The Whalingship presents:
A new year is a new beginning and a beginning is a time for taking great care that one's aims are correct, one's intentions are pure, and that one's energies are correctly directed and not wastefully spent.
Islamic Traditions
The Islamic New Year was seen in on the 29th of December this year. It represents the first day of the first month in the Islamic Calendar: the first day of Muharram - this holy month is only rivaled in importance by Ramadan. Due to the Islamic lunar calendar being 11-12 days shorter than the solar year, the date of the New Year changes every year. New traditions are emerging, with cards and presents beginning to be exchanged in some families.
Buddhist Traditions
The Buddhist New Year falls on the first full moon in the Taurus constellation. This holiday is a relatively new addition, officialised as being a commemorative day to signify the birth, death and enlightenment of Gautama Buddha. It is titled ‘Vesak’, and ever since the spread of Buddhism from India to the rest of the world, it has been celebrated in many different ways.
Diwali
With one of the largest Hindu populations, India is seen to have the largest ‘New Year’s’ celebration in the world. Diwali is often called the ‘Festival of Lights’, and is dependent on the Lunar Calendar. It usually falls in October or November. Houses are cleaned thoroughly to be decorated in colourful garlands and decorations. It is a five-day festival, in which ‘diya’, traditional lamps, are lit in temples and domestic prayer rooms. Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, is said to walk the earth and shower her blessings at this time.
Chinese New Year
Falling this year on January 26th, the date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is often referred to as the ‘Lantern Festival’. Traditions see families get together on New Year’s Eve to feast, where ‘red packets’ are exchanged as a sign of good luck and prosperity. Bamboo stems once filled with gunpowder now have evolved into firecrackers, and are used to cleanse the air of evil spirits.
Rosh Hashanah
This is the first day of the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of rest, and signifies a new year for people, animals, and legal contracts. Leviticus describes the day in which the prohibitions of Shabbat are observed: for example, weaving and planting are forbidden.
Gregorian New Years
The most recognized New Year’s celebration across the globe, with festivities seen in almost every country. Most notably, New York, Sydney, London and Tokyo have masses of fireworks – with celebrations continuing well on into the early hours of the 1st of January.
We at The Whalingship wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year.