Happy New Year’s Eve

Forty-five percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions.

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ANA LATESE: FEATURED ON ILLUSTRATOR SATURDAY

IT’S TIME TO GET THIS PARTY STARTED

LAUREN FREEMAN: FEATURED ON ILLUSTRATOR SATURDAY

Many people ring in New Year’s by popping open a bottle of champagne. Americans drink close to 360 million glasses of sparkling wine during this time. The bubbly stuff dates back to the 17th century, when the cork was invented.

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LISA FIELDS: FEATURED ON ILLUSTRATOR SATURDAY

Kissing is involved at midnight!

MATT SCHU: FEATURED ON ILLUSTRATOR SATURDAY

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The first New Year’s celebration dates back 4,000 years. Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome, was the first to declare Jan. 1 a national holiday. He named the month after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates. Janus had two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Caesar felt that a month named after this god would be fitting.

VALERIA ABATZOGLU: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. 

ANDRE CEOLIN: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. 

JESSICA COURTNEY TICKLE: Featured on Illustrator Saturday

LENA RALSTON: Featured on Illustrator Saturday. 

About 1 million people gather in New York City’s Times Square to watch the ball drop. The Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop came about because of a ban on fireworks. The first ball in 1907 was 700 pounds and was lit with 100 25-watt lights. The current ball puts the old one to shame (thanks to technology). Today, it is covered in 2,688 crystals, is lit by 32,000 LED lights, weighs 11,875 pounds and is 12 feet in diameter.

ANDY IPAKTCHI: www.illustratrice.com

STAY HOME AND HUG SOMEONE.

DANIELA VOLPARI: FEATURED ON ILLUSTRATOR SATURDAY.

JESSICA COURTNEY TICKLE: Featured on Illustrator Saturday

MICHELLE KOGAN:  www.michellekogan.com

Remember the last scene in When Harry Met Sally, when Harry references a song after he and Sally kiss? It was Auld Lang Syne, a song traditionally sung at the end of New Year’s parties. Poet Robert Burns wrote it in 1788. Though most people do not know the words to Auld Lang Syne, the overall message is that people have to remember their loved ones, dead or alive, and keep them close in their hearts.

DON’T MISS LISTENING TO AULD LANG SYNE EXPLAINED

Celebrate!

Sophie slings confetti, Bobby bangs a bell.

Sister Sue is slipping through and laughing, feeling swell!

Grandpa’s starting jigging, Bernie beats a drum,

Sing and shout and dance about, the magic hour has come.

Voila!  A fancy feast appears, and Grandma’s standing near.

Hugs and Happy Holidays — a brand new year is here.

by Carol Murray

JESSICA COURTNEY TICKLE: Featured on Illustrator Saturday

Robert Burns – Auld Lang Syne – As sung by Dougie MacLean on the album Tribute

HAPPY NEW YEAR – ENJOY RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR – STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy