New Year's bottles, or New Year's flasks, are an archaeological type of lentoid bottles found in the cultures of Ancient Egypt.[1] These bottle were filled with water from the Nile, or possibly with perfume or oil, and offered as celebratory gifts for the New Year.[2] Since the Egyptian New year began at the start of the flood season, offering water from the Nile was a way to symbolise the new cycle.[3]
Aurélia Masson: New Year’s flasks, in Alexandra Villing, Marianne Bergeron, Giorgos Bourogiannis, Alan Johnston, François Leclère, Aurélia Masson and Ross Thomas: Naukratis: Greeks in Egypt