In fact

On 1st January 1985, comedian Ernie Wise made Britain’s first mobile phone call. Ofcom website

In Spain, it is a new year’s tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The custom apparently started in 1909, when grape-growers in Alicante needed to get rid of a bumper harvest. The Guardian, 31st December 2010

The 5km Nos Galan race, held annually in South Wales on New Year’s Eve, was inspired by legendary Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran. In 1737 he ran a 12-mile race in 53 minutes, before dying from an over-hearty slap on the back in congratulation. South Wales Echo, 30th December 2010

In some South American countries, it is traditional to see in the new year wearing new underwear. Red underwear is often meant to bring love and yellow money. New York Times, 1st January 2010

In 2011, the most popular New Year’s resolutions for Britons were losing weight (24 per cent), drinking less alcohol (19 per cent) and joining a gym (14 per cent). PRlog, 29th December 2010

More than 1,000 blackbirds fell to the ground dead in the town of Beebe, Arkansas on New Year’s Eve 2010. Daily Mail, 3rd January 2011

The eleven-year-old Louis Armstrong was arrested for firing a gun into the air to celebrate New Year’s Eve in 1912. He was sent to the Colored Waifs Home for Boys in New Orleans, where he joined the band. Louis Armstrong House website

Scotland began celebrating the new year on 1st January from 1600—previously, the year changed on 25th March. England only made that change in 1752, when both nations adopted the Gregorian calendar. National Archives of Scotland