By COGwriter
Every December 31st a celebration is began by most to 'bring in the new year'. It is a wildly popular holiday in Western countries with parties and much fanfare.
Why is it celebrated when it is? Is this a proper holiday for Christians to celebrate? What are its fruits? Does God teach that the New Year begins on January 1st?
Why January 1st?
Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. declared that January 1st would mark the beginning of the new year. January was named after Janus, the god of gates and doors in Roman mythology. People prayed to Janus when they wanted something new in their lives (such as resolutions). Janus is normally represented with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. The first day of the month of January was sacred to him.
The early Catholic Church not only did not celebrate a winter New's Years, Tertullian (one of its leading 2nd/3rd century writers) warned that to participate in the winter celebrations made one beholding to pagan gods.
Notice what Tertullian wrote about winter celebrations, such as Saturnalia:
The Minervalia are as much Minerva's, as the Saturnalia Saturn's; Saturn's, which must necessarily be celebrated even by little slaves at the time of the Saturnalia. New-year's gifts likewise must be caught at, and the Septimontium kept; and all the presents of Midwinter and the feast of Dear Kinsmanship must be exacted; the schools must be wreathed with flowers; the flamens' wives and the aediles sacrifice; the school is honoured on the appointed holy-days. The same thing takes place on an idol's birthday; every pomp of the devil is frequented. Who will think that these things are befitting to a Christian master, unless it be he who shall think them suitable likewise to one who is not a master? (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter X. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
But, however, the majority (of Christians) have by this time induced the belief in their mind that it is pardonable if at any time they do what the heathen do, for fear "the Name be blasphemed"...To live with heathens is lawful, to die with them is not. Let us live with all; let us be glad with them, out of community of nature, not of superstition. We are peers in soul, not in discipline; fellow-possessors of the world, not of error. But if we have no right of communion in matters of this kind with strangers, how far more wicked to celebrate them among brethren! Who can maintain or defend this?...By us,...the Saturnalia and New-year's and Midwinter's festivals and Matronalia are frequented--presents come and go--New-year's gifts--games join their noise--banquets join their din! Oh better fidelity of the nations to their own sect, which claims no solemnity of the Christians for itself!...Not the Lord's day, not Pentecost, even it they had known them, would they have shared with us; for they would fear lest they should seem to be Christians. We are not apprehensive lest we seem to be heathens! (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XIV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
But "let your works shine," saith He; but now all our shops and gates shine! You will now-a-days find more doors of heathens without lamps and laurel-wreaths than of Christians. What does the case seem to be with regard to that species (of ceremony) also? If it is an idol's honour, without doubt an idol's honour is idolatry. If it is for a man's sake, let us again consider that all idolatry is for man's sake; let us again consider that all idolatry is a worship done to men, since it is generally agreed even among their worshippers that aforetime the gods themselves of the nations were men; and so it makes no difference whether that superstitious homage be rendered to men of a former age or of this. Idolatry is condemned, not on account of the persons which are set up for worship, but on account of those its observances, which pertain to demons (Tertullian. On Idolatry, Chapter XV. Translated by S. Thelwall. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 3. Edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).
What Tertullian seems to be saying is that observing New Year's celebrations make Christians appear to be followers of pagan gods, and since the pagans would not intentionally celebrate days considered by many to be Christian, Christians should not celebrate days that are honored by the heathen. Specifically, he felt that those who profess Christ should not celebrate New Year's or other pagan days, as even the observance is a form of idolatry.
The Feast of Circumcision?
New Year's day did not become a holy day for the Roman Catholic Church until 487 A.D. when it was declared to be the Feast of the Circumcision (though it may have been also observed in the fourth century, but other sources suggest eighth century or later dates).
This gave the Catholic Church an eight-day festival with a 'holy day' at the beginning and the end, similar in that respect to the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34-35). It was determined that if Jesus was born on December 25th (even though he could not have been), since he was circumsized eight days later (Luke 2:21), he would have been circumsized on January 1st, hence the rationale for New Year's being 'the Feast of the Circumcision'.
It should be added that there is no indication in the Bible that Jesus' circumcision should be celebrated. Actually here is the only verse in the Bible that specifically discuss Jesus' circumcision:
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21).
Notice that there is no command to celebrate this date. There is no biblical indication that people should engage in heavy drinking and loud parties the evening before to honor the fact that Jesus would be circumcised the next day. Actually, the Bible specifically warns about celebrating observances for the true God that are used for pagan gods (e.g. Jeremiah 10:2).
Since the 'feast of the circumcision' is tied into the date of Christ's birth, it may be of interest to note that the Church in Rome did not even endorse Christmas until apparently the fourth century. The World Book Encyclopedia notes,
In 354 A.D., Bishop Liberius of Rome ordered the people to celebrate on December 25. He probably chose this date because the people of Rome already observed it as the Feast of Saturn, celebrating the birthday of the sun (Sechrist E.H. Christmas. World Book Encyclopedia, Volume 3. Field Enterprises Educational Corporation, Chicago, 1966, pp. 408-417).
It should also be noted that even Roman Catholic writers acknowledge the following about Christ's birth being on December 25th:
The Gospels. Concerning the date of Christ's birth the Gospels give no help; upon their data contradictory arguments are based. The census would have been impossible in winter: a whole population could not then be put in motion...
Natalis Invicti. The well-known solar feast, however, of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date. For the history of the solar cult, its position in the Roman Empire, and syncretism with Mithraism, see Cumont's epoch-making "Textes et Monuments" etc., I, ii, 4, 6, p. 355...The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in Cypr., "De pasch. Comp.", xix, "O quam præclare providentia ut illo die quo natus est Sol . . . nasceretur Christus." - "O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born . . . Christ should be born." (Martindale C. Transcribed by Susanti A. Suastika. Christmas. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
Therefore it should be clear, that since Jesus was probably not born on December 25th, and that December 25th was apparently chosen because of pagan worship practices, that the circumcision of Jesus was not on January 1st, and that January 1st should not be celebrated by Christians (more information can be found in the article What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days?).
Actually, when the Roman Church originally endorsed the celebration of New Year's, it was hoped that it would stop the drinking and wild parties, but it did not. In recent times, I have seen no condemnation of these practices by any Roman leaders, which one would expect since perhaps most of their members participate in the types of New Year's celebrations that the Roman Church originally condemned.
That various older Roman Catholic writings seem to condemn modern New Year's celebrations can also be seen in the passages below:
Even in our own day the secular features of the opening of the New Year interfere with the religious observance of the Circumcision, and tend to make a mere holiday of that which should have the sacred character of a Holy Day. St. Augustine points out the difference between the pagan and the Christian manner of celebrating the day: pagan feasting and excesses were to be expiated by Christian fasting and prayer (P. L., XXXVIII, 1024 sqq.; Serm. cxcvii, cxcviii) (Tierney John J. Transcribed by Wm Stuart French, Jr. Feast of the Circumcision. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume III. Copyright © 1908 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, November 1, 1908. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
Christian writers and councils condemned the heathen orgies and excesses connected with the festival of the Saturnalia, which were celebrated at the beginning of the year: Tertullian blames Christians who regarded the customary presents -- called strenae (Fr. étrennes) from the goddess Strenia, who presided over New Year's Day (cf. Ovid, Fasti, 185-90) -- as mere tokens of friendly intercourse (De Idol. xiv), and towards the end of the sixth century the Council of Auxerre (can. I) forbade Christians strenas diabolicas observare. The II Council of Tours held in 567 (can. 17) prescribes prayers and a Mass of expiation for New Year's Day, adding that this is a practice long in use (patres nostri statuerunt). Dances were forbidden, and pagan crimes were to be expiated by Christian fasts (St. Augustine, Serm., cxcvii-viii in P.L., XXXVIII, 1024; Isidore of Seville, De Div. Off. Eccl., I, xli; Trullan Council, 692, can. lxii) (Tierney John J. Transcribed by Thomas M. Barrett. New Year's Day. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XI. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
Hence, it appears that Roman Catholic writings would condemn modern practices associated with New Year's celebrations.
What Happens?
So, how is New Year's celebrated? Well customs do vary around the world. Various cultures believe that meeting with people, eating certain foods, or consuming certain drinks will help insure good luck for the year.
In the US and many other Western cultures, vows called New Year's resolutions are often made. From this authors research, while repentance is a good thing, he believes that this custom of resolutions is similar to the prayers made to Janus regarding desiring something new. According most available research, most people break their New Year's resolutions. Hopefully they are not making them before the true God whose word says, "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed--Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?" (Ecclesiastes 5:4-6).
Another activity which occurs in the US and elsewhere on New Year's is heavy drinking of alcohol. Many who go to New Year's parties get drunk. Paul warned Christians, "Do not be drunk" (Ephesians 5:18).
Another Origin
While there are many origins for an eight-day festival celebrated at the end of December and running into the first part of January, there is at least one of biblical interest. After the death of Solomon, 10 tribes of Israel split from Rehoboam's kingdom and followed Jeroboam. Jeroboam feared that if his subjects still kept the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, that they eventually may kill him and turn back to Rehoboam (I Kings 12:26-27), so "Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, (held in the seventh month of God's calendar) and offered sacrifices on the altar (vs. 34). God was opposed to this (I Kings 13:1-3).
Now the earliest Roman calendar had 10 months. Julius Caesar made it a 12 month calendar by adding 2 additional months. However, he did not add them in at the end of the year, but at other times. This is why, even though the Latin names of the months would suggest that September, October, November, and December should be the 7th,8th,9th, and 10th months respectively, they are now instead the 9th,10th,11th, and 12th. God's Feast of Tabernacles usually begins near late September each year (the precise Roman calendar date varies based upon the fact that it is calculated based upon a lunar, not strictly solar, calendar). Jeroboam's original festival thus began around the end of October. However, when two additional months were added to the Roman calendar, it is quite possible that this man-made eight-day holiday was moved to the end of December.
What Bible-believing person would want to participate in Jeroboam's perversion of God's Feast of Tabernacles?
God's New Year Begins in the Spring
Is January 1st the beginning of the New Year God declared?
No.
When speaking of the Hebrew month of Abib, which occurs around late March/early April God declared, "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Exodus 12:2). January 1st is not the beginning of the year for the true God, but only of certain false gods.
Humans cannot bring in the new year. God does. Christians should not celebrate the holiday of Janus even if it is also called 'the feast of the circumcision'. January 1st is not a date for Christians to celebrate. Even Roman Catholic writers acknowledge that historical and modern practices of observing it are wrong.
Most historical references that are uncited are from The World Book Encyclopedia, 50th edition, 1966.
Information on Holy Days and Holidays can be found in the following articles:
Is Revelation 1:10 talking about Sunday or the Day of the Lord? Most Protestant scholars say Sunday, but is that what the Bible teaches?
Is God Unreasonable? Some have suggested that if God requires Sabbath-keeping He is unreasonable. Is that true?
Is There "An Annual Worship Calendar" In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles which state that this should be a local decision. Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Should Christians Keep the Days of Unleavened Bread? Do they have any use or meaning now? This article supplies some biblical answers.
Melito's Homily on the Passover This is one of the earliest Christian writings about the Passover. This also includes what Apollinaris wrote on the Passover as well.
UCG and Its Unleavened Bread Study Paper What does the Bible say about eating unleavened bread for seven days? What has UCG officially said about it?
The Book of Life and the Feast of Trumpets? Are they related? Is so how? If not, where not?
The Day of Atonement--Its Christian Significance The Jews call it Yom Kippur, Christians "The Day of Atonement". Does it have any relevance for Christians today?
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today's Christians?
Last Great Day study paper Was Jesus speaking about the 7th or 8th day of the Feast in John 7:37? UCG says the 7th, but what does the Bible teach? This extensive paper reviews UCG's LGD study paper and includes comments as to where it erred.
What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?
Valentine's Day: Its Real Origins Christianity Today suggests that Valentine's Day is good for Christians to observe. Is this true?
Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.
New Moons Some observe them, some do not; here are scriptures and comments.
B. Thiel, 2000/2006/2008 0112