[OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS] Live Your Myths is a collection of myths and legends submitted by our very own Wattpad Community. Share your local myths and legends for a chance to be featured!
How did January 1 become the beginning of the New Year?
New Year is a fresh start for every individual, motivating them to become a better version of themselves in the coming year and achieve all the goals that were not attained the past year. It signifies not to look back and move forward, holding no regrets.
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We did not always celebrate the New Year on January 1 but on March 1. In fact, till 700 B.C. there was no month as 'January,' it was then in 153 B.C. when January 1 was declared the new year in Rome. But people did not strictly believe it and continued celebrating March 1 as new year's day. After introducing the solar-based calendar by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., January 1 again became the first day of the year, which was abolished in medieval Europe. And finally, in 1582, the Gregorian calendar reformed January 1 as New Year. However, it was adopted by the British empire and American colonies almost after two centuries. To this day, not all cultures (especially Asian cultures following the Lunar Calendar) celebrate the new year on January 1.
Roman Mythology
Mars was the son of Jupiter and Juno. A myth describes how Jupiter gave birth to Minerva (Goddess of wisdom and justice) from his mind. To restore the balance, Juno got the inspiration to do the same and took advice from Goddess Flora. Being a goddess of flowers, Flora got a magic flower and impregnated Juno by touching the flower to her belly. On the first day of March, Mars was born to Juno. Ovid, in his poetic work, explained how Romans celebrated the first day of Mars as a festival named Matronalia to honour Juno as a goddess of childbirth. That day was also the day of the birth of Mars. Thus started the tradition of celebrating the new year on March 1.
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Janus, the Roman God who is depicted having two faces, is the God of the beginning, gates, transitions, and endings. The month of January is named after Janus. There is a myth that describes how Janus saved the Sabine women of Rome from being kidnapped by the founder, Romulus. He used volcanic hot springs on the kidnappers, who were buried under ash and boiling water.
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