You count aloud the seconds as the clock approaches midnight of New Year’s Eve, watching the massive, twinkling ball lower in One Times Square. At midnight you share a kiss with a loved one, then sing along to a rousing chorus of “Auld Lang Syne.”

This is what you do to welcome every New Year. The question is: Why?

In this lively episode we first touch on a few customs followed in other countries before delving into the history behind 4 of America’s most common New Year’s traditions.

What ban imposed by the city of New York actually led to the very first ball drop on January 31, 1907? How did the advent of electricity help the tradition of kissing at midnight gain in popularity? How did “Auld Lang Syne,” a song (and poem) dating back to the 1700s in Scotland, become so popular in the U.S.? And why do so many of us make… and abandon… New Year’s resolutions every year? 

Resolve to say hello to 2025 with your Scandal Water friends as they explore these fun New Year’s traditions! 

Or find (and subscribe to!) the show on your favorite podcast app or the Scandal Water Podcast Youtube channel. 

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