Baby New Year we see this baby all the time when it comes to the first of the year. I never knew where or how this baby came around, I just knew I see it all the time. So where did this idea of a baby for New Years come from? #BabyNewYear

Baby New Year: The Origin

People from around the world celebrate to mark the arrival of the new year. One New Year tradition that has survived through the centuries is that of Baby New Year and its image of a toddler wearing only a diaper, sash and top hat.

Baby New Year can be traced to 600 B.C. in Greece and Egypt. Historians note that Greeks believed Dionysus, their God of fertility and wine, was reborn every New Year as a spirit of fertility and luck. Greeks would celebrate with parades featuring a baby in a cradle to represent the birth of Dionysus. Ancient Egyptians used a baby as a symbol to represent rebirth as well. Thus making Baby New Year symbolizes the birth of the new year and the passing of the old one.

Over the years, the tradition of Baby New Year has taken on another meaning as well. Some people believe the baby begins as an infant in January and then quickly ages until he is elderly at the end of December. Some stories even suggest Baby New Year ages until he becomes Father Time.

Early Christians

Early Christians did not like this tradition, feeling it was a pagan celebration. However, the Church eventually revised its standing when it saw how much people stood behind the imagery of a baby representing rebirth. The Christian Church allowed members to celebrate the new year with a baby, and it was believed the practice symbolized the birth and hope offered by baby Jesus.

Baby New Year symbolism has even been used for marketing purposes. Retailers realized the cherubic image would attract consumers, which is why it is now used to promote New Year’s sales. But Baby New Year is more than just a successful marketing tool. Each year, many cities and villages name their own Baby New Year. Each city would try to see who is the first child born on January 1. Some attempts to name a Baby New Year for an entire country have been made, but there have been no official pronouncements, as so many children have been born around midnight on New Year’s Eve that it has been too close to call which baby arrived first.

_{Article compliments of Metro Creative Services TF151857}

Final thoughts

This also shows how the church today seems to be compromising on a lot of stuff and going against the Word of God. You can say using this baby for New Years can be a form of idolatry after all it did get it’s origin from a fake god. We are taking an image of something and giving it god like characters saying this baby becomes Father Time or ages quickly from January to December. We know there is not a Mother Earth or even Father Time … There is only Father God. Even turning this pegan baby into the birth of Jesus. This is wrong if you ask me.

I never knew this story of Baby New Year, I am glad I came across the free to use article. I wanted to share with my readers so you all are aware of this as well.

New Year Related Blog Posts

• 10 Fun Facts about New Years
• 20 Lucky Foods from Around the World to Ring in the New Year
• A-Z of New Years
• Auld Lang Syne
• Baby New Year: The Origin
• Blessing Jar
• Calendar Changes God Doesn’t Change
• Calendar Changes God Never Does – Cheerful Hope Baptist Church Sign
• Changing Calendar Unchanging God Church Sign Arrowhead Church
• Christian New Year’s Resolutions
• Colors of New Year: Symbolism and Significance
• First-Footing
• Goodbye 2022
• Good Bye 2023 and Hello 2024
• Happy New Year | Feliz Año Nuevo | Bonne Année
• Happy Sew Year
• Hogmanay
• March 1 use to be the New Year
• New Year’s Fireworks
• New Year’s Traditions Around the World
• New Year’s ReSEWlutions
• Noisemakers
• Origins of New Years Eve Traditions, The
• Sewing and New Years: A Perfect Combination for Creativity and Resolutions
• Times Square Ball Drop
• Times Square Ball is a Quilt
• Times Square Confetti This Year Will Be in the Form of Wishes for New Years
• Unique ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve during the pandemic
• When The New Year Begins Across The Globe
• Year of the Lord

Find some Christian New Year’s Resolutions!

First published December 30, 2016. Last republished or updated December 29, 2024.

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About the Author

Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

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