Did you know? Bell’s Fast Facts Fridays

Today is New Year’s Day, and while that means it is the first day of 2010, there are many other firsts taking place today as well. At Bell, for instance, this is our very first post of the New Year! In order to celebrate this special day, we’ve pulled together some New Year’s Day facts and firsts for your reading pleasure.

1. On New Year’s Day, people in certain countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the New Year (sometimes known as polar bear plunges). Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and Australia are the most popular countries for this. (Wikipedia)

2. On January 1, 1968, Evel Knievel crashed his bike while attempting to jump the fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for the first time. When he awakens from a 28-day coma, he credits his Bell helmet with helping to save his life. (Bell Sports)

3. In 1908, for the first time, a ball was dropped in New York City‘s Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight. (AllExperts)

4. The Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) based in Portland, Oregon, hosts an annual New Year’s Day bike ride that has been going on for more than 50 years!

5. The song typically heard streaming through television sets as soon as the ball drops at the stroke of midnight on January 1 is called Auld Lang Syne and originated as a Scottish poem. The title of the song translates into English as “old long since” (Wikipedia)

Another mainstream notion synonymous with New Years is making a resolution. What’s your resolution this New Years? Perhaps it’s getting out on your bicycle more often? Whatever promise it is that you’ve made for yourself in 2010, let us know below! Oh, by the way….Happy New Year!!