First Night celebrations spread across U.S.

Cape Girardeau's restaurants and bars that cater to New Year's Eve revelers were busy places again this year. For a few hours, party-goers -- many of them from out of town -- made merry, ate well, celebrated with friends and ushered in 2002 (which, by the way, is a palindromic year that won't occur again until 2112).

In some 180 cities across the nation, First Night celebrations attracted whole families for an evening of performances, fireworks, laser shows and good fun.

First Night events started 25 years ago in Boston as a community event geared to families. The basic premise of all First Night celebrations is that they are alcohol-free and are for the entire community to enjoy. Over the years, more than 200 communities have observed First Night, although the number dropped off a bit this year.

St. Louis has had First Night celebrations in the past and hopes to bring them back in future years. Columbia, Mo., had its seventh annual downtown bash this year and reported strong interest from sponsors and volunteers.

Celebrations of the new year date back some 4,000 years to ancient Babylon (modern-day Iraq), where the start of spring was observed over 11 days devoted to seasonal blossoms and the planting of crops. Later, the Romans established calendars with New Year's Day observed on Jan. 1. The early Roman Catholic Church condemned the pagan festivities but began having its own religious observances on Jan. 1. The church opposed New Year's Day celebration through the Middle Ages. Western nations have marked the day with special observances for about 400 years.

One of the best-known traditions of New Year's Day is the making of resolutions -- also dating back to the Babylonians. Interestingly, the Babylonians weren't so interested in resolutions about losing weight or other bad habits. Their most common resolution was a promise to return borrowed farming implements.

Around 600 B.C., the Greeks began the tradition of using a baby to signify the new year. Images of a baby with a New Year's banner were brought to this country by German immigrants.

Many traditions about what fortunes a new year will bring have developed around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Traditional foods and activities have long played an important role. While the Dutch eat doughnuts on New Year's Day, Americans have settled on black-eyed peas as a lucky food.

Other traditions that are familiar to most Americans are the Tournament of Roses Parade dating back to 1886. The first Rose Bowl football game was played in 1902.

Most of the English-speaking world sings "Auld Lang Syne" (literally, old long ago) at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

First Night celebrations have quickly become another tradition for American celebrations of the new year. With enough interest and support, First Night could become a Cape Girardeau celebration too.