The Christmas season brings with it not only the well-discussed pagan origins of Christmas but also the often-overlooked New Year's Eve celebrations that follow just a week later. While much has been said about Christmas, it is rare to hear or read about the customs surrounding New Year's Eve. The Internet lacks substantial content on this topic, with some of the more notable articles coming from church of God groups, such as the well-written piece by William H. Ellis titled "The Truth About New Year's!" from the December 1964 Plain Truth magazine, which remains relevant despite its age. On online forums, opinions vary, with some asserting that true Christians should not celebrate New Year's due to its pagan roots. Unlike the biblical New Year, which begins in early spring and serves merely as a calendar marker without any directive for celebration, modern New Year's Eve customs include counting down the last seconds of the old year, drinking champagne, and other festive behaviors not rooted in scriptural instruction.

New Year's Eve celebrations have pagan origins, connected to the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia, which included drunken revelry and lasted until January 1st. The celebration of New Year's Eve morphed into a Christian one around 375 AD under Emperor Constantine. During the Middle Ages, the customs of the Teutonic peoples, such as the Yule log and mistletoe, were added to the festivities. Pope Gregory XIII reinstated January 1st as New Year's Day in 1582 with his Gregorian calendar reforms. New Year's Eve has been associated with anti-Semitic activities, as Pope Gregory XIII used the day for decrees against Jews, including forced conversion sermons, taxes to support conversion, and confiscation of sacred literature. The day is also known as Saint Sylvester Day, named after Pope Sylvester, who was involved in anti-Semitic legislation. Modern New Year's Eve celebrations often involve excessive drinking and are seen as an excuse to act foolishly. The holiday is considered pagan to the core, originating as a celebration of the rebirth of the sun and later incorporating fertility rites and human sacrifices.