New Year's celebrations have been going on for a long, long time. But we've only been able to get photographic proof of it since the late 1800s.
Taking a look at the Library of Congress' extensive collection of historic photographs, we found some fun examples of the ways we used to get down on New Year's Eve.
|
1876: New Year's Eve, seems pretty tame. |
1907: New Year's Eve celebration at Restaurant Martin in New York City. Things have gotten livelier! |
1909: A New Year's reception at the White House. |
1909: Jewish women pray along the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City on New Year's Day. |
1909: The annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia is one of the oldest folk festivals in America. Here is the parade in 1909. |
The parade involves different groups that prepare elaborate costumes and performances. |
The parade has always been able to draw a crowd. |
1922: Los Angeles' Chinatown on New Year's Eve. |
1941: This is the staff of Mr. Tweedy with the Turkish Consul General. |
1942: The DiCostanzo family (Mr. and Mrs. DiCostanzo pictured here) owned a restaurant on Mulberry Street in New York City. They held an annual family dinner at their restaurant on New Year's eve. |
1942: This lonely soldier stands next to a recruitment sign on New Year's eve in Detroit, MI. |
1943: Children blowing horns on Bleeker St on New Year's Day. With a classic background photobomb. |
1943: Church-goers exiting Saint Dominick's church on Sullivan Street on New Year's Day. |
In a party nearby a young woman takes soldiers' formal hats... |
Just because there is a party doesn't mean they can't make some meatball subs for a couple of takeout customers. |
Looks like it was a pretty fun affair. |
Sometime between 1910 and 1915, this is a photo of a happening cafe on New Year's Eve. |
So they can put something a little more fun on. |
|
This is Mrs. DiCostanzo towards the end of the meal. |