[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
New Year’s is a great time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the upcoming year, as well as make resolutions to break bad habits or start good ones. How much do you about the first holiday of the year? Below are some fun facts about New Year’s.
Forty-five percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January.
Most New Year’s traditions are believed to ensure good luck for the coming year. Many parts of the United States observe the tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day for good luck. Many people in Italy wear red underwear on the holiday to start the year off right.
The top three places to celebrate New Year’s Eve are Las Vegas, Disney World, and New York City. Internationally, Sydney, Australia, sets off more than 80,000 fireworks from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
In New York, the Time Square New Year’s Eve Ball was first dropped in 1907 after there was a fireworks ban. The ball in 1907 was 700 pounds embellished with 25-watt bulbs made of iron and wood. The most recent ball was revamped in 2008, the new ball weighs 11,875 pounds, is 12 feet in diameter, and is adorned with 2,668 Waterford crystals. Waterford Crystal introduces a different pattern for each New Year’s celebration. The tradition has continued every year in Times Square, except for in 1942 and 1943. The ball was not lowered because of wartime restrictions.
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.
Many will hear the song Auld Lang Syne belted out as the New Year is rang in. 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. “Auld Lang Syne,” means “times gone by.”
Not all ‘fun facts’ are fun. According to statistics from the National Insurance Crime Bureau, vehicles are stolen on New Year’s Day more than any other holiday. Don’t think your old car is safe, either. In 2011, the 1994 Honda Accord was the most stolen car.
The USA Real Estate and Property Management Team in Prescott Valley, Arizona, loves tradition. Tradition of excellent customer service, importance of family, and importance of a job well done are all important traditions to the USA Real Estate Team. The team wishes you a safe and prosperous New Year. If a new home is in your New Year plans, let USA Real Estate help you find the perfect home, assist you with financing questions, and make the process an enjoyable one!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]