Dictionary

kissing at midnight: This is a tradition of New Year's Eve. Many people believe that whoever you kiss at midnight will remain by your side through the New Year.

letting the old year out: This is a superstition that states that people must open their doors at midnight to let the old year out and make way for the New Year to enter.

new moon: The first visible crescent; the new moon after the vernal equinox was the day the Babylonian New Year's Day was celebrated in approximately 2000 B.C.

New Year babies: Children born on New Year's Day. New Year babies are generally considered lucky.

New Year foods: Certain foods are thought to bring luck if eaten on New Year's Day. These include ring-shaped foods (such as donuts or bagels), black-eyed peas, hog jowls or ham and cabbage leaves.

New Year's Day: Observed on January 1 each year, this marks the beginning of the New Year and is often observed at midnight on the night of New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve: Observed on December 31 each year, this is the night before New Year's Day and when New Year's parties are commonly thrown.

New Year's resolutions: Goals or promises that people set for themselves for the New Year. Common resolutions include saving money, losing weight and quitting smoking. This tradition dates back to the Babylonians.

noisemakers: Horns, whistles and other party favors that are blown by party-goers at midnight on New Year's Eve to ring in the New Year. Superstition states that this is done to scare away evil spirits.