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13 Notable New Years events over the years

By Ryan Wolf

As balls drop around the globe and a new year begins, we should not neglect to remember the memorable and crackling beginnings of years past.

New Year’s Day has come to represent a time of renewal and fresh opportunity. Subsequently, this has led to many valuable historic events worth toasting.

Inspirational to some and considered pagan by others, the New Year’s holiday has been celebrated with drunken celebration as far back as ancient Rome (and as many around the world still do) between December 31 and January 1. The pagan ritual was held in tribute to the chaos alleged to have existed before the world was formed. Throughout the Middle Ages, New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25 (Annunciation Day) in order to avoid this association with paganism.

The Julian (western) calendar, however, officially began in January and Pope Gregory XIII revised the system in 1572, demanding that New Year’s Day be observed on its logical date. Since then, the holiday has served as a time for resolution and reformation for many, prompting important acts and initiatives throughout history.

1. The Julian Calendar Takes Effect – Following the advice of the astronomer Sosigenes, on January 1, 45 B.C., Julius Caesar replaced the traditional Roman calendar with his own reformed calendar. Instead of beginning the New Year in March, Caesar moved the date to January.
Completely reworking the calendar system, adding 67 days, Julius Caesar would eventually have a month named in his honor (July) by Emperor Augustus. The Julian Calendar was later amended slightly by the contemporary Gregorian calendar.

2. Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation – New Year’s Day 1863 was marked by the most significant executive order in American history. Brought forth by President Abraham Lincoln midway through the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation formally recognized all slaves in Confederate territories as freemen. Slavery throughout the entire United States would later become illegal by the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865.

3. Ellis Island Opens – On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the stopping point for millions of immigrants bringing generations of new life to the United States. The location still stands as the icon of the American immigrant experience.

4. The United Nations formed – Although the first UN meeting would not convene until after the end of World War II, on January 1, 1942 a “Declaration by United Nations” was signed by 26 governments. This declaration vowed to follow the Atlantic Charter, whose principles laid the groundwork for UN aims. As more governments signed the declaration, the United Nations began to develop as a viable global force.

5. The Fall of Batista – In 1959, a new year in Cuba would find a new, radically impactful government surfacing to challenge the existing political landscape. The Cuban Revolution was deemed a success by New Year’s Day when then-president Fulgencio Batista was forced out of the country. He was soon replaced by the communist revolutionary and tyrant Fidel Castro who continues to rule over Cuba to this day.

6. Further Importation of Slaves is Banned in the U.S. – Although slavery would remain an institution in the United States for decades to come, as of January 1, 1808, the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves became law. The transatlantic slave trade was permanently criminalized, marking the gradual recognition of the evil of slavery.

7. Rome’s Final Gladiator Competition – A ban on gladiator games was issued by Roman Emperor Honorius on January 1, 404 A.D. following the martyrdom of Saint Telemachus. The Christian monk was stoned to death by a mob for attempting to halt a gladiator match.

8. Australia Unites to Become a Commonwealth – Several separate British colonies formed a federation known as the Commonwealth of Australia on New Year’s Day in 1901. This commonwealth essentially established an Australian identity and led to the current Australian state.

9. NAFTA is Implemented – Liberalizing trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect on January 1, 1994. By removing tariffs, increased economic cooperation arose among the party nations.

10. The Discovery of Asteroid Ceres - Giuseppe Piazzi, an Italian priest and astronomer, was the first to discover the largest asteroid in our solar system on New Year’s Day, 1801. He named this asteroid Ceres. Ceres is now designated as a minor, or dwarf, planet due to its size and behavior.

11. Traveler’s Checks Begin Circulation – On January 1, 1772 the first traveler's checks were issued by the London Credit Exchange Company. These checks could serve as currency in 90 cities across Europe.

12. The First Indoor Bowling Match - The first recorded indoor bowling match in the United States took place at Knickerbocker Alleys in New York City on New Year’s Day in 1840. Knickerbocker Alleys was also the first building of its kind in the world.

13. January 1 became modern religious holiday for members of ancient order

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com

Dec 31 , 2012