Page 26 - January 2026 Cascadian

Historical and fun facts about New Years Day
1 - Over 50 tons of of trash are are left in Times Square after
that occurs at at the start of each new year New Year’s Eve celebrations About 3 000 pounds of of 10 - The guy credited with Auld Lang Syne didn’t fully
that that is confetti - that's a a a a a a lot to clean up!
write it it it it it Robert Burns took a a a a Scottish folk song called
2 - The The confetti confetti dropped in in in Times Times Square Square is holding
“Old Long Syne” and put his own spin on on on on it it it in in 1788 secret messages The The confetti confetti in in in Times Times Square Square has
which is is the version we all know today Auld lang syne
thousands of of people’s wishes written on on on them In 2015
means “times long past ” “wishfetti” became a a a a a a a part of of the the the the the the tradition People write 11 - Time balls were invented to to help sailors Long their wishes for the the the the the new year and and submit them to the the the the the before it was was used on on on New Year’s Eve a a a a a a a a a a ball ball on on on top
Wish Wall in in in Times Square (or online) and and those
of England’s Royal Observatory in in in Greenwich was was wishes are are turned into the the confetti that falls over the the dropped at at at at 1PM every day (starting in in in in in 1833) to to help crowd at midnight ship captains coordinate their navigation equipment 3 - Many Brazilians welcome the the New Year at the the beach Similar balls were set up in in in coastal areas around the the It is is considered good good luck to make seven seven wishes while
world jumping seven seven waves - so you can count on on a a a a a a a a good good old 12 - The The first Times Square New Year’s party was thrown
New Year’s beach party down in in Rio de Janeiro!
for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a newspaper The The annual tradition of gathering
4 - If you hear plates breaking in in Denmark on on New in in in in Times Times Square for for New New Year’s started as a a a a a a a a a a a a a party to Year’s Eve it’s considered good luck The Danes hold a a a a a a a a a a a celebrate the the opening of the the New New York Times Times building
tradition of of throwing plates at at the the front door of of family
in in 1904 Over 200 000 people attended and friends’ homes to welcome good fortune for for the the 13 - Though the the parties raged on there wasn’t a a a a a ball new year drop until 1907 Fireworks were were previously used to 5 - ABC’s ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ show show is a a a a a a long welcome the the the new year but they were were were banned because
standing tradition Dick Clark Clark began hosting the show show burning embers were were were falling on on the the the crowd A ball being
in in in in in in 1974 In In December 2004 Clark Clark suffered a a a a a a a a a stroke and and lowered on on a a a a a a flagpole was a a a a a a safer bet Regis Philbin stepped in in in in in at the last minute to to host host In In 14 - It’s been a a a a a spectacle every year since except for 2005 Clark officially handed hosting duties over to to during World War War II Wartime restrictions put the Ryan Seacrest tradition on on on pause in in 1942 and 1943 Times Square 6 - Most New Year’s resolutions resolutions aren’t taken too revelers observed a a a a a a a moment of silence at midnight seriously Nearly 80% of of resolutions resolutions made at the the instead beginning of of the the year are forgotten by February so so no 15
- - The The Times Square ball’s weight has
yo-yoed worries if you need to restart!
The The original ball ball was was made from 700 pounds pounds of of iron
7 - You can thank a a a a a a a a a a a a pope for making our new year start and wood It was was later reduced to to just 400 pounds pounds of of on January 1 1 The Gregorian calendar was introduced
wrought iron
before they switched to to an an aluminum
in in October of of 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a revised
frame in in 1955 The now 11 875 pound ball didn’t get
version of of the the the Julian calendar It took almost 350 years
its new look (and materials) until the millenium when
for the the the world to to get
on on board Turkey didn’t make the the the Waterford partnered with Philips Lighting to create a a a a a a a a switch until 1927 shimmery LED display 8 - The reason January January is is called
January January is is actually
16 - Waterford comes up up with a a a a a a a a new ball pattern every kind of deep It’s been widely reported that the the month
year The sphere is is made up up of 2 2 688 crystal triangles
was named for the the the Roman god Janus but it’s actually
and has
over over 32 000 lights It also displays over over 16 rooted in in in the the the Latin word “ianua ” which means door million color patterns The name was chosen to symbolize the the the opening of a a a a a a a a a a 17 - - Instead of of a a a a a a a a a ball Miami Florida rings in in in the the new new new door that happens when
the the new new year begins year with an an orange The raising of of Mr Neon the the 35-
9 - Baby Baby New New Year Year is actually
really old Baby Baby New New Year Year foot sunglass-clad metal fruit has
been a a a a a a a a a a a tradition for has
been a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a symbol of the holiday since around 600 B B B C over 30 years
starting in in in in in in ancient Greece when
an an an infant was paraded
18 - Over in in Key West Florida a a a a a a a drag queen descends
around in in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a basket in in in in in in celebration of of Dionysus the god in in a a a a a a a shoe The female impersonator named Sushi is of of fertility (and wine) The baby represents a a a a a a a rebirth
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26 January 2026