New Year’s closures and fun facts
In observance of the holiday, all Highland Lakes city, county, and state government offices, as well as banks in Burnet and Llano counties, will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 1. Postal and delivery services will also be suspended.
Some small businesses may be closed or have altered hours, but large stores such as H-E-B and Walmart will remain open during normal business hours.
- The confetti dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve has people’s wishes written on it.
- In Denmark, residents smash plates on friends’ and family members’ doorsteps to welcome good fortune.
- The first Times Square New Year’s celebration was held in 1904 to celebrate the opening of “The New York Times” building, with more than 200,000 people in attendance.
- The first Times Square ball drop took place in 1907.
- Lobster and chicken are considered bad-luck foods on New Year’s.
- Over 50 tons of trash are left in Times Square following the festivities.
- In Latin America, many people wait for the new year under a table to find the love of their life; this tradition has recently been combined with eating 12 grapes under the table.
- Nearly 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions are forgotten by February.
- January is rooted in the Latin word “ianua,” meaning “door,” symbolizing the opening of a new beginning with the new year.
- Waterford creates a new Times Square ball pattern every year, displaying more than 16 million color combinations.