CLAY COUNTY - From toasting to good times with a glass of champagne and sharing a kiss with someone you love to watching the slow descent of the famous shiny ball at Times Square and singing the slow tune of a new year.

Plenty of New Year's traditions have proved to be a must for some. But the question remains — why? Where do these old, sometimes ancient, customs come from, and why have they stuck around for as long as they have?

To appease your wonder, here’s a list of eight global and prominent New Year’s traditions and how they began. 

1. Singing 'Auld Lang Syne' 

This popular tune, which is heard just after the clock strikes midnight, is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in the 1780s. According to Scotland.org, the phrase is translated to ‘for old times’ sake'’ and discusses preserving friendships and looking back at events of the year. The Scottish tradition has significantly impacted the world, with the song signifying a collective anthem for the new year.

2. Eating black-eyed peas

According to the Food Network, some say the tradition may have originated from enslaved people who ate the dish on Jan. 1, 1863, celebrating the Emancipation Proclamation or the end of slavery.

According to The Spruce Eats, the dish also has roots in the Civil War. During the harsh winter, Confederate soldiers survived off of black-eyed peas, fostering a symbol of prosperity in the South.

    3. Eating 12 grapes 

This popular tradition originated in Spain. According to Atlas Obscura, at the stroke of midnight, individuals eat one grape at each of the 12 chimes on the clock, representing the upcoming 12 months of the year. If not finished, individuals are said to face bad luck in the new year. The tradition is translated to “uvas de la suerte” in Spanish. 

    4. Resolutions

The ancient Babylonians were the first to make 'New Year's resolutions' about 4,000 years ago. According to the Museum of World Treasures, they would make promises to their gods to sustain good fortune in the new year — a 12-day festival known as Akitu. However, the celebration took place in mid-March, rather than January, as that's when crops were planted. The promises included paying their debts and returning borrowed objects so the gods would favor them in the coming year. 

     5. Carrying an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve

According to Expat Explore, the tradition is primarily practiced in Latin America; individuals walk around the block with an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve, manifesting a new year filled with trips.

     6. Sharing a New Year's kiss 

The New Year’s Eve kiss originates in English and German folklore. According to Design Dash, the English tale said that the first person you encounter and how you interact with them sets the tone for the rest of your year.  In German tales, kissing was seen as a way to strengthen relationships, bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. It was brought to the U.S. by German immigrants many years ago. 

    7. Watching the ball drop 

According to Times Square, using a ball to signal the passing of time dates back to England’s Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1833. Every afternoon, the ball would drop at one o’clock, allowing captains in nearby ships to set their chronometers accurately. The tradition, of course, led up to the modern viewing of the famous Times Square Ball Drop and other similar events.

     8. Toasting

According to McClain Cellars, the first time alcohol was used to toast the new year was during Julius Caesar's reign in 46 B.C. The alcohol had a similar taste and texture as the modern-day champagne. It was regarded as a religious event for the elite and wealthy.