The Global Celebration of New Year

 

The Global Celebration of New Year

The Global Celebration of New Year

It is that time of the year when the world's people quite very eagerly await one of the days in the year-New Year. As the last day of one year turns into the very first day of the next, people conduct rituals-rejoicing, feasting, and dancing, praying in their homes and way around the world. Though they do differ in how the night is celebrated, they maintain a common spirit of joy, renewal, and hope. This article talks about how different places in the world celebrate the New Year, with very engrossing and diverse customs, rituals, and traditions from all corners of the world.

New Year Celebrations in Western Countries

Like many other Western nations, it is highly celebrated in the form of big parties, fireworks, and social gatherings as one welcomes the New Year on the night of December 31st to January 1st.Ø  

• United States

Of all popular holidays in the United States, New Year celebration ranks very high. Big cities, such as New York, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, usually hold great celebrations. People all over the world watch the famous Times Square ball drop of New York City. As the clock strikes twelve, the people cheer and the streets become a rain of confetti. Parties, large fireworks shows, or family gatherings are also organized by many people. In fact, according to tradition, some households eat twelve grapes at midnight as a sign of good luck for the following year. Each grape symbolizes a month of the year.

•   United Kingdom

New Year's Eve is extremely celebrated with fireworks, parties, and public festivities in the United Kingdom. The biggest celebration of New Year is that of Edinburgh, Scotland, known as ''Hogmanay.'' The celebrations last for some days with torchlight processions, concerts, and fireworks. In England, the custom is to sing ''Auld Lang Syne'' at midnight-a song emphasizing friendship and memories of the past.

• France

It is known as "Saint Sylvester's Eve" in France, and celebrated with sumptuous dinners at the family house or among friends. The French usually feast on traditional food such as foie gras, oysters, and champagne, to mention a few. The most beautiful fireworks display by Paris, the city of light, is held at the Eiffel Tower, attracting millions of people. On this particular day, people kiss and send new year greetings to each other, while some drink 'kir'-a drink made of wine and blackcurrant liqueur.

Celebrating New Year in Asia: A Mix of Traditions and Rituals

Asia is a very mosaic continent of cultures, and every New Year is celebrated differently from one country in this part of the world to another.

• China

Since this New Year celebration is lunar, it falls on a different date each year in China, mostly in the months of January and February. The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a time for family reunion, feasting, and various parades. Streets are bright with colorful lanterns and lion dances. Firecrackers are an important feature of the celebration because it is believed that by making a loud bang, evil spirits are scared away. People often give children red packets containing some money as a symbol of good fortune, which is called "hongbao".

• Japan

Japan welcomes New Year's with Shogatsu among its most cherished holidays. As a celebration of tradition, the New Year's holiday preparation has seen the Japanese cleaning up their houses in readiness for the welcoming of the gods of New Year. Along with it is special food named "osechi," made up of vital ingredients such as fish, eggs, and vegetables, or anything else that has some meaning for prosperity, longevity, and happiness that one may ascribe to it. New Year's Day sees families visiting shrines or temples, offering prayers for health and happiness in the year ahead. Many people also head to the beach to witness the first sunrise of the year, believing it to be lucky.

• India

India is an ethnicity where someone keeps his culture, as different regions celebrate the New Year in various ways. The New Year is not fixed on January 1 for Indians; several states celebrate it on different dates. For instance, "Puthandu" is a Tamil New Year's celebration, and "Vaisakhi" is a specific Punjabi term for this same festival, which is "Bestu Varas" in Gujarat after Diwali. Common themes in all celebrations are feasting, praying, and exchanging sweets and gifts. Some people light oil lamps and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits, continuing today.

New Year Traditions in the Middle East and Africa

In the Middle East and Africa, New Year's Eve is full of varying degrees between religious practices and festive activities depending on the country.

• Egypt

New Year's Eve is usually a time for family gatherings and special meals in the Egyptian culture. Most Egyptians usually find themselves attending public celebrations, for example, fireworks activities in Cairo. Eating "fatta" (a dish made of rice, bread, and meat) is a tradition. Religious rituals are also performed. Many people will go to church to usher in the new year, especially among Coptic Christians, who celebrate New Year's Day on January 7.

New Year's Eve is a night that is often associated in Egypt with having dinner with family or maybe friends. Many celebrate by going to public festivals such as those organized for fireworks in Cairo. Fatta (which is rice, bread, and meat) is eaten. Most religious ceremonies are connected with rituals. Many people go to church to usher in the new year, among whom are the Coptic Christians, who celebrate New Year's Day on January 7.

• United Arab Emirates

Especially in Dubai, New Year is celebrated big time in the United Arab Emirates. The tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, hosts an extravagant display of light and fireworks, which entice thousands of spectators from all over the world. Aside from fireworks, people enjoy luxury dinners, parties, and concerts. The UAE is well-known for capturing the extravagance in events, hence, all the favors for those who would prefer to spend an unforgettable moment on New Year's Eve.

•   South Africa

As lively as a party in the Congo, festive streets in South Africa usually resound on New Year's Eve with an array of events, festivities and skyline-governing fireworks, striking mainly the major cities, like Cape Town and Johannesburg. South Africa throws open air concerts and street parties that stretch til the break of dawn, beyond which one has to flow through the crowds on the road. Some burn bonfires to herald the New Year in other parts of their country. In many cases, this also involves the beach as New Year's Day itself is celebrated by many South Africans basking in the beach sunshine.

Latin America: A Blend of Festivities and Traditions

Celebrating the New Year in one part of Latin America is never dull because such places receive visitors with fireworks and even presents. These celebrations can then include different festivities depending on an area, like: having food for twelve, shoveling out money from the air, smashing plate pieces for good fortunes in the new year-all indigenous jointed with African and European influences.

•   Brazil

Known as Reveillon, New Year in Brazil is an event celebrated mostly on the beach. Most of the renowned celebrations happen to be held in Rio de Janeiro, where millions of people gather mostly on Copacabana Beach, all in white, representing peace and renewal. This celebration includes music, dancing, and fireworks. In addition to all of this, one special custom that Brazilians do is to dedicate flowers to Yemanjá, the goddess of the seas, hoping to obtain her Stays for that specific New Year. Lastly, one jumps seven times waves-throwing a wish for the upcoming year with every jump-in to amplify their hopes for the year ahead.

• Mexico

Mexico celebrates New Year with family gatherings, delicious holiday meals, and fireworks. A very important tradition at New Year's is the "12 grapes," each of which everyone eats at the moment when the clock strikes midnight with the 12 bongs. Each grape corresponds to a wish for that particular month of the next year. Mexico City, for example, would organize loud parties, full of sound and movement, that ends with fireworks lighting the night sky.

• Argentina

The family gathering includes friends on New Year's Eve (Año Nuevo). Around midnight, there is much for the bellies-roast meats, empanadas, and panettone. The fireworks are the main event; on New Year's Eve, most Argentinians are out on the streets enjoying the public display. They usually light firecrackers at midnight to usher in the year. Yellow underwear is worn by many in Argentina on New Year's Eve because it is said to bring good luck.

Unique Traditions Across the Globe

One thing that clearly differentiates each New Year from another in various countries around the world are the different celebrations and customs that go along with it.

• Scotland - Hogmanay

In Scotland, New Year's Eve is celebrated at the festival referred to as Hogmanay. One of the most renowned traditions that Hogmanay celebrates is the first-footing. According to the first-footing tradition, the person who steps into a household after the chiming of midnight is considered the harbinger of good fortune for the year ahead. The first-footer normally arrives with gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whiskey to create some good fortune.

• Spain - The Twelve Grapes

The Spanish have a popular tradition where they eat twelve grapes at midnight when the New Year begins. Each grape represents good luck for that corresponding month of the year. It is broadcast on the television, where everyone in Spain eats grapes with the clocks.