Baby New Year Origins & Symbolism



If you are wondering where the Baby New Year origin begins, you are not alone. Most people think of a little baby wearing only a diaper, sash and top hat upon his head smiling while bringing in the New Year. Modern times have brought more to the meaning of Baby New Year than a cute little baby.

Ancient Greek Baby New Year

The Baby New Year origins began in 600 B.C. with the Greeks, though the early Egyptians can also be given credit for using a baby as a symbol of a new year. The baby represents rebirth. The Greeks believed that their god of Wine, Dionysus, was reborn on New Year's as the spirit of fertility. They would parade around with a baby in a basket to represent the rebirth of Dionysus.

Early Christian Baby New Year

Even though Christians felt this was a pagan tradition and denounced using a baby to bring in the New Year, the popularity of the symbol won, though differently than was intended. The end of the year is commemorated with a different baby as the birth of baby Jesus became a special celebration.

Modern American New Year's Baby

In modern America, the New Year's Baby was popularized by a series of covers for The Saturday Evening Post created by Joseph Christian Leyendecker. From 1907 to 1943 he made over 300 covers each depicting a baby and a timely cultural topic.

Meaning of Baby New Year

Baby New Year represents "in with the new, out with the old." You may have seen cartoons showing Father Time depicted as an old man with a long gray beard. The story goes that Baby New Year will grow throughout the year into Father Time. At the end of the year, Father Time will hand over his responsibilities to the next Baby New Year.

Baby New Year First Born Contests

As a baby New Year's tradition, many cities and hospitals have created a tradition where the first baby born that year represents "Baby New Year." Often this child gets local news coverage and in many cases gifts such as savings bonds or free diapers as a birthday gift. Many companies have jumped on the promotional bandwagon of offering free stuff for New Year's babies.


The whole Baby New Year contest has gotten a little out of hand over the years with large companies advertising heavily over the importance of the first baby born in the new year. But, let's not forget what Baby New Year represents: Starting the new year off fresh, and learning and growing throughout the coming new year. The baby represents all of us; young and old alike as we enter the new year.




See you all tomorrow.

Buh-bye.

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