Celebrated on the first of January every year, New Year is the time to make merry and welcome the coming year with open arms. 2013 New Year falls on the first Monday of the year. Keeping pace with the trends, this year too ensures to bring in the same joy and merriment. Usually, the celebration for the New Year starts a day before, i.e. on the New Year’s Eve.

2013 New Year Celebrations across the Globe

Late night parties are a common trend in the US and New Year is not an exception as well. New Year celebrations in US will start from a day before and you will find people partying hard and rejoicing at the arrival of New Year. Now New Year celebrations are not restricted to 1st of January only. Instead, different countries may also have their different days of celebrating New Year. For example, Chinese New Year is an auspicious event for the people of China. In 2013, Chinese New Year will be observed on 11th and 12th of February. To be more specific, you will find them celebrating New Year for several days. To the Chinese, this is an ideal time to feast and celebrate. You will find the streets lighted with lanterns. This is a common scenario in China, particularly during New Year as they believe that this is an ideal way through which they can keep off evil spirits.

Considering the vast ethnic and cultural variety of India, New Year's Day is celebrated at various times of the year at various places. In general the lunar calendar or the Hindu calendar determines the exact time for the New Year celebrations. Some of the popular New Year in India include Bihu ( Assam), Ugadi ( Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh), Gudi Padwa ( Maharastra), Vishu ( Kerala), and Bengalis New Year ( West Bengal). Similarly, Sinhalese New Year is the traditional New Year for Sri Lankans and is usually celebrated in the month of April.

New Year in Scotland is popularly referred to as Hogmanay. During this occasion, you will find barrels of tar set on fire and then rolled on the streets. This particular ritual of theirs symbolizes that the old year is being burned up and in the process it is making room for the New Year.

Greece celebrates New Year and Saint Basil festival on the same day. Even this year, you will find kids leaving their shoes by the fireside on this particular day with a hope that St. Basil will come and stuff their shoes with gifts.

Popularly referred to as Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year is a holy time wherein you will find the Jews recalling their wrong doings and ensure that they won’t repeat them henceforth. On the other hand, Iran celebrates its New Year in March. According to the Solar Calendar, this not only marks a new start for them, but then is also considered to be the onset of spring.

For Japanese, New Year means a time to decorate their houses with bamboo and pine branches. This particular act of theirs symbolizes long life. European countries like Portugal, Netherlands and Italy give a start to their New Year by attending church services followed by socializing with friends and family members.