New Year's Eve is celebrated on December 31st in countries that use the Gregorian calendar.

The stroke of midnight marks the transition from one year to the next and can be celebrated with a party or prayer. Many cities celebrate with magnificent fire work displays.

Historians believe that celebrations of the New Year can be traced back to an ancient Roman pagan ceremony called Satumalia, held around the time of the Winter Solstice, which was known to be as boisterous as some of today's celebrations.

Father Time is said to represent the close of one year while a baby celebrates the beginning of the New Year.

The Romans held wild parties at which they indulged themselves in many excesses, so the New Year festival was a way of making a resolution to behave a little better in the coming year. The Puritans used the New Year, not to party, but as a renewal and an opportunity to cleanse, purge and confess themselves.

The modern day custom of making resolutions came into vogue in the 20th century but is only taken in jest - we're only human after all!

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days o' auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my Dear
For auld lang syne
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne

Taken from a poem by Robert Burns (see Burns Night)