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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