New year in Europe
Germany
Gluckliches Neues Jahr
The Germans fired the old year in honor to San Silvestre, and received the new year with firecrackers and Fireworks intended to scare away evil spirits. It has the tradition that custom is to leave on the plate, until after midnight, some remains of what has been eaten as a way to ensure a well-stocked pantry for the next year.
Austria
To Guads Neichs Johr Olle Mitanand
The Austrians fired the year throwing Fireworks, sipping champagne, throwing confetti or streamers, distributing kisses… In short, they tend to do the same thing that the majority of humans on new year’s Eve.
If something makes them different, especially to the Viennese, are typical new year waltz and Strauss concert the Vienna Philharmonic offered promptly every 1 January.
Denmark
Godt Nytar
Break the dishes should not be frowned upon in Denmark, at least new year’s day… Danes tend to take advantage of that time to show your loved ones how much you appreciate them. And make him throwing to their homes the old dishes that have accumulated during the year.
The number of good friends that one has is proportional to the heap of broken dishes you find at your door.
SCOTLAND
Bliadhna Ur Madainn
Hogmanay or new year is celebrated in a peculiar way in some Scottish populations: locals set fire to a barrel and make it roll down the streets wrapped in flames; they say allowing the entry of the year with it. In Scotland there is also a tradition called “first footing”, according to which the first person to come into a house the first day of the year determines the fate of the family over the following months. To be Fortune must be a man moreno, and much better if is handsome.
Spain
Happy new year
No matter where or who caught you the new year’s Eve. For Spaniards, what counts most is to eating twelve grapes to the rhythm of the twelve chimes indicating the arrival of the new year. And it is that tradition ensures that who complete the operation without choking will have luck in the twelve months following. So believe the Portuguese… As an accompaniment, a glass of champagne to toast the new year and help pass better grapes.
France
Bonne Année
New year’s Eve, many Parisians take to the streets for the new year. The place of concentration for excellence are the Champs Elysees: from the Arc de Triomphe to the place de la Concorde, the famous avenida is crowded of people willing to receive on January 1 with a good bottle of champagne. Those who stay at home have it easier to follow the tradition: midnight has to be kissing and hugging under a branch of mistletoe to get good fortune in the year coming.
ENGLAND
Happy New Year
Spend new years eve in London presents several options: a focus for the new year in Trafalgar Square or Piccadilly Circus; others prefer to go to Big Ben to enter the new year at the pace of its chimes. At midnight, people intertwined their arms and all sing an old song called “Auld Lang Syne”. The next day, many children get up soon and are released onto the streets to the delight of neighbors with their songs in Exchange for coins or candy.
Italy
Felice Anno Nuovo
The Italians started the “notte di Capodanno” with a traditional dinner in which the lentils are essential dish if you want to have a new year full of good fortune. That night, many women receive as a gift red lingerie, which supposedly will bring luck in the year coming. And in some places like Rome and Naples is custom also throw old junk out the window: is a way to put an end to the past and express the desire to begin a new stage on the right foot.
Russia
S Novim Godom
For Russian children, the new year is like Christmas for the majority of European children. And it is that day through their homes the grandfather of ice, a sort of Santa Claus native who toured the country handing out candy, toys and dolls matriuskas. To get these gifts, children often dance around the Christmas tree and recite poems to the grandfather’s ice.
New year in Asia and Oceania
CHINA
Xin Nien Kuai Le
The Chinese new year comes in February; the exact date marking the lunar calendar. It is the most popular festival in the country, and also the longest, since it lasts for nine days. The goal is to get luck, health and happiness for the new year: before the celebrations, people clean their homes thoroughly to remove any bad luck of the year just ended. In the streets there are dances of dragons and lots of fireworks and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.
Korea
SEH Heh Bok Mani Bat Uh Seyo
Traditionally, Koreans celebrate the Solnal, the first day of the first moon of the new year. Legend has it that who fall asleep the last night of the year dawn with white eyebrows to the next day; so that night all remain awake and turn on the lights in every room. The next day are dedicated to combating evil spirits: clean the House thoroughly and burning branches of bamboo because they believe that its the crackling noise frightens them.
India
NAV Varsh Ki Subhkamna
Diwali, or Festival of light, signals the start of the new year in the India. It takes place between October and November and lasts for five days. Although each region holds it in his own way, everywhere light plays an essential role: plenty of oil lamps decorate houses, temples and gardens, symbolising the victory of good over evil and showing the gratitude of the people for all the good that is in their lives. Fireworks and firecrackers are also common in this celebration.
Israel
Shannah Tovah
The Jewish new year, called Rosh Hashanah. Date varies each year, but usually take place in September or October. That day it is forbidden to work. Jews go to synagogue to pray, and then returning home to celebrate a special meal. It is customary to touch the “shofar” (a RAM’s horn) and eat apples smeared with honey to make the year coming sweet.
Japan
Akemashite Agemashite
None of the 12 chimes. 108 times to ring the bells of the Japanese temples to commemorate the arrival of the new year. It’s a tradition that aims to liberate from evil period that begins: each stroke refers to an earthly desire that must be kept away. The houses are decorated with evergreens and bamboo, symbols of eternal life and honesty. They also say that the Japanese are starting the year laughing because they believe that that brings good luck.
Thailand
Sawatdii Pimai
The Thai new year called Songkran and lasts three days, from 13 to 15 April. People thrown in buckets of water to one another with the desire to attract rains the following year. Take also advantage to wash thoroughly all the statues and images of Buddha. Another custom for good luck is to release birds from their cages or fish of their aquariums throwing them into the river.
TIBET
Tashi Delek
Tibetans spend the last two days of the year just ended to preparing for the arrival of the new. During the Gutor (so this period is called) clean the houses from beginning to end, lit torches and make explode firecrackers to keep evil spirits away from the home. They also go to monasteries to bring offerings to the monks. During the first two days of the new year (called Losar) they share meals and gifts with family, honoring their gods and visit your friends.
Viet Nam
Chuc Mung Nam Moi
Vietnamese prepare thoroughly the arrival of the new year: clean your home from top down, take shine to silver cutlery and Saddam all of your debts. The last day they tend to plant a bamboo or a similar tree in the courtyard of his house and decorate it with bells, flowers and Red streamers to protect themselves from evil spirits. They are also very attentive to who is the first person that enters your home the first day of the year, as it will bring luck and wealth to the family in the following months.
New year in Australasia
Australia
Happy New Year
Like the Australians welcome the year with noise. When the clock strikes midnight, everywhere begin to hear whistles, Klaxons of car, palmed and church bells.
On January 1, festive day for them, they tend to hold in the field or on the beach with picnics, rodeos and surf competitions. And it is that Christmas catches them in full summer season.
New year in Africa
Egypt
Colo Sana Wintom Tiebeen
In Cairo they retain an ancient custom, according to which the year starts when it appears in the sky the new Crescent Moon. Many Cairenes flock to watch the night from the mosque of Alabaster, at the top of the Citadel that dominates the city. When you exit the Moon and the religious leader officially proclaimed the change of year, people come to their homes to celebrate with their families. In new year all wear special dresses; even women, who tend to dress in black, can be colored that day.
SOUTH AFRICA
Gelukkige Nuwe Jaar
The South Africans made ringing of church bells and fired salvos to heaven to greet the arrival of the new year. In some parts of the country, this festival is celebrated with an air of Carnival: people disguises herself and goes out to have fun and dance to the rhythm of drums.
New year in America
Argentina
Happy new year
The tradition to the new year with fire. On the one hand they are rockets and other pyrotechnic components; on the other hand, the dolls from wood, fabric and paper, that Argentines are built with the best of intentions despite knowing that will be burned. And it is that burning these dolls is a purifying ritual, a way to get rid of all the bad things that brought the year ending.
Brazil
Happy new year Novo
The Brazilian new year keeps a close relationship with the sea. People come to the beaches to watch the Fireworks; some wear white or jumping over seven waves because they believe that that will give them luck, and also throw flowers to water while they ask for a wish. In Copacabana, the filhas do santo (African priestesses) candles and throw into the sea boats laden with gifts and flowers. The sea to take them is a harbinger of good fortune for the year that begins.
Colombia
Happy new year
On 31 December, the protagonists in Colombia are the omens. Or what is the same, a series of popular “recipes” to charge the batteries with energy positive for the year that begins. There are for all tastes: receive midnight on foot, for example, to have luck and health; give a slam when they sound the twelve to get away from home to evil spirits; first kiss someone of the gender opposite to obtain good fortune…
United States
Happy New Year
If there is a typically American new year’s Eve, that is the Times Square in New York. At least, is the most popular. New Yorkers are concentrated in the central square several hours before midnight, though the highlight of the Festival arrives with the twelve bells. The descent of the famous crystal ball from the top of an emblematic building marks the start of fireworks, confetti, the play of light and the cries of joy.
Mexico
Happy new year
The Mexicans sing, dance and have fun until the wee hours for the new year. As elsewhere. Of course, they combine these celebrations with some peculiar traditions. There is who used to sweep the House that night so the new year bring only ‘clean’ luck. Others say that stroll that night with a suitcase will facilitate travel in the following months. Others insist wear red underwear to find love…
Venezuela
Happy new year
New year’s Eve is the perfect time for Venezuelans to strengthen bonds of friendship with those around them. And nothing better than the “hallaca”, a special dish that they themselves prepared to prove it: giving away it is a way to wish good luck for the year coming. It is also customary to write wishes in a letter that, in January, each burning to make sure that no one else can read it.