Some calendars are based around religious beliefs, others on the lunar, solar or lunisolar cycles. Due to different beliefs, calendars and time zones across the world, not every country celebrates New Year’s Eve on the same day or at the same time. Generally, whenever New Year’s Eve does take place, it is accompanied by some sort of celebration, unique to each country. New Year’s Eve Some countries celebrate New Year’s Day on the same date each year. Others don’t, having a range of dates it can occur on. December Let's take a look
It is customary for the Spanish to eat one grape at each strike of the clock at Midnight on New Year’s Eve. Eating twelve grapes is thought to bring good luck for each month of the new year. Before midnight strikes on New Year’s Eve, the Japanese like to eat soba noodles. This long, rope-like noodle is used to represent the crossing from one year into the next. Food Based Celebrations Japan Spain
In the Philippines, the new year is celebrated by serving twelve round fruits such as apples, melons, grapes and oranges. The round fruit is used to symbolise coins, and therefore prosperity and wealth for each of the forthcoming twelve months. In Italy, it is also customary to eat a meal that symbolises abundance. This can be sausage meat sliced to resemble coins, lentils to symbolise wealth or raisins for good luck. Food Based Celebrations Italy Philippines
In Greece it is traditional to hang an onion on the front door on New Year’s Eve. This is thought to represent growth and rebirth, since onions have long been associated with planting roots and continuously growing. On New Year's Day, children are woken by a light tap on the head with an onion! Food Based Celebrations Greece
Denmark The Danish often get ready to wave bye to the year by wearing silly hats or bibs. They also stand on a chair at midnight and leap off it, symbolising the leap into the new year ahead. Leaping and Dropping USA In New York, USA, a glowing ball is lowered down a flagpole in Times Square to signal the start of the new year. This tradition has become known as the Ball Drop and has led to many other parts of America following suit.
Many other states in America now celebrate the new year by dropping various items, too. In Vincennes, Indiana, for example, the new year is welcomed with a watermelon drop. They are farmed locally and dropped from a model watermelon hoisted on a crane. When they reach the ‘ splatform ’, the celebrations begin. Other items dropped include bird-shaped marshmallows in Pennsylvania. Leaping and Dropping USA
Finland An old tradition in Finland was to melt tin and pour it into a bucket of cold water. The new shape it took on would be interpreted to predict the fortune for the following year. Other Traditions South Africa In Johannesburg, it has become custom to begin the new year with no unwanted items. For this reason many throw their old furniture out the window on New Year’s Eve.
Romania In Romania, it is traditional to dress up as a bear on New Year’s Eve, wearing real furs and bearskins and dancing from house to house. It is thought that the bears would scare away any evil spirits. Other Traditions Turkey It is considered good luck to sprinkle salt on the doorstep at midnight on New Year’s Eve in Turkey. It is said to promote prosperity throughout the forthcoming year.
One of the most popular ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve is with fireworks. These displays take place all across the world. Fireworks There are many impressive shows in places like Dubai, Sydney, Paris and New York. Perhaps there is one near you!
How do you celebrate the New Year?
