Year: 2015

The Central American country of Costa Rica celebrates New Year on January 1. In and around the time of New Year, the natives of Costa Rica prefer to spend quality time with close friends and family.

People make most of the holiday time, and let themselves loose off to relax as well as party hard to celebrate the festive spirit of New Year.

However, spending time to party hard is less preferred, and most of the people rather choose to have private celebrations with only near and dear ones in attendance.

Some other prefer to have New year celebrations on the beautiful beaches of Costa Rica, which during the time of the New Year usually witnesses throngs of people and visitors from within the country as well as foreign land. It is the time of the year when natives of Costa Rica like to spend, travel, and celebrate. One would hardly find any vacant rooms in hotels and resorts around the time of New Year. Malls, clubs, and discotheques remain jam-packed with horde. However, one might not find them to be too occupied with the time getting closer to New Year, as everyone in Costa Rica prefers to spend that time in their houses with their close friends and family.

New Year Celebrations in Costa Rica

People in Costa Rica observes New Year as a time when they should look at what all their life have been through in the past, and what all they want it to be like in the coming time. It is considered to be a time of identifying and realizing past mistakes and sins; learning from them to ensure that they don’t get repeated; and drawing future goals for the coming time. While those belonging to a partly upper age bracket believes in concurring their celebrations according to customs and traditions to ensure everything go fine in the coming time of New year, people of young age look around for great party options. Usually, apart from getting along with friends at a popular party hub or discotheque, house parties are also organized by many.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Costa Rica

There is an old and vastly followed New Year tradition of running twice around the house or crossing the neighborhood street with a suitcase or a backpack in the hand or on the back respectively. According to beliefs, doing so ensures travelling in the coming year, and those with any travelling aspirations never miss a chance to do it on December 31. There is another principally followed tradition of cleaning and sweeping the entire house by the women on December 31, as doing so is believed to sway away all the past evils. Another one calls for throwing a pan full of water over one’s shoulder, as doing is believed to sway away all the bad luck of the past year, and confers one with good luck in the coming year.

There are some amusing New Year traditions which are widely practiced among the natives of Costa Rica. One among them is wearing red underwear on New Year with a hope that the coming year will make them meet their spouse or true lover; and wearing yellow with a hope of getting conferred with good luck in the coming time. Eating twelve grapes at midnight, with each one dedicated to one month of the Old Year, and making wish with every grape is also a traditional way of bidding farewell to the past. The feast thrown on New Year’s Eve is necessarily and traditionally required to have pierna de cerdo (a leg of pork) as the main course served.

Termed as the Switzerland of America, Costa Rica offers whole world of options for those who wish to have a gala and unforgettable New Year time. Apart from its rich tradition, the scenic beauty lying in the rain forests, charismatic mountains, and exhilarating beaches of Costa Rica ensures one to have a good time there. With the time of New Year drawing close, once can evidently witness the rich tradition and customs followed by the people of Costa Rica, who believe in celebrating their time with immense fervor.

More New Year Traditions

The state of Connecticut is located in the New England region of the northeastern part of United States. It is considered as amongst the wealthiest and most developed parts of the United States.

Also, Connecticut has gained immense popularity as a beautiful tourist spot to visit, because of its stunning and diverse landscapes. The wealth and development it has attained over the years, is precisely reflective in the way with which it celebrates New Year. Connecticut celebrates its New Year in accordance with the Georgian calendar on January 1.

New Year Celebrations in Connecticut

Connecticut organizes one of the most amazing and splendid New Year celebrations in United States. Large numbers of parties are organized all over the town, in clubs, hotels, and discotheques. Also, various other programs such as live cultural programs, music concerts, magic shows, stand up shows, etc. are organized in which prominent magicians, music bands, rock bands, dance troupes, and various other artists of Connecticut as well as other places come, participate, and give entertaining performances. Among these, the magic shows remain in the centre of attraction and amusement for small children as well as young people. Different magic and juggling acts as performed are truly stunning and astonishing, leaving every inch of its spectator in awe and amaze. The whole of Connecticut remains in a total celebration mood during New Year’s tie, and one can find people enthusiastically celebrating in their houses, in party places, and almost every corner and street of the city.

Each of these parties is well planned in advance, and is presented sometimes after month long preparations. Most of these parties and shows go on floor on New Year’s Eve, and go on till the wee hours of January 1 of New Year.

Other New Year Celebrations in Connecticut

Other than this, local people as well as tourists also look forward to be a part of the skiing competitions organized during weekends in the beautiful valleys and mountains of Connecticut. One highlighting aspect of New Year celebrations in Connecticut is the traditional Connecticut Opera organized during the time of the New Year, which draw people from far off places. The soothing opera music presented by the orchestra at Connecticut Opera witnesses a packed house every time it is staged. When everyone is busy planning an impressive farewell to the old year and a majestic welcome to the New Year, festivals such as Hat Making Competition, Mask Making Competition, Bushnell Park Campfire festival, etc. offers something extraordinary to do that in style.

The prominent and popular festival of Polar Plunge also offers a good and exciting time during New Year’s time. As a part of this festival, young participants are put through a daring stint as a part of which they are made to cross and swim through the ice cold water at the Long Island of Connecticut. The biggest challenge for the participants is that they are required to do it along with a sailing Gala New Year Cruise beside them. Another equally enthralling and crowd pulling assembly occurs at the Contra Dance party. Apart from these major parties, various schools and colleges organize New Year dance parties and celebrations during the first weekend of the New Year.

Other than this, there is also a Connecticut tradition of calling meetings of citizens at the time of the end of an Old year and arrival of New Year. Their opinions and suggestions are welcomed on various society relevant issues, possible execution of which can help in further development and improvement of the city.

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New Year is considered as a very prominent and special time by the natives of Colombia. Colombia is considered as a country with a blend of different rich customs, and traditions, which are pretty perceptible by the way with which people in Colombia engage and celebrate New Year.

Colombia, which is situated in the northwest part of South America, celebrates its New Year in accordance to the Georgian calendar, i.e. on January 1.

New Year Celebrations in Colombia

New Year celebrations in Colombia prominently begin at the midnight. Though, parties at discotheques as well as clubs begin much earlier in the evening of 31st December. Other than that, private parties are organized at homes, where close friends and members of the families are invited. Invitations are send out well in advance to ensure adequate attendance, as potentially, there are many people in the same circle holding New Year parties at the same time. The moment when New Year arrived, everyone wishes one another with good luck and congratulatory messages. Hugging and kissing everyone in the family is considered to be the traditional way with which Happy New Year or Feliz Año is wished.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Colombia

Conventionally, there are number of customs and traditions which are followed by Colombian people at the time of New Year. Each of the traditions holds a certain significance of its own. While most of them can be considered to be inspired by the diverse Colombian culture, some of them might appear as if they are closer to superstitions than rather being traditional. Take a look at some of the most prominent New Year customs and traditions, as followed during the time of celebrations. One might not find someone following all of them or none of them in Colombia as a part of New Year celebrations.

 

 

1. Twelve Grapes: It calls for eating twelve grapes as soon as the clock turns twelve. Each grape is considered to be figure of a month of the New Year. With each grape, one can make a wish. The only clause it states that one has to finish eating all of them within the first minute of the New Year.
2. Yellow Underwear: It calls for wearing yellow underwear at the moment when New Year arrives. According to beliefs, doing so brings wealth and prosperity in the coming year. One wishing for double prosperity should reverse it and then wear it.
3. Twelve Shafts of Wheat: It calls for placing twelve shafts of wheat on the dinner table, as doing so ensures abundance of food to eat in the coming year.
4. Suitcase: It calls for running hard and fast around the house with a suitcase in hand, as doing so ensures travelling in the coming year.
5. Right Foot First: With clock turning twelve, the first step should be made with the right foot only, as doing so ensures positivity and right decisions in the coming year.
6. Money Proximity: It calls for keeping some amount of money in form of hard cash, either in hand or pocket, at the time when clock turns twelve. Doing so ensures financial security and stability in the coming year.
7. Clean Surroundings: It calls for absolute cleaning of households and surroundings on a day prior to New Year. Doing so ensures incoming of positive energy in house and family.
8. Lentils Luck: It calls for eating lentils along with rice on New Year’s Eve. Doing so ensures an year of abundance.
9. Burn Año Nuevo: An effigy on the name of the Old Year is made, which is called as Año Nuevo. It is ties up with fireworks, and at the point of clock ringing twelve, it is burnt. Also, people write their faults, or any feared bad luck on a piece of paper and throw it in the burning effigy. According to beliefs, doing so ensures liberty from all past troubles, sins, and mistakes, as well as bad luck.

Other prominent traditions include baking up a special New Year’s bread, which has around coin placed inside it. At midnight, the head of the family cuts the bread, and distributes it among all the family members. Whosoever in the family gets the coin is considered to hold good luck for the entire coming year. There is another tradition, as a part of which a jewelry piece is put in champagne glass, which is toast at the arrival of New Year. Doing so ensures wealth and prosperity in the coming year.

More New Year Traditions

New Year in China is completely different and unique from any of the New Year celebrations made in any part of the world. In China, New Year is also called as ‘Gung Hay Fat Choy’ or ‘The Spring Festival’. It is marked as the most important festival of Chinese culture and tradition. The day of New Year is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.

History of New Year in China

The New Year celebrations in China hold an entire history of its own. Once, there used to live a giant beast with the name of Nian, who used to swallow many human beings with a single bite. The natives under the distraught then find one weak spot in the beast. They came to know that beast gets afraid of the red color and loud noises. Since then, they started burning firecrackers and using red color in order to keep the giant beast scared. Since they got themselves liberated from the giant beast’s scare and conferred themselves with a new life, they started celebrating the day as GuNian (Pass over the Nian) or New Year day.

The Date of New Year in China

In China, there is no one fixed day of the New Year, and thus the date changes every year. It is celebrated in accordance to the Chinese calendar, which is a blend of the solar and lunar calendar. According to the Chinese calendar, the day of the second moon after the winter solstice is meant to be celebrated as New Year. Though, New Year celebrations are made for an extended period of around one month, which officially starts from second half of the last month of the previous year and ends with the first half of the first month of the New Year. Last day of Chinese New Year is celebrated as Lantern Festival.

New Year Celebrations in China- Customs and Traditions

In the present day life, one hardly gets an entire month long period to celebrate it. In Taiwan, the first five days of New Year are conferred as holiday, while Mainland China and Singapore have two to three days of holidays. It is only during that time, that one can precisely sense the New Year mood, enthusiasm, and celebration in China. Chinese people consider New Year as a mark to forget all the past troubles, and move ahead with an optimistic attitude.

People buy themselves new clothes (preferably red), get a haircut, and clean and decorate their houses with red colored banners with written auspicious couplets over them. Doing so is considered to bring good luck for the New Year. All past financial dues are preferred to be cleared with the beginning of New Year. Also, red envelopes with some money inside it are given as presents to young children, unmarried adults, and parents. Traditionally, the money should be an amount of an even number (excluding number ‘4’ in any form), and the money should be in new bills. Also, fireworks are planned and made on the New Year day, with a belief that doing so sways away all evil spirits and energies. Lighting up of houses with fancy lights, and decorating it with symbols of peace, prosperity, and luck is also a common tradition followed in concord with New Year celebrations.

More New Year Traditions

The first day of the Georgian calendar, i.e. January 1 is celebrated as New Year in the North American country of Canada. New Year Day is observed as a legitimate holiday in the whole of Canada. In case, if New Year Day falls on any of the day of a weekend, then the very next weekday is allotted as a substitute public holiday.

New Year Celebrations in Canada

New Year is considered to be an important time by the Canadian people, and therefore, grand preparations go into organizing mush grander New Year celebration events.

Prior to the day of the New Year, i.e. on the occasion of New Year Eve’s, small as well as big parties are organized all around the Canada, which go on till the early morning of the New Year Day. Apart from social parties organized in club, bars, and discotheques, people also organize private parties at home in which all near and dear ones are invited. These parties are bursting with great music, great dishes, and vibrant drinking options on the feast. Everyone eat, drink, sing, and dance all through the night till the dawn to mark a grand welcome to the coming time of the New Year.

Party culture is more prominent and visible in the urban part of Canada. People living in rural areas celebrate more of a traditional New Year. People living in the rural part of Canada, and particularly in the Canadian province of Quebec, usually go out with their friends near a pond or a river for ice fishing on New Year’s Eve. They spend the entire night together while ice fishing and celebrating New Year. The long night parties leave little for everyone to hold anything on New Year Day, and therefore, it is mostly spend in resting and recovering. However, some people prefer to plan a picnic to nearby panorama, popular markets, or a tourist place. However, tradition of bursting fireworks is something which is enthusiastically and evenly followed in both the urban and the rural part of Canada.

 

 
Other New Year Celebrations in Canada

Some of the most extraordinary crafted show of fireworks occurs in the major cities of Canada including Montreal and the capital city of Ottawa, where technology driven fireworks are blown off as soon as the midnight brings New Year on its rucksack. These firework shows are enthusiastically awaited by everyone. People from distant places come and participate to be a part of such extravagant celebration affairs. They are well complemented by the great music, which is served during the entire night by prominent deejays, musicians, singers, and different bands of the country and the world. These celebrations draw thousands and millions of people from around the globe. With the moment of the arrival of New Year, everyone wish each other, and spiritedly pray for a peaceful and pleasant time ahead. Other than these, there has been an increased trend of organizing sports events, magic shows, and special cultural programs on the occasion. Among sports centered events, the adventurous winter sports of snowboarding and skiing draw maximum visitors.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Canada

There are few customs and traditions which are rigorously followed with a belief that they bring good luck, peace, and prosperity to everyone. One such belief calls for going for a polar bear swim on New Year. There is also a tradition of clapping and roaring at the time of midnight when New Year arrives in Canada. It is done with a belief that it sways away all the past evils and negative energies. In Canada, kissing is considered to be a traditional way of showing love and conferring wishes to someone, and also a way of strengthening pleasant ties with people. Therefore, people in Canada prefer to kiss and wish Happy New Year in the midnight. Also, exchanging New Year gifts is also a way of expressing New Year wishes in Canada.

First footing tradition is also prominently followed in Canada, as a part of which a male and preferably a young person is expected to enter the household on the midnight of New Year. Other than that, consuming a bowl of black-eyed pea soup, collecting coals from hearth in the midnight, visiting friends’ place in early hours of New Year, etc. are other prominent New Year customs, which are still followed by almost everyone in Canada.

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Have you ever heard of a New Year celebration that lasts long for 3 days? Well if you manage to visit to Cambodia during the New Year, you may witness it. The Chaul Chnam Thmey or the New Year in Cambodia is widely celebrated by the locals with grandeur and pomp. It starts on the 12^th of April and lasts till 14^th of April, and also signifies the end of harvesting season in the country.

Like all Asian New Year celebration, visiting temple to seek the blessing of the Almighty is a common part of the culture and traditions. Interestingly they build hills from sand near the temple grounds after which it is decorated with religious flags, one being at the top and the other four round the sides. This is done to show the five disciples of Lord Buddha.

Another tradition during the New Year is to sprinkle auspicious water on the faces of the people during the dawn, on the chest in the afternoon and on the toes after the sun sets. Some people throw colored waters on each other which is done to wish a colorful and joyful life in future. Traditionally people throw colored powder also.

All the three days of the celebration has significance of its own. Day one or the Moha Sangkran is celebrated by the Cambodians as an arrival of God and his angels on earth. So people clean their houses from one corner to the other just to welcome these holy spirits. They light up their homes and burn candles and incense sticks. They buy and wear new clothes and worship Lord Buddha with flowers, eatables, drinks, scented water put on banana leaves. Different types of food are prepared only to be distributed among the monks against their blessings.

The second day is known as the wanabat which is dedicated to gifting and charity. This day also is meant for family gatherings where people come to meet their loved ones from far away. They exchange clothes and other gifts and enjoy the stay together; It is a custom to give food and belongings to the poor on this day which will increase the donor’s wealth.

The third and the final day has a different significance of its own. The Cambodians cleanse as well as decorate the religious deities with aromatic water and flowers respectively. During the evening, they enjoy the ceremony of Pithi Srang Preah which is meant for Lord Buddha. His statues are bathed along with other priests, preachers, etc. the Cambodians believe that this will bring good rains for the year ahead and that will ensure good harvests. The youngsters wash the feet of the elders to seek blessings from them. This tradition symbolizes forgiveness and repentance for everything that happened in the last year. they set their mind free to welcome the New Year with a New spirit.

Apart from these, it is customary to play certain traditional games during the New Year like, Tres, Chol, Chab Kon Kleng, Bos Angkunh, Leak Kanseng, Bay Khom etc to lighten up the spirit of the brand New Year ahead.

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The European country of Bulgaria is very legendary in terms of its celebrations and festivities, and the same aspect is very much perceptible in the New Year celebrations as made in the country.

New Year in Bulgaria is also called as St. Basil’s Day or popularly as ‘Survaki’.

It is considered to be a prominent time of the year, even more than Christmas, more so because of its traditional and historical association. For the fact, New Year celebrations in Bulgaria are more prominent and grand than Christmas celebrations, which are comparatively silent.

New Year Celebrations in Bulgaria

People of Bulgaria are very eminent all around the world for their fun loving nature. At the time of New Year, one can pretty evidently experience that. People with a smile on their faces are all around the town, showing their enthusiastic and exciting participation in New Year celebrations made at different places.

Usually, people move out of their houses along with their friends and families, and plan out their New Year evenings and New Year days on the beaches and beach resorts. New Year’s Eve saw an overcrowded occupancy in almost all bars, restaurants, clubs, and other party places. Some other people organize house parties, with only close friends and family people being invited.

Also, different cultural and sporting events are organized all over Bulgaria which strongly reflects the customs, traditions, and history of the country. Among these, music concerts, live performances, carnivals, and processions are most popular. People dress up in fancy and funny clothes, with equally amusing masks on their faces, participate in these carnivals and processions.

Also, they are grand in their impact, with lots of fun, spirit, and fiesta involved. Adventure sports such as paragliding, car racing, rock claiming, etc.; as well few traditional sports are organized in and around the time of New Year at various places in Bulgaria. Some people dress themselves as Santa Claus on New Year’s Eve, and then distribute gifts and sweets among small children. They are also crowd pullers during the New Year’s time.

As soon as the date of New Year gets closer, people buy themselves new clothes. After the New Year speech of the country’s President, all Bulgarians start preparing for midnight celebrations.

Bursting firecrackers is an important part of New Year celebration making in Bulgaria. Apart from small children and people of young age, big and grand firecrackers shows are organized at social level. As soon as the church bell rings twelve, all the firecrackers are blown away in union to form an implausible scene over the Bulgarian sky. It is followed by exchange of wishes and good luck for the coming year.

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Bulgaria

Traditional New Year celebrations in Bulgaria can prominently be witnessed in the western part of the country, in Central Balkan Range, and in few parts around Danube. Traditional feast is organized on New Year’s Eve with special dishes on the platter for the evening, with more than few meat dishes, pig head, a plain cake, and cheese pastry customary meant to be available.

The cheese pastry has few fortune slips in it, with one slip meant to be drawn by everyone present in the feats. After a turn and motion of three times, everyone is offered to choose a slip. It is followed by the distribution of the spitted bread pieces by the oldest person present in the feast in a decreasing order of the age. It is then followed by the distribution of the pig’s head. Pork is saved on the Eve to be distributed on New Year’s Day.

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The religion of Buddhism is eminently and largely followed by a major part of the population of many countries. In some countries, Buddhism is considered as the prominent existing religion.

These different countries holding values and principles of Buddhism celebrate New Year on different days of a year. Basically, dates of New Year are drawn on the basis of luni-solar Buddhist calendar, which varies from one country to another.

Buddhist following countries of Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Burma, Thailand, and Lao has extended three days New Year celebrations. They celebrate it on the day of the first full moon of the April month of Georgian calendar. Alternatively, all Mahayan countries have their New Year celebration slotted for the day of the first full moon of the January month of the Georgian calendar. Natives of China, Vietnam, and Korea celebrate it either in the month of January or in the early part of the February month, and those belonging to the Tibet region celebrate it in the month of March.

New Year Celebrations in Buddhist

Apart from their respective geographical culture, lots of Buddhist customs and traditions are also notably displayed and followed in the New Year celebrations of these countries. Also, one common aspect as reflected in these celebrations is the cheerfulness, splendor, and joy with which they are celebrated. Apart from the social celebrations, private celebrations also reflect a lot of pomp and zeal. Lots of preparations and lots of efforts over a period are communally engaged to ensure splendid and enthralling New Year celebrations. While some countries have a one day New Year celebration, others have more than a day dedicated to it. Each of the days as celebrated as a part of New Year, holds a certain cultural significance and name of its own.
 

 

Traditional New Year Celebrations in Buddhist

Any New Year celebration, whether social or private, initiates after offering prayers and worship to Lord Buddha. According to Buddhist traditions, no celebrations or festivals are considered to be complete until and unless one lights up candles in the temples and monasteries, as doing so is considered to be a symbol of showing love and respect to the blessed souls and to the supreme power. Also, it is considered to bless petitioner with good luck and happiness for the coming time. The same goes for New Year celebrations as well. On New Year day, people in Buddhist countries make a visit to temples and monasteries, bath Buddha statues, offer prayers and worship to Lord Buddha, and call for getting conferred with happy and peaceful times ahead. All other mighty deities are also worshipped, and people sing songs to mark their homage and admiration to them. Most of these songs are directed towards glorifying the powers and abilities of Buddhist deities.

On the day of Buddhist New Year, people take a look on their past lives, and try to identify and rectify the mistakes. Other than that, people buy new clothes, clean up and decorate their households and surroundings, and visit all close friends and families to mark their wishes and share gifts on New Year. Bursting firecrackers is another important part of traditional New Year celebrations. People gather on streets, or in neighborhoods, to light up firecrackers as soon as the clock at the midnight turns twelve. It is followed by New Yeas wishes with all those present around. There is also a customary part to celebrations, as a part of which special sweet dishes for the occasion are prepared to be served at Buddhist New Year Feast.

New Year in Buddhist: Thailand and Tibet

In Thailand, New Year is called as ‘Songkran’, which falls in and around the month of April of Georgian calendar. In Thailand, an extended three days celebration is made. People clean their houses; buy new clothes, visit temples, and make a visit to houses of near and dear ones to exchange gifts and wishes. There is a popular tradition of throwing water on one another, with a belief that doing so will purify one’s soul from all sins and evil energies. With the arrival of New Year at midnight, Thais wish each other with ‘Sawatdee pi Maï’ or Happy New Year.

In Tibet, it is referred as ‘Losar’ or ‘Tibetan New Year’, which falls in and around the month of March of Georgian calendar, as decided by the Tibetan calendar. Just like Thailand, Tibet also holds extended New Year celebrations of few days. Preparation for celebrations, and celebrations itself initiate a few days before the key day. Special dishes are prepared, and are offered to monks. Houses are decorated and illuminated with candles and fancy colorful lights. There is a tradition as a part of which traditional stage fights, dances, and firecrackers shows are conducted in different regions of Tibet as a part of New Year celebrations.

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British celebrations of New Year are a defined and precise reflection of the customs, cultures, and traditions as followed and hold by British people.

Even in the time of the modern world, when everything which one can think of has grown itself into an unimaginable world, festivals and the way they are celebrated are no exception.

However, with the New Year celebrations in British, one can clearly draw a prominent exception in the list.

It is not that British totally evade itself from accepting the changing times, and the changing way of celebrations. But, they do change, but at the same time ensuring that they remain intact with their own customs and traditions even in the changing circumstances. New Year celebrations are a clear reflection of that.

British celebrate New Year on January 1, i.e. the first date of the first month of the Georgian calendar. British celebrations reflect high vigor, enthusiasm, pleasure, and delight; and at the same times give a glance of their rich customs and traditions. They reflect the British belief that one should initiate anything with positive hopes and beliefs of pleasurable coming time.

Also, one should move ahead and over the past problems and difficulties of life, and should only remember them to learn few good lessons of life. With this as the crux of all, British celebrate their New Year. Off late, one have visible experience an addition of contemporary traditions to New Year celebrations in British, such as taking oath, making resolution, etc. British New Year celebrations are eminent all around the world, and common and royal people from all around the world put in efforts to be a part of it.

 

 

New Year Celebrations in Britain

New Year celebrations in British saw a lot of planning and preparation going in before the key day arrives. Traditionally, British New Year celebrations begins on New Year’s Eve, i.e. 31st December of the old year, and go on till the dawn of the New Year’s Day, i.e. January 1st of the New Year. Setting off fireworks is an important celebration tradition, which gained eminence in last few years.

As soon as church bell rings twelve at the midnight, these fireworks are set off. Also, people all around the place, whether in houses, streets or parties, wish and hug one another while spreading and celebrating immense cheer and joy associated with New Year. Also, tradition of sending gifts, presents, New Year cards, flowers, cakes, and candles to near and dear ones have also gain immense popularity.

The Edinburgh part of Scotland holds a massive party on New Year’s Eve, which extends from Prince’s Street and goes on through Royal Mile to end at Edinburgh Castle. However, not everyone can be a part of this regal party.

New Year in England

In England, there is a tradition of opening the back door of the house as soon as the church bell rings twelve. It is considered to be a reflection of one’s farewell to the old year. Then a dark haired moon, preferably young and good looking, is asked to enter through the front door with salt, coal, and bread in his possession. Doing so is traditionally believed to bring good luck, and also ensure abundance of food (bread), money (salt), and warm (coal) in the coming year.

One should prefer to bring in a stranger. Also a blonde, a woman, or a red-haired are unwelcomed, as they are considered to be bring bad luck to the house. Apart from England, it is also rigorously followed in Scotland.

New Year in Scotland and Wales

In Scotland, New Year is refereed as ‘Hogmanay’, which has been derived from the name of an oak cake which is distributed among small children on New Year’s Eve. In Wales, New Year’s Eve is referred as ‘Nos Galan’, while New Year’s Day is referred as ‘Dydd Calan’.

On New Year’s Day, small children wake up early in the morning, and then make a visit to all the neighbors in the neighborhood, while singing New Year special carols. People out of generosity and love, give them coins, cookies, mince pies, apples, and other sweets. This goes on till the noon.

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Brazil, the fifth largest country of the world and the largest country of South America, celebrates New Year as its very own, intrinsic, and traditional festival. For the fact, New Year is considered to be the one of the most prominent and widely celebrated festivals of Brazilian people.

New Year, which is also called as ‘Ano Nove’ and more popularly as ‘Revillion’ in Brazil, is celebrated vastly around the Brazilian customs and traditions.

Even after holding a strict adherence to its customs and traditions in the New Year celebrations, the famous Brazilian party culture still finds a major acceptance as a mode of celebration.

Pubs, party halls, discotheques, clubs, and beaches saw both local people as well as foreign tourists grooving to the local Brazilian party tunes.

New Year Celebration in Brazil

During the New Year time, the South American nation of Brazil seems to get immersed deep in the tides of celebration. Big parties are organized all over the Brazil. The biggest ones are organized in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro. Preparation for the New Year parties begins a day before the celebration day. Special efforts go into the crafting of the fireworks, which is lit up exactly at the midnight of the New Year to welcome and celebrate it.

A half an hour firework show sees people celebrating and wishing for everyone’s good luck for the coming year. It is followed by dinner, which has Brazilian cultural dishes like rice, chicken, farofa, salads, and marajucá mousse on the platter. The whole celebration mood remains on a constant high for the entire New Year night with people playing music and dancing altogether. Major cities of Brazil also host musical concerts, dance performances, and special art shows for the day.

 

 

Traditional Celebrations of New Year in Brazil

New Year celebrations in Brazil revolve largely around the customs and traditions, which can be stated as countless in numbers. A significant one among those customs is to consume lentils and rice on the day. Doing so is considered to confer blessings, good luck, fortune, and prosperity in one’s life.

Also, there is a tradition of wearing white on the day, as doing so is traditionally believed to bring and sustain good luck for the rest of the year. On the midnight of the arrival of New Year, local people residing in and around the beach city gathers at the beach, and as a part of tradition jumps seven times into the beach and throw flowers in the beach while wishing for a happy and prosperous year ahead.

New Year in Rio de Janeiro

The Rio de Janeiro city of Brazil puts ‘Feste de Iemenja’ in order as a part of New Year celebrations, which in particularly is celebrated with lot of faith and determination by the local fisherman. In the beliefs of Brazilian people, Iemenga is considered as the Goddess of the Sea and the Mother of Waters. As a part of their tribute to the Goddess and in order to get bestowed with Her blessings, Brazilian people depart a boat in the sea, which is laden with presents, scented flowers, colorful candles, jewelry, scents, and rice.

The famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro hosts beach parties, where people participate, eat, drink, dance, and celebrate the mood of New Year. Brazilian Carnival is another major attraction, where people dressed up in flashy clothes walk down through streets while celebrating New Year by singing and dancing to the tunes of traditional music of sambha, frevo, forro, pagoda, Axe etc.

More New Year Traditions