It has been celebrated different ways by different religions and nationalities. It has also been celebrated all different times of the year, but in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII officially proclaimed that New Year's would be celebrated on January 1st every year. The purpose of the holiday has always been to say farewell to the old year, which was filled with sins and sorrow , and to say hello to the new year, which will be filled with joy and opportunities . Now in order to say goodbye to the old year, most Americans stay awake until midnight on New Year's Eve.
Many people attend parties to celebrate with friends.
Often people count down the ten seconds before midnight to be certain everyone sees the exact moment. Then at exactly midnight, everyone yells, screams, blows horns, or rattles some kind of noise maker. Legends say that the noise will scare away the devils and evil spirits who lived in the old year and keep them from coming into the new one. Common Traditions Kiss family and friends. Many people no longer know the words to this song, to they just hum along as the music is played.