutions…

The history of the New Year resolution dates back to the Babylon era, it was mainly for people to say that they will do something e.g. return farm equipment to whoever they borrowed from. Nowadays it is a time for people to put effort into doing something e.g. quitting smoking or loose weight. So for this year what will be your new year’s resolution?

Celebrating the Coming Year

You may or may not know but people gathering together to see of the old year and coming of the new is actually an ancient tradition that is seen as being lucky. They say that whatever you do in the first few minutes could make the rest of the year good or bad, so people spending time with their friends and families is part of people hopefully spending more time with them throughout the year.

(image sourced from:http://uk.gizmodo.com/2006/06/30/fireworks_photo_tips.html)

The Chimes of the New Year

In the UK we have Big Ben to start off the New Year with its 12 o’clock chime and then a load of fireworks, it has become custom in most places across the year to celebrate new years with big firework displays which bring light and colour. This year there was a second delay for the celebrations as the Earth is getting a fraction further away from the Sun making the years a fraction longer.

So the Year of the Ox, may it bring you good luck and see if you can keep your new years resolution!