New Celebrations Around The World

Budget101 Discussion List Archives Budget101 Discussion List New Celebrations Around The World

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      1) Baby New Year Tradition

      The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started

      around 600 B.C by the ancient Greeks, who, at the start of a year

      would carry a baby around in a basket. The purpose of it was to honor

      Dionysus, the God of Fertility and symbolize his annual rebirth.

      2) Hogmanay

      The New Year in Scotland is called Hogmanay. The people in Scotland

      follow a ritual that appears nutty but actually has a great

      significance. One can find barrels of tar set afire and gradually

      rolled down the streets in the villages of Scotland. This ritual

      symbolizes that the old year is burned up and New Year is going to

      begin.

      3)Burning “Mr. Old Year”

      In Columbia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male

      doll with things and then they dress it up in old clothes from each

      family member. At the stroke of midnight, this ‘Mr. Old Year’ is set

      on fire. This is done with the simple belief that a doll thus stuffed

      have bad memories or sadness associated with them, and that the

      burning of these will help one to do away with all past grief’s and

      usher in happiness in life with the coming year.

      4) Eating Noodles

      Late on the evening of December 3 1, people of Japan would eat a bowl

      of buckwheat noodles called “toshikoshisoba” (“year-crossing

      noodles”) and listen for the sound of the Buddhist temple bells,

      which were rung 108 times at midnight. The sound of these bells is

      said to purify the listeners of the 108 sins or evil passions that

      plague every human being.

      5) Eating 12 Grapes

      In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each

      time the clock chimes) on New Year’s Eve. This peculiar ritual

      originated in the twentieth century when freak weather conditions

      resulted in an unseasonable bumper harvest of grapes. Not able to

      decide what to do about so many grapes at Christmas time, the King of

      Spain and the grape growers came up with the idea of the New Year

      ritual.

      6)Gifts in Shoes

      In Greece children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year’s

      Day (also the Festival of Saint Basil in Greece) with the hope that

      Saint Basil, who was famous for his kindness, will come and fill

      their shoes with gifts.

      7)Carrying a Suitcase

      In Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico, those with hopes of

      traveling in the New Year carry a suitcase around the house at

      midnight. Some even carry it around the block to ensure traveling at

      greater distances.

      8)Burning Crackers

      The people in China believe that there are evil spirits that roam the

      earth. So on New Year they burn crackers to scare the evil spirits.

      The doors and windows of every home in china can be seen sealed with

      paper. This is to keep the evil demons out.

      9)Times Square Celebrations

      The first Ball Lowering celebration atop One Times Square was held on

      December 31, 1907 and is now a worldwide symbol of the turn of the

      New Year, seen via satellite by more than one billion people each

      year. The original New Year’s Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was 5

      feet in diameter. It was made of iron and wood and was decorated with

      100 25-watt light bulbs.

      10) Foods

      It was thought that one could affect the luck they would have

      throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day

      of the year. It is still held in some regions that special New Year

      foods are the harbingers of luck. For that reason, the Dutch believe

      that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. The

      hog, and its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes

      prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed

      on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign

      of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some

      regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. The

      ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized

      productiveness.

      11) Black-eyed peas

      Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed

      peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or

      ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck

      in many cultures.

      12) Rings

      Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good

      luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s

      cycle.

      13)Wearing new slippers

      In China, many people wear in the new year a new pair of slippers

      that is bought before the new year, because it means to step on the

      people who gossip about you.

      14)Sealed doors & windows

      During new year , the doors and windows of every home in china can be

      seen sealed with paper. The Chinese think that this will succeed in

      keep the evil demons out.

      15)Jewish New Year

      The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when

      Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then

      promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in the

      synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are

      baked to remind people of harvest time.

      16)Japanese New Year

      On New Year’s Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new

      clothes. Homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo, both of

      which are considered to be the symbols of long life.

      17)American resolutions

      40 to 45% of American adults make one or more New Year’s resolutions

      each year. And these range from debt reduction to giving up bad

      habits to what not? But the ones that are the most common deal with

      weight loss to exercise to giving up smoking.

      We hope you have enjoyed these pretty little New Year trivia’s. New

      year is simply the perfect time to make resolutions and make for a

      fun-filled day. Take in the coming year with open arms. Have a blast!

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Budget101 Discussion List Archives Budget101 Discussion List New Celebrations Around The World