New Years Eve in Ireland

Ireland has its New Year date falling in accordance to the Georgian calendar, i.e. January 1. A day before, i.e. on December 31st of the Old Year, splendid events go across all over Ireland to celebrate the arrival of New Year. New Years Eve in Ireland is a big day in the lives of the natives of Ireland.

It is quite reflective with the way they celebrate it. Though, New Years Eve is not observed as a public holiday in Ireland, but most of the offices and organizations witness an extremely lower footfall than the ordinary days.

Celebrations of New Years Eve in Ireland

Usually, the morning and noon time of New Years Eve is spent cleaning the house, making preparations for the evening parties, accumulating the supplies and food stock, and ensuring cellar to be completely equipped with coal. People make sure to put up fresh and preferably new bed sheets and sofa covers, and wear new clothes. All these aspects are performed with a belief to get started in the New Year, with good luck and prosperity on their side, as well as to ensure abundance in the coming year.

The party scene gets crafted in the early evening, when people start moving out of their homes to head towards the pubs, discotheques, and other hot party places in the town. However, most of the people prefer to move out to spend their New Years Eve in neighborhood or local pubs, where they can celebrate in the midst of the people they already know. There are some others who celebrate New Years Eve with their close friends and family members, in their home only. Most of these parties continue for the entire night of New Years Eve, and go on till the dawn of the next day.

Irrespective of the fact that if one is a part of a community celebration or a private affair, the special feast organized on New Years Eve, and the Irish culture reflected by these parties remain the most emphasized aspects of the evening. The party places are also the hubs for sharing New Year stories, as well as life stories of the past year. It is also a time to meet new people, and befriend them. Other than that, the countdown in the few preceding minutes to the New Year is also highly looked for by everyone.

The Midnight Scene in Ireland

With clock ringing twelve at midnight, the sounds of countdown turn into roars of celebration. It is well accompanied by the glorious fireworks, which fill entire sky with colorful colors and resonant sounds. People exchange good luck and New Year wishes with all other present around. Some of the places in Ireland also have New Years Eve parades in which many performers of different genres such as dance, acrobats, and music participate. Live music concerts are also organized, in which traditional musicians and pipe bands put across impressive performances in front of a live audience of thousands.

Apart from being considered as the last year of the day, New Years Eve in Ireland has few more significant aspects related to it. It is also the last day of the tax year, a mark concluding the fall harvest season, and an end of the darkest part of the year. To mark an end to this dark period, the tradition of putting up lights and bursting firecrackers have emerged, to be rigorously followed by everyone at present. There is also a tradition of making visits to the houses of friends and members of the extended family on New Years Eve.

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New Years Eve in Iceland

During the time of New Year, when everyone in Iceland is busy preparing for celebrations on New Years Eve, God performs his part by gifting beautiful winter weather to the country.

The cold weather at the time of New Year proliferate the entire magnitude of celebrations. Apart from its weather, the clean environment, stunning natural beauty and the warm people of Iceland makes it a dream destination to be in on New Years Eve, which is also popularly called as ‘Gamlarskrokd’ in Iceland.

Celebrations on New Years Eve in Iceland

Though there are many places in Iceland, which throw some extraordinary New Years Eve celebrations, the capital city of Reykjavik stands out as the most prominent one. Apart from the conventional party celebrations, equal importance is given to the customs and traditions involved with the occasion. As far as conventional party culture goes, New Years Eve is the time when all party places are chock-full, both with the locals as well visitors from other countries.

The nightlife scene in Iceland is hot, definitely more intense than its cold weather. Some great music is played all through the evening and night of New Years Eve, and most of the bars and pubs play it loud till the dawn of New Year’s Day. Also, people book a table in a fine restaurant to have a special dinner of the evening along with their family.

Other than that, all the major cities are beautifully decorated, and all major cities have splendid light shows. The largest crowd of the evening gathers at the Reykjavik’s cathedral in the capital city of Reykjavik. The live broadcast of the same on the radio is listened over by millions others. On New Years Eve, the entire Reykjavik gets into the party groove, and one can sense the same with the magnificent celebrations made over almost every street and lane of the city.

The evening holds a special feast for everyone, which is later followed by the fireworks show at the stroke of midnight. City also hosts number of cultural programs on New Years Eve, with many of them based on traditional music. Those carrying a good luck for the evening can expect to have a view of the Aurora Borealis.

Other than this, those at home remain hooked on to their television sets on New Years Eve to watch the special yearly episode of the comedy program of Áramótaskaupið, which refers to ‘The New Year’s Comedy’. It is basically a severe satire over the eminent personalities, as well as the prominent events occurred during the past whole year. Meanwhile, with the moment of the arrival of New Year drawing close, people start coming out of their houses to have a view of the splendid fireworks over the city skies.

Other than the socially organized fireworks shows, people in every house have their own scale of firework program, though comparatively on a small scale. Taking a look from some high point of the city, makes the entire city look like a big party stage, with splendid and magical lights flowing out to the skies

There is a tradition of organizing large community bonfire, in which everyone from the neighborhood participates. This tradition of community bonfires are in existence since a long time, and have grown up to be an intrinsic part of New Years Eve celebrations in Iceland. These bonfires are the places to come across few of the ancient stories related to the occasion. With the clock striking twelve, these bonfire gatherings turn into big party celebrations, with everyone eating, drinking, dancing, and raising toasts to mark their grand welcome.

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New Years Eve in Hungary

Preparations for welcoming a brand new Year are on in Hungary. People of this eastern European country looks forward with eagerness to make a clean start and forget the bygone year.

Pomp and splendor surrounds the celebrations that take place during the New Year’s Eve also called as the Szilveszter in Hungary. December 31 is marked as the Sylvester’s name day in Hungary’s annual calendar and people celebrate this day with much gusto.

A number of interesting traditions and superstitions are also attached with the celebrations on New Year’s Eve in Hungary. Here’s a look into the customs and revelries that mark the eve before the dawn of a bright new year in this beautiful country.

Beliefs associated With New Year’s Eve

People in Hungaryhold different set of beliefs and are seen observing some very weird customs that edge on the border of superstition when the time comes to ring out the old year. One of the popular beliefs that Hungarian people largely observe is burning noise-emitting crackers to chase off the evil spirits and miseries of the past year. In ancient times, locals in Hungary used a bullwhip cracker to create a loud noise but horns are blown in modern times to drive out all the bad things.

Getting into arguments and doing laundry and sewing is also believed to bring in bad luck throughout the next year. Locals also waited for a man to make the first entry in their house on New Year’s Day as a man’s first footing was considered lucky whereas the same by a woman by supposed to be a bad omen.

Removing anything from the house is another superstition that Hungarians think can render them penniless all round the year and hence they avoid doing so. The tradition of burning an effigy called “Jack Straw” is most commonly observed on the New Years Eve in Hungary. The dummy symbolizes all the negative things and misfortunes of the past year and it is taken all around the village before being burnt.

Famous Spots to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Budapest, Hungary

Budapest in Hungary is known worldwide for its grand celebrations on the New Year’s Eve. People flock in huge numbers to the Vörösmarty Squarethat hosts some of the best musical live band performances. The night before the dawn of a bright new year comes alive with the grooving and pulsating musical tunes being belted out by famous artists and talented rock performers at the square. You can also head to the Nyugati Square where you can witness some of the fines t Hungarian Pop rock bands entertaining crowds and making them dance to their beats on the eve of the New Year. If clubbing is your thing then be at the Oktogon where music belted out by popular Hungarian DJs keep you dancing on the floor till the wee hours.

New Year’s Eve party on the Danube River

Enjoy the idyllic setting of Danube on New Year’s Eve with delicious dinner, folk music, sparkling wine and sight of waves to enhance your pleasure of partying in Hungary

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New Years Eve in Houston

Houston and its nearby areas are stuffed with beautiful venues for hosting several New Years Eve celebrations. Some of these parties are hotel parties, hipster parties, wine tasting parties, murder mystery parties, and just regular ol’ parties, etc.

The options are endless here but one has to search and found extensively which will the best option available be in terms of times, preference, and price of entry fee, etc.

Music is the sole of Houston therefore you cannot imagine New Year Eve celebration in Houston without music. This year Fitzgerald’s is going to arrange a great musical concert with eminent musicians like Fat Tony, Buxton, Electric Touch, Venemous Maximus, and more.

For those who are 21+ age can get an entry here at free of cost. Those who are running on tight budget, it is a great option for them to celebrate the Eve with melody and tunes.

Complimentary Party at Sugar Land Town Square is a unique party venue which includes provision for children’s play and lots of fun items. However the kids’ time starts from 7 pm to 9 pm whereas adults’ party time extends up to 2 am at night. Special events will include stilt birds, light shows and a 3-D sugar cube drop at midnight.

Midnight in the Gardens at Moody Gardens offers wonderful band’s performance. The specialty of this musical party is open bar, gourmet food, champagne toast and midnight balloon drop. Tickets are available for single entry or for couples. The price range varies from $225/person or $425/ couple.

New Year EVE includes NYE Masquerade Ball party at Winetopia; it is a wine tasting party. The venue maintains an open bar, excellent DJ performance, and best quality finger foods with best quality wine. The party maintains its dress code; black tie for men and black lingerie for women. The price range for ticket starts from $125.

Celebrating the zero hour with light and fireworks is an old convention in USA. Houston maintains that convention since a long time. Different types of fireworks are used in these light shows.

The significance of different fireworks function is to greet the New Year on the verge of its start and to salute the year is passing by. These fireworks show are done near the river bank which often adds on its beauty with the reflection of the light in the river water.

Be it Houston, Montreal, or Dallas New Year Eve celebration is like a religious ritual in America. One must know thus what hot programs are around in order to participate in to the program and its agenda. Local search and availing news feeds from these cultural associations websites are the fresh and reliable ways for learning about these programs.

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New Years Eve in Hong Kong

One of the most unique cities in the world, the growth that Hong Kong has seen in the recent years is phenomenal. Almost anything that you desire can be procured in this magical land, and the New Year celebrations are perhaps one of the grandest that you can ever find.

Replete with fireworks, to parties to gatherings, be it culture or flavour, the oriental feel of the city mixed with the Avant garde ambience will leave you breathless.

So get ready for a head spinning experience as we have compiled for you a list of things that you can do when planning to spend your New Year’s Eve in Hong Kong.

The New Year’s countdown at Times Square:

The grand event during New Years’ time in Kong Is perhaps the New Year’s countdown that happens at the Times Square, for those who want to be a part of a street gathering and revelling this is perhaps the closest you can come to it. So as thousands gather to watch the clock strike twelve, and the sounds of cheering hit the sky, there is no other place you should be when the New Year begins. There shall be lots of entertainment in the form of liv music and stalls so, just absorb the feel of a New Year with the New Year’s countdown in Hong Kong.

The New Year Celebrations at Victoria Harbour:

For those of you who love fireworks and love to celebrate in style, the best fireworks display would probably be the fireworks display that is held on top of the Victoria Harbour each year at midnight. The view is truly spectacular, and the skyline above the Hong Kong islands appear to be bejewelled and bedecked it is truly a beautiful sight to behold. So climb on the boat as you sail under a star lit sky. For those who cannot hop on aboard you can try to witness the display from the Avenue stars which is almost equally beautiful a view.

The New Year Parties at Lan Kwai Fong:

The street and bars that are present in Lan Kwan Kai are the best bet for people who are ravelling in groups or are looking for a crowd, if you are looking for slightly cheaper alternatives then too this is the place you would want to be in. You can grab drinks from the nearby pubs and drink on the streets, the food being amazing, there are also a number parties that you can attend when in Lan Kwai Fong.

Dining in Luxury Hotels:

For those who would rather spend the money and not have to mingle with the crowds, Hong Kong can provide you with exquisite fine dining options, with opulent parties and delicious food, you can indulge your senses in a plethora of sights as you sit and sip chilled champagne. Hotels like The Peninsula or the famous four Seasons all provide spectacular Hong Kong New Year dinners and while you can have a lovely view of the fireworks as the sky is lit, you can indulge in some fine time with your loved on the occasion of New Year’s.

So whatever your choice of activity be Hong Kong can cater to your desires, so plan a trip to Hong Kong and have a lovely New Year’s.

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New Years Eve in Hawaii

Hawaii is considered one of the best tourist destinations of the world. There is no surprise that spending the New Year Eve on Hawaii will be indeed exciting. The celebration becomes more exciting with grand weather, awesome views and scrumptious Hawaiian cuisine.

During this time travelers and enthusiasts flock in Hawaii for the celebration of New Year Eve. Ohau Parties, Maui Parties, Gig Island parties, and Kaui’s Party are some of the hot destinations where Hawaii residents and travelers prefer to celebrate their New Year Eve. This year 2019 will not be an exception of that rule.

Ohau parties are known for their fun and merriment. Aloha Tower Marketplace Entertainment and Fireworks, Midnight on Starlet Cocktail and Dance Cruise, Wet ‘N’ Wild New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Family Celebration are some of the best attractions of this place.

Aloha Tower Marketplace Entertainment includes fun activities like Face painting, giveaways and balloon animals as well as restaurants located on Aloha Tower offer good package on exclusive dinner. Here Fire work show is arranged at the mid night to celebrate the moment when New Year is in and the last year has become a past.

Cruise part is always romantic and exciting is a different way. Party at midnight on Starlet Cocktail and Dance Cruise offers live music and ample scope of dancing on the deck. The classic view of aloha Tower, Champagne toast, and party favors with make our evening for sure.

Those who love rides and amusements, Wet ‘N’ Wild New Year’s Eve Fireworks and Family Celebration will be a great option for enjoying New Year Eve at Hawaii. There are plenty of rides available here from 25 numbers water parks. Here the party ends with a brilliant and well planned firework. Big Islands party can be creative too.

Culinary enthusiasts will be able to learn preparing rice cakes here, which is one of the specialties of Hawaii Cuisine. Similarly, Kaui’s Party includes lots of fireworks shows, which can be considered as a the gala end of the passing by year and coming of a fresh new calmer year.

Maui beach party has manifold attractions like Grand Wailea Resort New Year’s Eve Party and Fireworks Display, cruise party on the on the Pride of Maui, and New Year’s Eve Party at Kaanapali Beach Hotel.

Grand Wailea Resort is known for arranging mega parties and stunning fireworks show, whereas Mulligan’s Pub arranged New Year Party with best cuisine and best quality drinks. The Cruise party of Maui is excellent and the enthusiasts who love theme celebration can plan watching for whale watching and enjoying aqua marine life at Pacific Whale Foundation New Year’s Eve Cruises.

There are more and more fun venues in party fun and attractions in Hawaii. In addition to it Hawaii is a paradise for the shoppers. Beach party, Dinner at Cruise, fireworks show, and great shopping your New Year Eve will be simply exotic here for celebration of your New Years Eve.

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New Years Eve in Haiti

The Haiti pyrexia has affected many in the Diaspora. Throughout the week the flights connecting North America with Haiti are full. Haitians along with African-Americans and others from the Caribbean visit the country in huge numbers.

Haiti tourism offers few of the most exotic holiday spots appropriate for celebrating the New Years Eve in Haiti. The tourists get a chance to discover a country which was once misunderstood and shrouded in mystery.

The grand celebrations of New Years Eve in Haiti has always attracted and mesmerized tourists’ world over. The pomp and grandeur with which Haiti celebrates its new years eve is a live demonstration of its lavishly enriched culture.

The Haitian tourism offers a range of holiday spots and tourist destinations for you to visit and enjoy with your family and friends. The most publicized holiday spots in Haiti for New Years Eve celebrations are Port au Prince, Cap-Haitian and the North coast, Jacmel and South coast, Bassins bleu, Etang Sumatre, Park National historique La Citadelle.

Port Au Prince: Tourist attractions in Port Au Prince include the Iron Market, the cathedrals, the Haitian Art Museum , the Statue of the Unknown Slave, the Defly Mansion and the Gingerbread Houses. Pétionville offers some of the city’s best dining, gallery-hopping and nightlife. Suburb of Boutillier is an excellent place to enjoy scenic views. Gingerbread trim and a view of the harbour are about all Port-au-Prince has in common with other Caribbean capitals.

New Years Eve in this harbour port region takes place with magnificent shows of lighting and fire works and family occasions like community parties and free games for children and contests for couples and finally singing and dancing and you can also enjoy the exotic food in the hotels and restaurants prepanavy specially for this occasion.

Cap-Haitian and the North coast: It is only 40 minutes by plane from the capital. Haiti’s beautiful Citadelle, built by Henri Christophe, Cap-Haïtien, and the nearby ruins of Sans Souci Palace offer a great opportunity for sight seeing. A half-hour drive leads to the Citadelle and site of the palace ruins. One great way to enjoy New Years Eve is to appreciate the fine cuisine in the hotels and to relish the scenic beauty of this partially unexplonavy place.

Jacmel And South Coast: Since the completion of the road over the mountains, the drive to Jacmel has become a pleasant two hours or spectacular journey amidst scenic beauty and glamour. Elegant town of Victorian palaces adorned with filigree balconies jacmel and south coast is also one of the important centers for voodoo and witchcraft and it also offers a lot of temples as sites of tourist attractions.

The New Years Eve becomes a happening occasion with a lively Arts scene that is further enhanced at Carnival time, when dancers in papier maché costumes parade the streets and a host of street theater performances happen. This region harbors several beaches. The town of Kenscoff, is much loved by Haitians for a summer resort. Parc Macaya being Haiti’s most famous national park, offers a marvelous mountain scenery covenavy with lush greenery of rainforests.

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New Years Eve in Greece

Greece celebrates its New Year on January 1, according to Georgian calendar. New Year, which is also called as ‘Protohronia’, is observed as a national holiday in Greece. The day, apart from marking the beginning of a New Year, is also prominent on the aspects of also being a ‘St. Basil’s Day’.

Therefore, the fervor involved in celebrations gets further elevated. Apart from engaging in New Year celebrations on New Years Eve, people do make sure to remember St.

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Basil, one of the early time saints of the Greek Orthodox Church, who passed away on this date. People pay tribute to him, and show gratitude towards him for his kindness and generosity.

Celebrations on New Years Eve in Greece

Bursting firecrackers on New Years Eve has grown up to be a tradition, enthusiastically followed by most of the people in Greece. From small children to grown up adults, everyone jump and cheer in sheer excitement while setting off firecrackers in their neighborhood street, as well as at the time of enjoying the rip-roaring firework shows organized socially. It is the town centre holding the most intense throng of the evening.

People dance, cheer, and celebrate while waiting for the clock to turn twelve. Usually, all major points in the city have concerts with live performers. New Years Eve also saw a distinctive kind of celebration, when youngsters of the city mocks into a ‘bloodless’ war, with dummy plastic hammers, whistlers, clubs, and foam sprays as their weapons to fight.

The parties organized socially, as well as the feasts organized in private on New Years Eve are expected to serve something special with its menu. Certain dishes such as Greek salads, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, Greek Spinach pie or Spanakopita, Greek Mediterranean quail, Moussaka, grilled leg of lamb, kourabiedes cookies, and the traditional Greek cake of Vaselopita are some of the most prominent dishes, usually find in most of the feasts of the evening.

Vaselopita cake is cut into pieces and is distributed among people by the head of the house. The first piece and second piece of the cake is always meant to be dedicated to Christ and house respectively. The remaining pieces are then distributed among rest of the members of the house. One who finds the hidden coin in its piece of cake of Vaselopita is considered to get conferred with good luck and wealth in the entire coming year.

Traditions on New Years Eve in Greece

People play games, and exchange gifts as a part of New Years tradition. Playing traditional games such as Berlina and Vasilias on New Years Eve is very much a part of New Year celebrations for children, as it keep them awake, and engaged till the midnight, before they can witness the arrival of New Year, and then set off firecrackers to celebrate it. Other that, children in the house also sing New Year songs of Kalandas and Greek carols on New Years Eve, while moving from one house to other in the neighborhood.

In return, people present them with treats, gifts, and money. On the other hand, grown-up people in the house prefer to pass their evening time by playing cards or games of chance such as Pilotta and Biriba, which are sometimes organized on the level of a complete tournament.

There is a prominently followed tradition of ‘New Year Baby’, as a part of which, a small baby symbolizing the year to come, is usually dressed up in sash, diaper, and a top hat. Baby is also placed in a basket, in order to denote him as the Dionysis, the Greek God of wine, who is traditionally believed to had reborn as the spirit of fertility on the date of New Year.

There is another New Years Eve tradition of Pothariko, as a part of which a lucky person is invited in the house for the day of New Year. Usually, small children are preferred, as they are considered to be free from any sort of envy and wickedness. Also, there is an old, however less observed tradition of hanging up a plant of scilla maritime in their houses, as doing so is believed to bring good luck to the house in the New Year.

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New Years Eve in Germany

New Years Eve is also called as ‘Sylvester’ in Germany. With January 1st being the day of New Year, all the major festivities and celebrations go on a day before ion December 31st, which is also called as New Years Eve.

It is the time when a lot more than usual parties and a lot grand than ordinary parties are privately and socially organized. People take time out to cherish the good moments of the past and optimistically celebrate the coming time of New Year. It is also a moment to move ahead of the past troubles and failures, which life has conferred upon one.

Celebrations on New Years Eve in Germany

The morning and evening of the day of New Years Eve is mostly spent in relaxing. However, those engaged with the responsibilities for the evening celebrations, remain hectically busy in preparations. There are many who spent their time by making a visit to the Church, offering prayers to supreme God, and also engaging in church service which goes on till the midnight.

Evening is the original point of time, initialing celebrations for New Years Eve. People start getting in to social parties, and with the passage of the evening, it turns into a jam-packed throng. Most of these social parties are typical European style parties, flaunting delicious dishes and vibrant music. Many cities also host cultural programs and music shows in the evening.

Some people love to spend the time with their friends and family, and therefore, instead of getting over-social, they organize a party in their home only. A special feast with equally special drink and dine on platter is arranged for all those invited. Making and serving the traditional dish of raclette to everyone at home as well as visitors, is abidingly followed by all households. Also, it is ensured to have adequate arrangement in place for music, dance, and most of the times, burning firecrackers.

The capital city of Berlin hosts the biggest and most spectacular New Years Eve celebrations in Germany. Millions of visitors from around the nation and world visit Berlin City to be a part of the extravagant festivity. Alexander Platz and Brandenburg Gate are the biggest party stages in the city. One is really required to arrive in early evening hours on New Years Eve to get inside in any one of them, as both of them are jam-packed prior three hours of the midnight, allowing not even a single leg to step in.

Over the years, new traditions have grown up in popularity and significance to be considered as a part of the list of already existing traditions. Burning crackers, raising toasts of champagne at midnight, exchanging gifts on New Years Eve are considered as symbols of good luck. Also, all of them and the four leaf clover are considered to be the symbols of New Years Eve.

There is also a prediction making tradition, which is popularly called as ‘Bleigiessen’, as a part of which a small amount of lead is melted in a silver spoon, with candle down burning it. The molten lead is then poured in a contained filled with cold water, and the shapes as solidified in that water, are the grounds on the basis of which future predictions are made for a person.

A special evening telecast of special films, short life stories, and sketches on New Years Eve, has also grown up to be a highly anticipated custom in the lives of the people of Germany.

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