New Year’s Eve is an exciting night packed with celebration, traditions, and a lot of interesting history. From countdowns to fireworks, to quirky customs, the final hours of the year are full of fascinating facts that many people never stop to think about. Some traditions are centuries old, while others are modern creations influenced by technology and pop culture. Whether you’ll ring in the new year at a big party, watch the ball drop at home, or quietly reflect on the year that just passed, these seven New Year’s Eve facts show us what makes the holiday unique and why it continues to be celebrated.
7 New Year’s Eve Facts
1. Times Square contains over 50 tons of trash after New Year’s Eve celebrations. (Source)
Times Square on New Year’s Eve is utterly packed with people for a giant celebration that includes celebrity performances and the famous ball drop, so naturally, this leaves behind a lot of waste. Some of this is due to the 3,000 pounds of confetti dropped when the ball descends.
2. The original “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” broadcast in 1972. (Source)
It was originally shown on NBC, but moved to ABC in 1974. The first two editions were hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin.
3. “Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish folk song that translates roughly to “days gone by.” (Source)
Today, thousands of people sing this song as the clock strikes midnight. The poet Robert Burns is said to have adapted the song in the 18th century. It became a holiday standard when Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians played it during a radio broadcast in 1929.
4. 55% of Americans plan to celebrate NYE with family and friends. (Source)
24% of Americans plan to celebrate New Year’s at home, so that’s more than a quarter of Americans planning to celebrate the holiday. Only 12% of Americans say they fall asleep before midnight, and 35% don’t plan to celebrate at all. 48% of parents say they strive to celebrate the New Year with their children, but they do this by counting down to a 9 o’clock bedtime instead of midnight.
5. South Carolina is the most dangerous state to drive in on New Year’s Eve. (Source)
Unfortunately, New Year’s Eve can be a dangerous holiday for driving. High numbers of alcohol-impaired drivers get behind the wheel and risk lives on New Year’s Eve. South Carolina has the highest number of traffic fatalities during New Year’s.
6. In Spain, people eat twelve grapes to celebrate the New Year. (Source)
The twelve grapes symbolize each chime of the clock at midnight. The tradition is called “las doce uvas de la suerte” and is believed to ward off evil while boosting luck in the New Year, but only if you can eat your grapes in seconds before the clock finishes chiming.
7. American cities drop objects other than the crystal ball at New Year’s. (Source)
In Key West, Florida, the Bourbon St. Pub greets the new year by dropping a giant shoe climbed by a local drag queen. In Eastover, North Carolina, people drop 30-pound ceramic fleas at midnight, while another North Carolina town, Mt. Olive, home of a pickle company, slides a giant pickle down a flag pole.
Featured image photo credit: Designecologist
