New Year Celebrations Around The World

How The World Celebrates New Year

On 31^st December, people around the world unite to say goodbye to the last 365 days and to welcome in the New Year. Due to the variable time zones, celebrations and festivities take place at different times across the globe. Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island), Samoa and Tonga are the first places to welcome in the New Year.

The New Year customs and traditions are considered to bring good luck and prosperity for the year ahead.

Capital City Celebrations

In many capital cities around the world, it’s tradition to welcome in the New Year with a lavish public firework display that lights up the skyline. In Australia, crowds gather in Sydney Harbour, whilst in New Zealand, the Auckland Sky Tower is the location of the firework festivities. In Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, people prefer to watch the fireworks light up Copacabana beach.

People in New York City love to celebrate in classic style. This includes toasting the New Year at the famous ball drop in Times Square, and dressing up for a champagne dinner at a posh restaurant.

Quaint Customs

As the countdown to midnight begins some cultures prepare to celebrate the New Year in quirky ways. In Denmark, people gather up their crockery and smash their plates on the doorstep, to attract good luck and good fortune over the next 12 months.

In Johannesburg in South Africa, people like to start the New Year with a clean slate. On New Year’s Eve it’s the custom to throw out any unwanted furniture and items, to make space for prosperity and abundance. The items are dropped out of the windows!

In Scotland, it’s the custom to go ‘first-footing’ after the clock strikes midnight. This tradition dates back centuries. The aim is to be the first person to set foot over the threshold of a friend or family member’s home in the New Year.

Some Eastern countries, like Japan and South Korea, start the New Year in a noisy fashion. Ceremonial bell ringing is the traditional welcome. Bells are rung 108 times to bring in good luck and abundance.

If you are visiting some countries in South America, you are likely to see people walking around carrying an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve. The traditional ‘suitcase walk’ represents good luck, and the possibility of many exciting adventures in the New Year.

Some cultures believe in chasing away bad luck and evil spirits on New Year’s Eve. In Romania, people dress up in a dancing bear costume because bears are considered to be a good omen.

Foodie Good Fortunes

Some cultures prefer to boost their quota of New Year good luck by tucking into foodie treats. In Brazil, it’s not unusual to feast on lentils on New Year’s Eve, as these tasty pulses represent financial abundance.

In Spain, people reach for a bunch of grapes and eat one grape for every chime of the clock at on the stroke of midnight. If you manage to munch on 12 grapes before the final countdown ends you’ll have good luck for the year ahead.

Celebrating New Year Throughout The Year

Not all cultures celebrate New Year on 31^st December. In Eastern European countries like Russia, Serbia, Ukraine and Macedonia, 14^th January marks the beginning of the New Year. Traditional celebrations start on 31^st December and end on the day of the religious holiday.

Chinese New Year generally takes place in late January or early February, depending on the year. The Balinese New Year starts in March. In September, the traditional two-day celebrations of the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) take place.