The celebration of the New Year was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. At that time each year began with the first new moon after the vernal equinox, and so coincided with the beginning of spring. Even then they made New Year’s resolutions, the most popular one being to return borrowed farm equipment.
It wasn’t until the time of Julius Caesar (45 BC) that a reasonably accurate system of reconciling the lunar with the solar year was devised and the system we use today was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, which not only uses leap years to correct discrepancies but century years that can be divided by 400 have leap years, and century years that can’t be divided by 400 don’t have leap years. This system would have been reasonably accurate for centuries to come. However, starting in 1972 “leap seconds” have been added in those years when deemed necessary to keep our calendar forever in balance with the heavens. Check the following website if you want to know more about leap seconds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_second.
New Year’s was celebrated in Roman times by offering sacrifices to Janus, the two-faced Roman deity who looked back on the past and forward to the future.
The song “Auld Lang Syne” was first published in 1796 after the death of Robert Burns, who is given credit for writing at least part of the poem. “Auld Lang Syne” means “old long ago” or “the good old days.” It was a Scottish song, but here is a common modern English version:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
And days of auld lang syne, my dear,
And days of auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld Lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!
So, as Robert Frost would recommend… don’t forget the good times, and have a happy new year.
My New Year’s card to you:
Posted by Roger Kuder 
Roger Kuder's Blog 