- Kacper Szczepaniak: Why is New Year’s Eve one of the few days of the year when “more is allowed” socially – I’m talking about noise, alcohol, excess? Where does this cultural acceptance of chaos come from?
Dr Ewelina Maria Kostrzewska: The custom of solemnly bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one does not have a very long tradition in Poland – it arrived at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Initially, it was popular only in large cities and among the wealthier social classes. Over time, it spread to smaller towns and villages.
1 January was declared a public holiday in 1924 by a decree of the President of the Republic of Poland. At first, celebrating New Year’s Eve looked nothing like today’s festivities. The first lavish parties appeared during the interwar period. Often, balls and gatherings were held on New Year’s Day, which was considered more important than New Year’s Eve itself.
The way of celebrating resembled a combination of Christmas and St. Andrew’s Day customs. At dusk, people went to church for services, then returned home for a festive dinner. In many cases, it resembled Christmas Eve supper, except it was not limited to immediate family and was not meatless – hence it was sometimes called a “fat Christmas Eve.” Tables were laden with meat dishes, sweets and alcoholic beverages, believed to bring prosperity in the New Year.
Today, we often celebrate with big parties, but increasingly we choose other forms of spending New Year’s Eve: in a small circle of friends, on a ski slope, or by the sea. Of course, there are times when we overdo it, but whether that is chaos or simply lack of moderation is a matter of interpretation. We should definitely keep common sense to have fun safely.
- Fireworks – delight, noise, controversy. What symbolic role did fire and noise play in ancient rites of passage, and is it just entertainment today? Where did this tradition come from?
The history of fireworks is very long and originated in China, where bamboo was roasted, as people believed the noise scared away evil spirits and brought good luck. The golden age of fireworks began after the invention – also in China – of gunpowder, most likely discovered accidentally by alchemists searching for an elixir of immortality.
In Europe, fireworks became popular in the Middle Ages, especially in Italy, and appeared in Poland as early as the 16th century – for example, fireworks were used to celebrate King Sigismund III Vasa’s birthday. Over time, they became an important and characteristic element of New Year’s festivities, replacing older rituals. Today, they symbolise a new beginning and the arrival of the New Year.
Fireworks carry rich symbolism: joy, prosperity, overcoming old fears. Fire has a purifying power and opens space for what is new. However, Polish New Year’s Eve customs and superstitions went far beyond pyrotechnic displays.
- Is New Year’s Eve more about the future (“a new beginning”) or closing the old year – and how do Poles handle this transition?
Both. We bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one – it is a kind of rite of passage, closure and opening at the same time. It is a boundary celebration with roots in antiquity.
The first New Year’s Eve, in today’s sense, took place in the year 999. Although it was a joyful day, it was also associated with fear of the end of the world, based on Sibylline prophecies predicting the world would end in the year 1000.
On 31 December 999, people awaited midnight with fear and trembling. The end of the world was to be caused by the monster Leviathan, imprisoned by Pope Sylvester in the Vatican dungeons. The beast was expected to awaken, escape, and destroy heaven and earth with fire.
When midnight passed and Leviathan did not awaken, widespread fear turned into exuberant joy. People ran into the streets, exchanged wishes and celebrated by torchlight, while Pope Sylvester gave his blessing urbi et orbi for the new year, century and millennium. Thus, the joy of surviving the end of the world initiated the custom of celebrating the New Year, named after Pope Sylvester.
- Why do we need the “magical hour zero” – the countdown, the toast, the wishes – even if we know the next day is often ordinary?
We like to have “a new beginning,” to seek a better version of ourselves and believe that in the New Year we will achieve what we failed to accomplish in the previous one. That is why gyms are packed in January, and stores feature sports equipment and healthy food on the front pages of flyers.
The New Year brings hope for change, challenges, growth and self-realisation. Whether we achieve these depends on our motivation and determination – in short, on ourselves. The “hour zero” can help, but it will not do all the work for us.
- Fortune-telling, New Year’s resolutions, red underwear, champagne at midnight – what do these small rituals say about our fears and hopes?
People believed that if someone managed to “steal” something from another person as a joke, the whole coming year would be happy – hence symbolic thefts. Whip-cracking was supposed to guarantee luck and abundance. To ensure prosperity, special breads called bochniaczki or szczodraki were baked, given to household members, and fed to livestock for good health.
It was important to end the old year in peace and harmony to welcome the New Year in the same spirit. New Year’s Eve was joyful, allowing jokes and pranks that were forgiven. People also tried to predict the future – by pouring melted wax, lead, or tin.
Fortune-telling was even performed using champagne bubbles: those rising calmly predicted a peaceful year, while chaotic bubbles foretold changes. It was believed that the tablecloth should not be changed until Epiphany to ensure prosperity. Laundry was avoided to prevent “entangling evil spirits.”
Weather predictions were common, as reflected in folk sayings like: “ "As New Year's Eve goes, so does the summer” or “If New Year’s Day is bright and cold, the whole year will be fair and fruitful.”
Wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve was believed to bring luck and love in the coming year – a custom known in France, Spain and Italy, where stalls full of red lingerie appear before New Year’s Eve. Perhaps this tradition came from China, where red has very positive connotations. In any case, New Year’s superstitions have one purpose: to ensure prosperity and ward off misfortune.
- There is growing talk about limiting fireworks for social and environmental reasons. Is this a sign of changing cultural sensitivity or just a temporary trend?
It is hard to say definitively. It is certainly a sign of growing social and ecological awareness –concern for animals, the natural environment and our own comfort zones free from noise, smoke and overstimulation. Whether this is a lasting change or a temporary trend inspired by the idea of slow living remains to be seen.
- What might New Year’s Eve be like in the future – quieter, more symbolic, or, on the contrary, even louder and more spectacular?
Futurology offers plenty of room for imagination. Perhaps grand balls for hundreds of guests in elegant interiors reminiscent of Versailles will dominate, with champagne and caviar served by distinguished waiters. Or maybe we will more often choose intimate gatherings with loved ones in a cozy, family atmosphere.
Another possibility is spending New Year’s Eve in a small wooden cabin in the forest, mountains, or by the sea – with hot tea or chocolate by the fireplace, reading a book or Kindle. It is hard to predict which vision will prevail. Most likely, the future will bring many versions of New Year’s Eve, and everyone will find their own. The most important thing is not to force ourselves to celebrate against our will or follow fleeting trends, but to spend this time as we truly enjoy. Let’s be kind to ourselves – not just on holidays.
Happy New Year!
Interview by: Kacper Szczepaniak, Centre for Brand Communications, University of Lodz
